immaterial lights in their original forms, mediating universal luminous knowings
In ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s Works
Risālat al-Manāmāt wa-l-Nubuwwāt
near angels — explanation
Here, al-malāʾika al-muqarrabūn are described as an immaterial light that mediates universal knowledge to the soul.
Limits of this account
It does not establish that every occurrence of “near” names this angelic class, or that al-Manāmāt’s mediatory account is a general definition.
al-Mīzān fī Tafsīr al-Qurʾān
nearness as a granted station
In al-Mīzān nearness is treated as a station: the servant draws near through righteous action, and God brings the servant near by placing them where honour, forgiveness and mercy are reached beyond lower stations. The Qurʾān describes the near angels through that language of nearness as well.
Limits of this account
Al-Mīzān develops nearness chiefly in relation to human servants, where it is acquired. Al-Manāmāt speaks of the near angels as immaterial lights mediating universal knowledge to the soul. The connection is in the notion of a granted station of nearness, not an identity of subject or complete doctrine.
Read in context
Open a passage in the edition where this term is linked.