الكَرُوبِيُّونَ

(K) and الكَرُّوبِيُّونَ, or this latter is a mistake, and الكَرُوبِيَّةُ, (TA,) [Hebr. כְּרֻבִים Cherubim,] the chiefs, or princes, of the angels; the archangels; (K;) of whom are Jebraeel and Meekáeel and Isráfeel; who are also called المُقَرَّبُونَ, according to Abu-l-'Áliyeh: (TA:) the nearest of the angels to the bearers of the throne: so called from كرب as signifying “ nearness ” or the “ being near: ” (L:) or from their firmness, or compactness, of make; [see مُكْرَبٌ] because of their strength, and their patience in worship: or from كَرَبٌ, “ sorrow &c., ” because of their fear and awe of God. (MF.) Sh quotes the following of Umeiyeh:

كَرُوبِيَّةٌ مِنْهُمْ رُكُوعٌ وَسُجَّدٌ

[Archangels, among whom are (some) that bend down the body, and (some) that prostrate themselves]. (TA.)