Belief in angels is one of the six pillars of belief or faith without which there is no faith. Whoever does not believe in any of these pillars is not a believer. These pillars are belief in: Allah (swt), His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and that predestination, both good and bad, comes only from Allah (swt).
Angels are a part of the world of the “Unseen” : Allah (swt) has told us about them in many places in the Quran and via Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which hopefully will make us realize the greatness of the Creator and the greatness of this religion which has told us so much about them. Allah says in the Quran:
اَ لۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ جَاعِلِ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةِ رُسُلًا اُولِىۡۤ اَجۡنِحَةٍ مَّثۡنٰى وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ ؕ يَزِيۡدُ فِى الۡخَـلۡقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ
"Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings - two, or three, or four (pairs) adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things." (Surah 35:1)
Allah created the angels from light : 'Aishah (ra) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Angels were created from light, jinns were created from a smokeless flame of fire, and 'Adam was created from that which you have been told (i.e., sounding clay like the clay of pottery)." (Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1846; Book 18, Hadith 39)
The angels are by nature obedient to Allah : They are created in such a way that they do not eat or drink. Their food is tasbeeh (glorification of Allah) and tahleel (saying La ilaha ill-Allah), as Allah tells us concerning them :
1. The angels bear witness to the Oneness of Allah
شَهِدَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَۙ وَالۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةُ وَاُولُوا الۡعِلۡمِ قَآئِمًا ۢ بِالۡقِسۡطِؕ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡحَكِيۡمُؕ
“Allah (swt) bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He ), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He (swt)(swt) always) maintains His creation in justice. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah 3:18)
2. The angels glorify Allah (swt) night and day
يُسَبِّحُوۡنَ الَّيۡلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفۡتُرُوۡنَ
“They (i.e. the angels) glorify His praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so)" (Surah 21:20)
Moreover, Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran:
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا قُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَكُمۡ وَاَهۡلِيۡكُمۡ نَارًا وَّقُوۡدُهَا النَّاسُ وَالۡحِجَارَةُ عَلَيۡهَا مَلٰٓـئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعۡصُوۡنَ اللّٰهَ مَاۤ اَمَرَهُمۡ وَيَفۡعَلُوۡنَ مَا يُؤۡمَرُوۡنَ
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He (swt) commands them but do what they are commanded. (Surah 6:66)
Allah has honored some of the angels by choosing them as messengers, just as He has chosen some of mankind as messengers :
اَللّٰهُ يَصۡطَفِىۡ مِنَ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَّمِنَ النَّاسِؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌۢ بَصِيۡرٌ ۚ
Allah chooses Messengers from among angels and from among human beings (to convey His command). Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Surah 22:75)
When Allah (swt) created Adam (as) and He (swt) wanted to honor him (as), He commanded the angels to prostrate to him:
وَاِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةِ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوۡٓا اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِيۡسَؕ اَبٰى وَاسۡتَكۡبَرَ
وَكَانَ مِنَ الۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ
And when We ordered the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam,” all of them fell prostrate, except Iblis. He refused, and gloried in his arrogance and became one of the defiers. (Surah 2:34) For, despite the fact that man would commit corruption on earth and shed blood, man was elevated above the angels, endowed with the secrets of knowledge, and given a free and independent will to choose his destiny. Man’s dual nature, his ability to determine his own course of action, and the trust he carries to pursue Allah’s guidance by his own means are all aspects of the high esteem in which he is held. The angels prostrated themselves before Adam in obedience to Allah’s command, “except for Iblīs who refused, swelled in insolence, and was thus an unbeliever”
The angels are a mighty creation, and they perform many tasks, and they are divided into many groups, which no one knows except Allah. Some of them carry the Throne:
ٱلَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ ٱلْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ رَّحْمَةًۭ وَعِلْمًۭا فَٱغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [ Allah ] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], “Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire." (Surah 40:7) This thing has been said for the consolation of the Prophet’s (pbuh) companions, who were feeling greatly discouraged at the impudence and rebellious attitude of the disbelievers of Makkah as against their own helplessness, as if to say: Why do you feel grieved at what these mean and worthless people say? You have the support of the angels who bear the divine Throne and of those who stand around it. They are interceding with Allah for you. The mention of the angels who bear the divine Throne and of those who stand around it, has been made, instead of the common angels, to impress the fact that not to speak of the common angels of divine kingdom, even the angels who are the pillars of this kingdom, being nearest in rank and station to Allah, bear deep sympathy and regard for you. Then the words: They affirm faith in Him and ask forgiveness for the believers, show that the relationship of the faith is the real relationship, which has joined the heavenly creatures and the earthly creatures together, and which has induced sympathy and esteem in the angels stationed around the Throne for the mortal humans inhabiting the earth, who affirm faith in Allah just like them. The angels affirming the faith in Allah does not mean that they could disbelieve, and they adopted belief instead of disbelief, but it means that they believe in the sovereignty of Allah, the One, alone there is no other being that may be commanding them and they submit before it in utter obedience. When the same attitude and behavior was adopted by the human believers, a strong relationship of cherishing a common creed and faith was established between them and the angels in spite of the great disparity in species and remoteness in rank and station.
The honorable angels accompany the children of Adam from the day they are formed in their mothers’ wombs until the day when their souls are brought forth from their bodies at the time of death. They also accompany them in their graves and in the Hereafter - Their accompanying them in this world is as follows:
1. They take care of him when he is created
It was reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah appoints an angel in the womb, who says, ‘O Lord, a nutfah (mixed drop of male and female sexual discharges)? O Lord, an ‘alaqah (a clot)? O Lord, a mudghah (lump of chewed flesh)?’ When Allah decrees that it is to be created, (the angel) says, ‘O Lord, male or female? Doomed or blessed? What is his provision? What is his lifespan?’ And that is written in his mother’s womb.” [al-Bukhaari, Muslim].
2. They guard the son of Adam
سَوَآءٌ مِّنۡكُمۡ مَّنۡ اَسَرَّ الۡقَوۡلَ وَ مَنۡ جَهَرَ بِهٖ وَمَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡتَخۡفٍۢ بِالَّيۡلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِالنَّهَارِ
لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهٖ يَحۡفَظُوۡنَهٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰهِؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡؕ وَاِذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِقَوۡمٍ سُوۡۤءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهٗۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ مِنۡ وَّالٍ
“It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day. For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allah.” (Surah 13:10-11) That is, Allah not only directly watches over whatever each person does, and is fully aware of everything he does, but He has also appointed such guardians as accompany him everywhere and keep a full record of all his deeds. This has been stated here to warn those people who live their lives under the delusion that they have been left absolutely free to do whatever they like and shall not be required to render an account of what they did in this worldly life. The warning is that such people invite their own retribution. This is to warn them further that they should not remain under any delusion that some holy person or saint or angel has the power to rescue them from divine retribution, for there is none who could defend them against Allah, even though they might have been paying homage and making offerings to their so called patrons and protectors in the hope that they would rescue them from punishment from Allah on the Day of Judgment. The guardians whom Allah (swt) sends protect a person until the appointed time (of death) that has been decreed for him comes. The angels keep watch and maintain a record of everything, i.e. all their movements, deeds and so on.
وَهُوَ الۡقَاهِرُ فَوۡقَ عِبَادِهٖ وَيُرۡسِلُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَفَظَةً ؕ حَتّٰٓى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَكُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ تَوَفَّتۡهُ رُسُلُـنَا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفَرِّطُوۡنَ
And He alone holds sway over His servants and sets guardians over you till death approaches any of you and Our deputed angels take his soul, neglecting no part of their task. (Surah 6:61)
3. They write down hasanat (good deeds) and sayyiat (bad deeds)
وَاِنَّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَحٰـفِظِيۡنَۙ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِيۡنَۙ يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَا تَفۡعَلُوۡنَ
“But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, Kiraman (Honorable) Katibeen —writing down (your deeds), They know all that you do.” (Surah 82:10-12)
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهٖ نَفۡسُهٗ ۖۚ وَنَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ الۡوَرِيۡدِ
اِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى الۡمُتَلَقِّيٰنِ عَنِ الۡيَمِيۡنِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيۡدٌ مَا يَلۡفِظُ مِنۡ قَوۡلٍ اِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيۡبٌ عَتِيۡدٌ
“And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” (Surah 50:16-18) The angel on the right records hasanat (good deeds) and the angel on the left records sayyiat (bad deeds). It was reported from Abu Umamah that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The angel on the left does not write down anything until six hours have passed after a Muslim does a bad deed. If he regrets it and asks Allah for forgiveness, he casts it aside [does not write it down], otherwise he writes down one (sayyiah/bad deed).” [al-Tabaraani] Two angels, on the right and the left, record his deeds. The one on the right writes down his hasanat (good deeds) and the one on his left writes down his sayyiat (evil deeds). Two other angels guard him and protect him, one from behind and one from in front. So there are four angels by day and four others by night.” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
The names and abilities of angels
There are only few names revealed in the Quran and Sunnah.
They include Jibreel, Mikaeel, Israfeel, Malik, Munkar and Nakeer, and Haroot and Maroot. Regarding the abilities that angels possess, Allah bestows them with tremendously powerful capabilities.
They are able to assume different forms, such as that of a man
Jibreel (as) used to visit the Prophet (PBUH) in the form of a man and was also sent to Maryam (as) in a man’s form, as stated in Surah Maryam. In Sahih Muslim, there is a Hadith that tells us how Jibreel was also seen by the companions in human form, as a man in white clothes with black hair.
They can travel at astonishingly quick speeds.
Jibril (as) is the messenger, whose responsibility was to transmit Allah’s revelation to His (swt) Messengers. The Quran was brought to the Prophet (PBUH) by Jibril (as).
وَاِنَّهٗ لَـتَنۡزِيۡلُ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَؕ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوۡحُ الۡاَمِيۡنُۙ عَلٰى قَلۡبِكَ لِتَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُنۡذِرِيۡنَۙ بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِيۡنٍؕ
Indeed this is a revelation from the Lord of the Universe; which the truthful spirit has carried down to your heart that you might become one of those who warn (others on behalf of Allah), (a revelation) in clear Arabic language (Surah 26:192-195)
Mikail is in charge of rain, carrying out Allah’s commands with the assistance of cooperative helpers assigned to him by Allah (swt). He thus sends rain wherever Allah (swt) wills.
Israfeel is tasked with blowing the trumpet that will commence the Day of Judgment. These three are among the foremost of the angels in Islam, given the nature of their tasks. Their duties all pertain to life in some way.
The Kiraman Katibeen, known as the “two angels” are the recording angels in Islam who are tasked with recording our deeds, as Allah says in Surah Az-Zukhruf.
Munkar and Nakeer will be entrusted with the questioning of the grave, which is outlined in detail in a Hadith in Sunan At-Tirmidhi.
Malik, the gatekeeper of Hell, Allah says in the Quran -
وَكَذَّبَ بِهٖ قَوۡمُكَ وَهُوَ الۡحَـقُّ ؕ قُلْ لَّسۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ بِوَكِيۡلٍؕ
“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe.” (Surah 66:6)
Among them are the gatekeepers of Paradise and the servants of the people of Paradise:
جَنّٰتُ عَدۡنٍ يَّدۡخُلُوۡنَهَا وَمَنۡ صَلَحَ مِنۡ اٰبَآئِهِمۡ وَاَزۡوَاجِهِمۡ وَذُرِّيّٰتِهِمۡ وَالۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةُ يَدۡخُلُوۡنَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مِّنۡ كُلِّ بَابٍۚ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ بِمَا صَبَرۡتُمۡ فَنِعۡمَ عُقۡبَى الدَّارِؕ
“And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): Salamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” (Surah 13:23-24)
Among them are those who are entrusted with the task of seizing the souls of the believers:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allah Alone) saying (to them): Salamun ‘Alaykum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).” (Surah 16:32)
And among them are those who are entrusted with the task of seizing the souls of the disbelievers:
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۙ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
“And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve (at death); they smite their faces and their backs, (saying): ‘Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire.’” (Surah 8:50)
Then, there is As mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, Haroot and Maroot were sent to Babylon to teach people magic as a trial for them, but not before warning them of its repercussions and many other angels. For example, Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "On every Friday the angels take their stand at every gate of the mosque to write the names of the people chronologically (i.e. according to the time of their arrival for the Friday prayer) and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit) they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon."
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، وَالأَغَرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ باب مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ، يَكْتُبُونَ الأَوَّلَ فَالأَوَّلَ، فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الإِمَامُ طَوَوُا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ ".
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3211; Book 59, Hadith 22; Vol. 4, Book 54, Hadith 433
There are those who strive in jihad (battle) with the believers: “(Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.’” (Surah 8:12)
On Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the month of Ramadan, the angels come down to witness goodness with the Muslims, as Allah says : “The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel] by Allah’s permission with all decrees.” [97:3-4]
It was narrated from Abu Talhah that: The Prophet (saw) said: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image." (Grade: sahih)
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ " .
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5347; 48, Hadith 308; Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5349
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ وَالۡكِتٰبِ الَّذِىۡ نَزَّلَ عَلٰى رَسُوۡلِهٖ وَالۡكِتٰبِ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُؕ وَمَنۡ يَّكۡفُرۡ بِاللّٰهِ وَمَلٰٓـئِكَتِهٖ وَكُتُبِهٖ وَرُسُلِهٖ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًاۢ بَعِيۡدًا
Belief in the angels is one of the pillars of faith, and whoever denies it is a kafir (disbeliever): “O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah , His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.” (Surah 4:136)
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran, Hadith, In the Shade of Quran, Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Understanding the Quran