بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Allah’s Name to commence with, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Angels in Islam are luminous beings created by Allah, tasked with delivering revelations, managing natural phenomena, and guiding humanity. They are infallible, obedient creations of Allah, performing countless duties as commanded, including protecting humans, recording deeds, and orchestrating the Day of Judgment events.
Angels are beings of light. Allah Almighty has allowed them to take on any form they wish. Sometimes, they appear in human form, and at other times, in different shapes.
Belief: Angels do only what Allah commands them; the Quran says: وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩ (and do only what they are commanded)1 they neither act against His command intentionally nor unintentionally neither by mistake or negligence; the Quran says: لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ (who do not refuse the command of Allah)2. They are infallible creatures of Allah (Almighty), free from all minor and major sins.
Angels in Islam and Their Duties
Angels are beings of light created by Allah and assigned various roles in managing the affairs of the universe according to His command. Each angel has a specific duty, from guiding natural phenomena to interacting with humans at significant points in their lives. These duties reflect their obedience and devotion to Allah, as they perform each task with precision and unwavering faith. Below are some of the significant duties assigned to angels:
Belief: Key Duties of Angels in Islam
- Revelation: Delivering Allah’s messages to the Prophets (e.g., Angel Jibreel).
- Weather: Causing rain to fall and directing the wind (e.g., Angel Mikaeel).
- Sustenance: Providing food and sustenance to creation.
- Creation: Forming the shape of a child in the mother’s womb.
- Human Body: Managing internal processes within the human body.
- Protection: Guarding humans from harm and their enemies.
- Remembrance of Allah: Attending gatherings where Allah is remembered.
- Recording Deeds: Writing down the actions of humans (e.g., Kiraman Katibeen).
- Service to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him): Presenting the prayers and salutations of Muslims to him.
- Questioning the Dead: Interrogating souls in the grave (e.g., Angels Munkar and Nakeer).
- Taking Souls: Seizing souls at the time of death (e.g., Angel Azraeel) in Quran: ۞ قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ (Say you (O Beloved!), ‘The angel of death, who is appointed over you, causes you to die and then towards your Lord you will return’)3.
- Punishment: Administering punishment to wrongdoers.
- Day of Judgment: Blowing the trumpet to mark the Day of Judgment (e.g., Angel Israfeel).
Angels also perform numerous other tasks as commanded by Allah.
Belief: Angels are neither male nor female.
Belief: To consider angels eternal or regard them as creators is an act of disbelief (Kufr).
Belief: Only Allah, the Creator of angels, knows their exact number, and His Messenger knows it by Allah’s revelation; the Quran says: وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ (and no one knows the armies of your Lord except Him).
4 Main Angels in Islam
Four main angels are well-known: Jibril, Mika’il, Israfil, and ‘Azra’il (peace be upon them). They are superior to all other angels.
The Angel of Death
Belief: Even the slightest disrespect towards any angel is an act of disbelief. Ignorant people sometimes refer to an enemy or someone they dislike by saying, “The Angel of Death” or “Azra’il has come.” Such statements approach the boundary of disbelief (Kufr).
Belief: Denying the existence of angels or claiming that angels are merely symbolic power of good virtues and nothing else are both acts of disbelief (Kufr).
FAQs Section
Frequently Asked Questions
What are angels in Islam?
Angels are luminous beings created by Allah from light. They are obedient servants of Allah who carry out His commands without error or disobedience.
Are angels visible to humans?
Angels are generally invisible to humans in their natural form. However, they can take on physical forms, such as appearing as humans etc., or as they will.
What material are angels made of?
Angels are created from light, which distinguishes them from humans (created from clay) and jinn (created from fire).
Can angels take human form?
Yes, angels can take on human form or other shapes to fulfill their duties. For example, Angel Jibreel appeared as a man when delivering messages to the Prophets.
Are angels male or female?
Angels are neither male nor female. They are unique beings created by Allah and are not bound by human characteristics.
What are the specific duties of angels?
Some key duties of angels include:
– Bringing revelations to Prophets (e.g., Jibreel).
– Controlling rain and wind (e.g., Mikaeel).
– Recording human deeds (Kiraman Katibeen).
– Interrogating the dead in their graves (e.g., Munkar and Nakeer).
– Taking souls at death (e.g., Azraeel).
– Blowing the trumpet on the Day of Judgment (e.g., Israfeel).
– Protecting humans and guiding them.
– Attending gatherings of dhikr and delivering prayers to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
– And many others duties as Allah Almighty commands them.How many angels are there?
The exact number of angels is known only to Allah and His Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him).
Who are the most well-known angels in Islam?
The four most well-known angels are:
Jibreel (Gabriel): Bringer of divine revelations.
Mikaeel (Michael): Overseer of rain and sustenance.
Israfeel: Blows the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.
Azraeel: Takes souls at the time of death.Do angels make mistakes?
No, angels do not make mistakes. They are infallible and free from all major and minor sins and act precisely according to Allah’s commands.
What is the role of Jibreel (Gabriel)?
Jibreel is tasked with delivering divine revelations to the Prophets. He brought the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
What is Mikaeel’s (Michael) role?
Mikaeel oversees rain, sustenance, and natural phenomena.
What does Israfeel do?
Israfeel is responsible for blowing the trumpet that will signal the Day of Judgment.
Who is Azraeel?
Azraeel is the Angel of Death. He takes the souls of the living at their appointed time.
What are Kiraman Katibeen?
Kiraman Katibeen are the angels assigned to record every person’s good and bad deeds.
What do Munkar and Nakeer do?
Munkar and Nakeer are the angels tasked with questioning the dead in their graves about their faith and actions.
Do angels have desires or temptations?
No, angels do not have desires or temptations. Unlike humans and jinn, they are not tested with free will.
Do angels get tired or sleep?
No, angels do not experience fatigue, hunger, or sleep. They continuously worship Allah and fulfill their duties.
Can humans see angels in their natural form?
No, humans cannot see angels in their natural form unless Allah allows it.
Are angels eternal?
No, angels are not eternal. They are created beings who exist as long as Allah wills.
Is it permissible to disrespect angels?
No, disrespecting angels, even slightly, is a grave sin and leads to disbelief. Statements like calling someone “Azraeel” are considered highly disrespectful and approaches to the boundary of disbelief (Kufr).
Can angels disobey Allah?
No, angels cannot disobey Allah. They are commanded to execute His commands without question or hesitation.
Are angels worshipped in Islam?
No, Muslims do not worship angels. Worship is reserved for Allah alone, and considering angels as objects of worship is an act of disbelief (Kufr).
What is the role of angels at the time of death?
The Angel of Death (Azraeel, Peace Be Upon Him) is responsible for taking the soul of the dying person, ensuring the process occurs as decreed by Allah.
Do angels punish wrongdoers?
Yes, some angels are tasked with administering punishment to wrongdoers, both in this world and the Hereafter.
What is the belief regarding angels and the Day of Judgment?
Angels play significant roles in the events of the Day of Judgment, such as Israfeel blowing the trumpet to signal its beginning.
Are angels involved in delivering prayers to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)?
Yes, angels convey the prayers and salutations of Muslims to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Can angels intervene in human lives?
Angels protect humans, guide them, and ensure Allah’s commands are implemented. However, they do so only as directed by Allah.
Is denying the existence of angels disbelief?
Yes, denying the existence of angels or claiming they are merely symbolic of good virtues is considered disbelief (Kufr).
Do angels have ranks?
Yes, angels have different ranks and levels of importance. Jibreel, Mikaeel, Israfeel, and Azraeel are among the highest-ranking angels.
How do angels interact with gatherings of remembrance (Dhikr)?
Angels actively seek gatherings where Allah is remembered. They surround such assemblies and shower blessings upon them.
Can angels influence natural phenomena?
Yes, angels like Mikaeel are tasked with overseeing natural phenomena such as rainfall and weather conditions.
How do angels manage the recording of deeds?
Each person has two angels, one on the right to record good deeds and one on the left to record bad deeds. These angels are called Kiraman Katibeen.
I’ve shared some key foundational beliefs in Islam, with more insights coming soon. Stay connected to deepen your understanding and strengthen your faith. Missed The Reverence for the Prophets in Islam? Click here!
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