Introduction
In Islam, angels are beings made by God from light. They live in the unseen world and work as servants of God. They always obey His commands without any questions. Believing in angels is very important in Islam. The Quran and Hadith books tell us that every Muslim must believe in angels along with other beliefs. If someone denies that angels exist, it is considered a big mistake in Islam.
Angels are mentioned many times in the Quran. They help prophets, write down what people do, help believers, and carry out Gods punishments. This report talks about the important angels in Islam, what work they do, and why they are important.
Nature and Qualities of Angels
Islam teaches that angels are pure and obedient beings. They are different from humans and jinn. According to Hadith, angels were created from light. This shows their bright and spiritual nature. Unlike humans, angels do not have bodily needs. They do not eat, drink, sleep or marry. They never want to sin.
The Quran says that angels never disobey God and always do what they are told. Angels have no gender. The Quran criticizes people who called angels female or daughters of God. Angels are usually invisible to humans, but they can take human form when needed. For example, Angel Gabriel appeared as a man to Mary and to Prophet Muhammads companions.
The Quran says angels have wings in different numbers like two, three or four wings. But we cannot usually see these wings. Angels are shown as noble servants of Allah. They have no ego and are completely devoted to worshipping God. The Quran says they praise Him day and night without stopping.
Roles and Work of Angels
Angels in Islam do many different jobs. All their work is about following Gods will. The Quran and Hadith describe angels who worship God all the time, deliver Gods messages, help and protect believers, and manage nature with Gods permission.
For example, Angel Gabriel brings revelations to prophets. He brought down the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. Angel Michael is connected with giving sustenance and rain by Gods command. Many angels are assigned to work with humans. They guard each person from front and back by Allahs order. They record every deed that each person says or does. They also test the souls of dead people.
Angels also do cosmic tasks. An angel will blow the trumpet to signal the end of the world and Judgment Day. Angels carry the Throne of God and praise Him. The Quran shows angels as Gods agents who deliver justice. They helped believers in battles. They punish bad people at Gods command. They accompany the Angel of Death to take the souls of wrongdoers harshly, beating their faces and backs as written in scripture. In all their duties, angels show absolute obedience. They reflect the power and mercy of Allah.
Gabriel - The Messenger of Revelation
Gabriel is the most famous angel in Islam. He is honored as the chief messenger who delivers Allahs revelations to the prophets. Gabriel brought the verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years. He also brought messages to earlier prophets like Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
The Quran mentions Gabriel by name in some passages. For example, Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, it is he who brought the Quran down upon your heart by permission of Allah. Gabriel is described in Hadith as a magnificent being with 600 wings filling the sky. However, he appeared in his true form to Muhammad only twice. More often, he appeared in human form. He came as a man to teach Muslims about their faith in the famous Hadith of Gabriel.
Besides delivering scripture, Gabriel supported the Prophet in important moments. He went with Muhammad during the Night Journey and in battles like Badr. Because of his important role in communication between Allah and mankind, Gabriel is highly respected. The Quran warns that being hostile toward Gabriel or any angel is a mark of disbelief. In summary, Angel Gabriels duty is to be the trustworthy messenger who brings Gods words and guidance to people.
Michael - Angel of Provision and Nature
Michael is another very important angel in Islam. He is mentioned by name in the Quran alongside Gabriel. While Gabriel handles revelation, Michael is in charge of providing sustenance to all creatures. This includes distributing rain, managing vegetation, and ensuring food reaches every living thing by Gods will.
Islamic scholars say Michael commands a group of angels who control the weather, winds and clouds. When rain falls to help crops grow or to quench thirst, it is part of Michaels responsibility under Gods orders. The Prophet Muhammad said that Gabriel is on his right side and Michael is on his left side.
Michael is also believed to have helped Muslim fighters in the Battle of Badr by sending rain to help them. Like Gabriel, Michael is honored and loved in Islam. Muslims are told to respect both Gabriel and Michael, and enmity toward either of them is considered disbelief. Michaels role in providing for all creatures reminds believers that their daily bread comes from Allah through His angelic servants.
Israfil - The Angel of the Trumpet
Israfil is the angel who will blow the trumpet to announce the Day of Judgment. Although his name does not appear directly in the Quran, Islamic tradition strongly identifies him as the angel of the trumpet mentioned in the Quran. His job is one of the most dramatic tasks in Islamic belief.
When Allah orders, Israfil will blow the trumpet for the first time. This will cause all living beings to die and the universe to collapse. Then he will blow it a second time, and all the dead will be resurrected and brought back to life for judgment. Until that moment comes, Israfil is said to be in constant readiness with the trumpet at his lips, waiting for Allahs command.
This shows the seriousness of the Last Day and how angels play key roles in major cosmic events. Hadith describes Israfil as a magnificent angel. His role makes Muslims think about the end of the world and the Day of Resurrection.
Azrael - The Angel of Death
Azrael is known as the Angel of Death in Islamic tradition. His name is not mentioned in the Quran, but the Quran does mention an angel of death who is charged with taking souls. Over time, Islamic scholars named this angel Azrael. His main duty is to take the souls from the bodies of people when their time comes.
According to Islamic belief, Azrael knows when each person will die because this information is written in a heavenly record. When someone dies, Azrael or his helper angels come to separate the soul from the body. For righteous people, this process is peaceful and gentle. The angels greet them with peace and good news. For sinners and disbelievers, the removal of the soul is harsh and painful.
Azrael does not decide who lives or dies. He only carries out Allahs command at the exact time Allah has decreed. His role reminds Muslims that death is certain and that every soul will taste death. This encourages people to prepare for the afterlife by doing good deeds.
Guardian Angels - Watching Over People
Islam teaches that every person is assigned guardian angels. These angels stay with each person throughout their life. Some protect the person from harm, watching from the front and back by Allahs permission. They guard people from unseen dangers like jinn and evil forces unless Allah allows something to happen as a test or punishment.
These guardian angels also write down everything a person does. According to the Quran and Hadith, there are noble recorder angels on the right and left of each person. The angel on the right records good deeds, while the angel on the left records bad deeds. They write down every word spoken and every action done. Nothing is hidden from them.
On the Day of Judgment, these records will be presented, and people will be judged based on what is written. This belief makes Muslims very conscious of their behavior. Knowing that angels are always watching encourages people to be honest, kind and righteous even when no other human is watching.
Munkar and Nakir - Angels of the Grave
Munkar and Nakir are two angels who question the dead in their graves. After a person is buried, these two angels come to the grave to test the soul. They ask three important questions. Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?
A true believer will answer correctly, saying Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is my prophet. After giving the right answers, the believer will experience comfort and peace in the grave until the Day of Resurrection.
However, a disbeliever or hypocrite will not be able to answer properly. They will be confused and will face punishment in the grave. This test of the grave is called the Trial of the Grave in Islamic teachings. It is part of the Barzakh, the period between death and resurrection. The Prophet Muhammad taught his followers to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave. He also encouraged Muslims to prepare for this test by living a life of faith and righteousness.
Ridwan and Malik - Keepers of Paradise and Hell
Islamic tradition mentions angels who are in charge of Paradise and Hell. Ridwan is said to be the chief angel in charge of Paradise. He welcomes the righteous souls into Paradise and manages the affairs of Heaven under Allahs command. When believers enter Paradise, Ridwan and the angels of mercy greet them with peace.
On the other side, Malik is the chief angel in charge of Hell. He oversees the angels who guard Hell and punish the inmates. The Quran mentions that the people of Hell will cry out to Malik, saying, Let your Lord put an end to us. But Malik will reply that they must stay there.
The angels who work under Malik are described as stern and harsh. They never disobey Allahs orders, and they do exactly what they are commanded to do. These angels are called the keepers of Hellfire. They number 19 according to the Quran. The existence of Ridwan and Malik shows that the afterlife has an organized system managed by angels who execute divine justice.
Harut and Marut - The Angels of Magic
Harut and Marut are two angels mentioned in the Quran in connection with magic. According to the Quran, these two angels were sent down to Babylon. They taught people magic, but they always warned people first. They would say, We are only a test, so do not disbelieve.
Despite the warning, some people learned the magic from them and used it for evil purposes like causing trouble between husband and wife. Islamic scholars explain this story as a lesson about temptation and free will. Even knowledge that could be beneficial can be misused by humans.
The story of Harut and Marut is unique because it shows angels interacting with humans in a morally testing situation. It also teaches that any supernatural power is only by Gods permission, not by the independent power of angels.
Other Angels
Islamic books mention many more angels. Each angel has a particular job in the universe. For example, there is an Angel of the Mountains who was sent to Prophet Muhammad after the people of Taif rejected him. This angel offered to crush the hostile people between mountains, but the Prophet chose mercy instead.
There are angels connected with rain and clouds. Some work under Michaels command to make sure rain falls where it is needed. Some angels travel the earth looking for gatherings where God is remembered. They join these gatherings and bless them. Other angels are assigned to support believers or keep devils away.
In short, there are countless angels in Islam. Each angel or group of angels is trusted with part of creation or the divine plan. From angels who constantly praise Allah in the heavens to those who travel the world carrying out His orders, every angelic duty shows Gods wisdom and power. Muslims often remember these angels in daily life. Being aware of the recording angels encourages good behavior. Remembering the guardian angels gives comfort that God protects us.
Importance in Islamic Belief
Angels are very important in Islamic theology and spirituality. Belief in angels is listed as one of the six Articles of Faith. The Angel Gabriel once came to the Prophet and asked about faith. The Prophet said that faith includes believing in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree.
The Quran also stresses this belief. It says that whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers and the Last Day has gone far astray. So accepting that angels exist is a must for being a Muslim.
This is important for many reasons. Angels are the way Gods messages reach humanity. Without angels, there would be no revelation and no Quran. Angels are also witnesses to our lives. They record our deeds. This supports the Islamic idea of accountability and divine justice. Knowing that angels are writing down our actions makes us feel responsible for what we do.
Angels also manage nature and the universe. They direct rain, food, life and death. This reflects the oneness of God in controlling the universe through His angels. In worship, Muslims are aware of angels presence. During prayer, Muslims turn their head right and left at the end to greet the angels that are with each person. Angels are also models of devotion. Their perfect obedience and constant praise of God set an example for believers.
Sunni and Shia Views on Angels
All Islamic groups believe in angels. However, there are small differences in how they understand angels. Sunni Islam teaches that angels are completely obedient by nature. They cannot sin or disobey Allahs commands. This view says that angels do not have free will like humans. Their obedience is part of how they were created.
Sunni scholars quote the Quran which says angels never disobey whatever Allah orders and always do as commanded. They say this proves angels cannot make mistakes. Sunnis also say that Satan was not a fallen angel. He was actually a jinn who rebelled. True angels would never rebel.
Shia View
Shia Islam also believes in angels and agrees on the major angels like Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Azrael. Shia books also praise these angels and describe their work. One small difference is about free will. Shia scholars generally believe that angels have limited free will but no desire to sin.
This means angels could choose to disobey in theory, but because they are pure and know Gods greatness, they always choose to obey. They have no wish to rebel. This does not really differ from the Sunni belief that angels are sinless, but it frames it as voluntary perfect obedience.
Both Sunnis and Shias agree that angels are honored servants of Allah, not gods or objects of worship. Both groups tell the story of Gabriel bringing the Quran to Muhammad faithfully. Both groups include love of angels as part of faith. Shia stories might add that angels have spiritual connections with the Prophets family or the Imams. For example, some Shia stories describe angels mourning the death of Imam Husayn or giving divine knowledge to the Imams. However, these details do not change the basic understanding of who angels are and what they do.
In essence, Sunni and Shia Muslims agree on the reality and importance of angels. Both see angels as beings of light who serve as Allahs dutiful agents. Both reject the idea of angels as goddesses or daughters of God, keeping a strict belief in one God.
Conclusion
In Islam, angels have a central and respected place in the universe. They are necessary to the Islamic worldview. They form a bridge between the Creator and creation. Through angels, Allah communicates with prophets, sustains His creation, guards and tests human souls, and carries out the events of the end times.
Each named angel shows a part of Allahs power and wisdom. Gabriel delivers revelation. Michael regulates sustenance. Israfil sounds the trumpet. Azrael handles souls. Countless other angels do other duties. They make sure that not even the smallest thing escapes Gods perfect control.
For Muslims, learning about angels is not just about listing supernatural beings. It is a reminder of unseen forces always at work. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration. The angels absolute loyalty, humility and constant worship of God set a standard for believers. Their protective and recording work encourages awareness and moral responsibility in daily life.
In the end, the teaching about angels strengthens key themes of Islamic theology. It shows the greatness and power of God who commands armies of angels. It proves there is life beyond the physical world. It shows all creation is connected under Gods command. It assures believers they are never alone. They are supported by good angels in times of goodness and guarded from evil except by Gods will.
At the same time, it warns that our actions are witnessed and recorded by angels to be weighed on Judgment Day. Thus, the complete Islamic story of angels, based on the Quran and Hadith and preserved in the teachings of both Sunni and Shia scholars, helps deepen faith and awareness of God. In summary, angels in Islam are not just mythical figures. They are an important part of the divine system and a constant reminder of Gods presence in every part of the universe.