Angels

How do Muslims view Angels?

Angels are believed to be among God’s many creations, and belief in angels is symbolic of a Muslim’s belief in al-Ghayb, the world of the unseen (a world of which only God has knowledge). Angels are considered heavenly beings created by God to perform various duties. Angels by nature do not deviate from righteousness, as they do not possess an inherent free will as do human beings. They are special creatures of Allah, and they have been created from divine-light (Nûr) to perform specific functions.

Some angels are considered more prominent than others. Jibreel (Gabriel), for example, is known as the “Angel of Revelation,” since he communicated God’s revelations and scriptures to various human prophets, and also announced (much to her surprise and incredulity) to Mary, mother of Jesus, that she would bear the messiah awaited by the Children of Israel. Indeed, Jibreel is uniquely described in the Qur’an as a Spirit (Ruh) from God due to his role in bridging the divine and human spheres.

Muslims also believe that each human being is assigned two angels by God: one to keep track of good deeds, and the other to record bad deeds or sins. Tradition holds that these “personal” angels will present the records of one’s deeds to each individual as he or she stands before God on the Day of Judgement.

Can we see Angels?

We can not see them, unless they appear in human form. Angel Jibrail once appeared before a gathering of the companions of the prophet in order to teach them about Islam.

How do Angels differ from men?

They always obey Allah and can never disobey Him. They do not have free will but men, on the other hand, have been given free will and can choose either right or wrong. This is why men will have to face the test on the Day of Judgement. The angels never get tired, they do not need sleep and they are always ready to obey Allah.

What are the duties of the Angels?

We are informed by the Qur’an that angels do what Allah commands them. They are the innocent servants of Allah’s will. They can not act against the will of God. The angels provide strength to the worshippers, intercede and invoke to God on behalf of human beings. The specific duties of angels are as follow:

Jibreel: Brought the revelation from Allah to the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to all other prophets.

Izrail: Also called “the Angel of Death” (Malak al-Mawt) is responsible for ending our life.

Israfil: Will blow the trumpet at the time of the End of the world and on the Day of Judgement.

Mikail (Michael): Puts the events of nature in order and maintains them.

Some angels are busy recording all that we do. They are called the Respected Recorders / Kiraman Katibin.