Belief in Angels in Islam
Introduction: The Foundational Principle of Belief in Angels
Belief in angels is the second pillar of faith in Islam, which consists of six fundamental pillars upon which the religion of Islam is based. These pillars were mentioned in the famous Hadith of Gabriel when he asked the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, about faith, and he said: “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in predestination, both good and evil.” This Hadith emphasizes that belief in angels is not merely a desirable or secondary matter, but rather an integral part of a Muslim’s creed, and denying this pillar is considered a deficiency in faith, and may even invalidate it. The Holy Quran has affirmed the importance of belief in angels in numerous places, where Allah Almighty has linked belief in them with belief in Him and in the Last Day, indicating their great status in the Islamic religion.
Belief in the unseen (Ghaib) represents a central aspect of Islamic doctrine, and angels are an inherent part of this unseen world that humans cannot perceive with their physical senses. Understanding the nature of angels and their various roles gives the believer a deeper appreciation for the greatness of the Creator, the Almighty, and His power that manifested in the creation of these luminous beings. Furthermore, belief in angels is a crucial element in the comprehensive Islamic view of the universe, as it explains the workings and governance of the cosmos beyond the tangible physical laws, pointing to the existence of divine forces and authorities operating in this existence. The mention of angels directly after belief in Allah in the pillars of faith clearly demonstrates the supreme theological importance of these creatures in the Islamic conception. This order indicates that belief in angels and understanding them is a logical consequence of believing in Allah and His comprehensive creation.
The Essence and Attributes of Angels
It is mentioned in the religious texts that Allah Almighty created angels from light (Nur). This luminous origin distinguishes them from the world of humans, who were created from clay, and from the world of jinn, who were created from smokeless fire. This fundamental attribute of angels, which is their creation from light, indicates their spiritual and divine nature, granting them purity and sublimity that transcends the material world. However, it is worth noting that some sources also mention that they were created from fire , which may indicate differences in the nature of some types of angels or in the scholarly interpretations of these texts.
Angels are characterized by unique attributes that make them different from humans and jinn. They do not need food, drink, sleep, or procreation , and they are free from the desires and physical urges that may preoccupy humans. They are also pure beings, infallible and immune to sin , and they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are ordered. They do not have free will in the sense that allows them to choose to disobey Allah , but rather their nature and innate disposition always make them obey Allah’s commands. The number of angels is estimated to be immense, and only Allah knows their true count. Among the distinctive attributes of angels is that they are neither male nor female , and attributing gender to them is considered one of the matters for which there is no evidence in Islamic law. Many angels have wings, and the Quran and Sunnah describe them with varying numbers of wings, some having two, three, or four, while it is mentioned that Gabriel, peace be upon him, has six hundred wings. Despite their description with wings, the nature of these wings is angelic and not similar to the physical wings of birds , indicating that some of these descriptions may carry symbolic or metaphorical connotations expressing their speed and ability to carry out Allah’s commands.
Despite the fact that angels are immaterial beings, they have the ability to take on forms and appear in material forms, often appearing in the form of humans. It is mentioned in the Hadith that Gabriel, peace be upon him, often appeared to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the form of a man. He also appeared in human form to Mary, peace be upon her, and to the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. This ability to take on forms facilitates their interaction with the material world and with the prophets in particular, enabling them to convey divine messages in a way that humans can understand.
The Diverse Tasks and Functions of Angels
Angels in Islam have diverse and numerous tasks and functions that they perform by the command of Allah Almighty. Among the most prominent of these tasks is that Gabriel, peace be upon him, is the angel entrusted with divine revelation, and he is the one who descends with messages and revelation from Allah to the prophets and messengers. Gabriel was the one who brought the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him , and he also conveyed messages to other prophets such as Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them. The role of Gabriel, peace be upon him, is central in Islam as the primary link between Allah and humanity through the prophets.
As for the angel Michael, peace be upon him, he is responsible for rain, sustenance, and other natural phenomena by the command of Allah. This role highlights the intricate way in which Allah manages the natural world through His angels. Angels also participate in controlling the maintenance of the universe and the operation of various natural laws , indicating a precise divine system in which angels play a crucial role in the balance and functioning of the cosmos.
The Angel of Death is the angel entrusted with taking the souls of humans when their appointed time comes to an end. The common name for this angel is “Azrael,” but it is not mentioned in the Holy Quran or in the authentic prophetic Hadith. This role emphasizes the reality of death as a divine event carried out by angels.
There are also the honorable recording angels (Kiraman Katibin), who are two angels assigned to every human being, recording their deeds and words, whether good or bad. One of them sits on the right side to record good deeds, while the other sits on the left side to record bad deeds. This belief emphasizes the responsibility of humans for their actions in this life, as these records will be presented to them on the Day of Judgment.
Among the angels are also the guardians (Hafaza), who are responsible for protecting and preserving humans throughout their lives. These angels guard individuals from harm and calamities by the command of Allah , and they are sometimes referred to as guardian angels.
As for the angels of the grave, the most famous of them are Munkar and Nakir, who are two angels that come to the deceased after burial to ask them about their Lord, their religion, and their prophet. This belief highlights the immediate accountability after death and the importance of a person’s faith in their life.
There are also the angels who bear the Throne (Hamalat al-Arsh), who are great angels carrying the Throne of Allah Almighty. These angels are majestic and powerful beings who constantly glorify and praise Allah. This indicates the greatness and majesty of Allah, as He is surrounded by angels in constant worship around His Throne.
Paradise and Hell also have angels assigned to them. Ridwan is the angel in charge of Paradise , and Malik is the chief guardian of Hell , overseeing the angels of Hell known as the Zabaniyah. These roles link the belief in angels to the Islamic understanding of the afterlife and divine justice.
In addition to these main tasks, there are other specific roles for angels. Israfil, peace be upon him, is the angel responsible for blowing the trumpet, signaling the beginning of the Day of Judgment. Angels also participate in inspiring good thoughts in people’s hearts. They are also associated with rituals of purity and humility, and they are repelled by impurity and foul odors. Angels pray for believers and seek forgiveness for them. Angels participated in battles alongside the believers in some of the conquests, such as the Battle of Badr. There are angels responsible for natural phenomena such as winds and thunder , angels entrusted with the mountains , angels who seek out gatherings of remembrance and assemblies where the name of Allah is mentioned , and even angels who participate in the formation of the fetus in the mother’s womb. This vast diversity in the roles of angels highlights their comprehensive participation in all aspects of creation, both visible and invisible.
The Importance and Impact of Belief in Angels
Belief in angels holds great importance and has a profound impact on the life of a Muslim. Regarding belief in Allah, the conviction in the existence of angels and their immense power strengthens faith in the greatness, majesty, and boundless power of Allah, which manifested in the creation and management of these magnificent beings. Furthermore, understanding their complete obedience to Allah’s commands highlights His absolute authority and complete control over all His creation.
In terms of understanding the unseen world, belief in angels opens a window for the believer into this hidden realm that physical senses cannot perceive. It acknowledges the existence of other beings and forces that interact with our world but which we cannot see or touch directly.
Belief in angels also encourages righteous conduct and good morals. The awareness that angels constantly record a person’s deeds and words, whether good or bad , motivates the believer to be careful in their actions and speech and to strive to do good deeds and avoid bad ones. Moreover, the belief in the existence of guardian angels may deter individuals from doing evil or falling into sins out of respect for these noble beings and awareness of their presence.
Belief in angels provides the believer with comfort and tranquility in times of hardship and difficulty. The belief that there are angels who protect believers and pray for them with goodness and mercy can give them a sense of peace and divine support. Also, knowing that angels participate in the governance and management of the universe by the command of Allah can give the believer a sense of order and purpose in this existence.
Belief in angels also helps in avoiding false beliefs and superstitions that may spread in societies. The clear Islamic teachings about the nature and roles of angels correct misconceptions, such as the belief that they are female or that they possess divine attributes. Islam emphasizes the necessity of relying on the revealed knowledge from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet instead of conjectures or myths.
Finally, the attributes of angels, such as their constant worship of Allah and their complete obedience to His commands, can inspire believers to try to emulate these attributes in their lives. Furthermore, the stories of the interactions of angels with prophets and believers in the Quran and Sunnah can provide them with guidance and encouragement to do good and draw closer to Allah.
Angels in Islamic Philosophy and Sufism
Islamic philosophy and Sufism also address the concept of angels from different perspectives. In Islamic philosophy, angelic attributes, such as intellect and spirit, are seen as part of human nature, contrasting with satanic attributes such as egoism. This perspective links the concept of angels to the inner life of humans and their moral conscience, suggesting the possibility of humans embodying angelic attributes through spiritual growth.
In Sufism, a deeper understanding of angels is presented, where they are sometimes seen as manifestations of Allah’s beautiful attributes. Some Sufis, such as Ibn Arabi, discuss the hierarchy of beings and the possibility of humans, especially the “perfect human” (Insan Kamil), surpassing angels in spiritual rank. There is also an idea in some Sufi traditions that angels were created from the light of Muhammad, peace be upon him , highlighting the central role of the Prophet in creation according to these views. Early Sufis advised their followers to emulate angels in their worship and obedience, while later Sufis like Ibn Arabi suggested surpassing them in spiritual striving, reflecting the evolution of Sufi thought on the ideal spiritual path and the role of angels as models.
Conclusion: Reflecting on the Greatness of Allah’s Creation
In conclusion, it becomes clear that belief in angels is a fundamental pillar of faith in Islam, a firm conviction in the existence of great luminous beings created by Allah Almighty to worship Him and carry out His commands. Angels are characterized by unique attributes such as purity of nature and complete obedience to Allah, and they perform crucial and diverse roles in the universe, from conveying divine revelation to interacting with the daily lives of humans and managing the affairs of the Hereafter.
It is essential to emphasize the importance of adhering to what is mentioned in the Holy Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet when understanding the concept of angels in Islam , and to avoid relying on conjectures or unreliable narrations. Belief in angels enriches the believer’s understanding of the unseen world and strengthens their faith in the greatness, power, and wisdom of Allah that manifested in the creation of these wonderful and diverse beings. The existence of angels and their multiple functions testifies to the absolute divine power and supreme wisdom of the Creator, the Almighty.
