Table of Contents
Introduction
Belief in the angels is one of the six pillars of faith in Islam. A Muslim cannot have sound faith without accepting what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have taught about the angels. This belief shapes how a person views the unseen, understands revelation, and feels watched and cared for by Allah’s creation that works constantly, even though it cannot be seen.
Allah mentions belief in the angels together with belief in Himself and in His Books and Messengers, which shows its great importance.
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers…”
(Qur’an 2:285)
And in the famous ḥadīth of Jibrīl, when the angel came in human form and asked the Prophet ﷺ about faith, the Prophet answered:
“…that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in divine decree, its good and its bad.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
From this, the scholars agreed that belief in the angels is an essential part of Islamic creed.
To be a believer, a person must affirm the existence of the angels, as described in the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, without denying, mocking, or twisting their reality.
The Nature of the Angels
Angels are created beings. They are not divine, they are not the children of Allah, and they do not share in His Lordship or His right to be worshiped. They are part of the unseen world which humans cannot perceive with their senses unless Allah wills.
Allah clearly denies any idea that angels are daughters or relatives of Allah.
“And they made the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.”
(Qur’an 43:19)
Angels are created from light, as the Prophet ﷺ informed:
“The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from what has been described to you.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This shows that angels are a distinct type of creation, different from humans and jinn. They have bodies, wings, and forms suited to the tasks Allah gave them, though we do not fully understand their reality.
“[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”
(Qur’an 35:1)
The angels are alive, they speak, they move, they love what Allah loves, and they hate what He hates. However they do not have the same type of desires that humans have, such as hunger, lust, and worldly ambitions. They do not marry or have children, and they do not eat or drink like humans. Their honor lies in constant obedience.
Obedience and Worship of the Angels
A central feature of the angels is their complete submission to Allah. They neither disobey His commands nor become tired of worship.
“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”
(Qur’an 66:6)
“To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they tire. They glorify [Him] night and day, never ceasing.”
(Qur’an 21:19–20)
The Qur’an also corrects any idea that angels are partners with Allah. They themselves declare their servitude.
“And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son, exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants. They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command.’”
(Qur’an 21:26–27)
Angels are honored servants of Allah. They have no share in divinity, and they are not to be worshiped, prayed to, or invoked in supplication.
Angels are always engaged in obedience: some are in constant bowing, some in constant prostration, some always glorifying Allah, and others inviting humans to good. The Prophet ﷺ said about Friday:
“On Friday there are angels at every door of the mosque who write down those who arrive first, then those who come next…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This shows their ceaseless activity in carrying out Allah’s commands and recording deeds.
The Number and Variety of Angels
Only Allah knows the true number of angels. The texts indicate that they are extremely many, filling the heavens and serving in countless tasks.
“And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him.”
(Qur’an 74:31)
The Prophet ﷺ was taken on the Night Journey to the highest heaven and informed about al‑Bayt al‑Maʿmūr, a sacred House in the heavens above the Kaʿbah. He said:
“Then I was shown al‑Bayt al‑Maʿmūr. I asked Jibrīl about it and he said, ‘This is al‑Bayt al‑Maʿmūr. Every day seventy thousand angels enter it, never to return to it again.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This narration alone shows that each day a completely new group of seventy thousand angels enters that sacred place, which indicates a number beyond human imagination.
There are different types of angels, with different tasks and ranks. Some names and categories are known to us through revelation, such as Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl, and the angel of death. Others are not named in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and we accept them in general without claiming to know their details.
Named Angels and Their Special Roles
Among the angels, some have been mentioned by name. Belief in them and in their specific roles is part of belief in the angels in a detailed way. What follows is not a complete list, but it highlights some of the most important.
Jibrīl عليه السلام
Jibrīl (Gabriel) is the most honored among the angels. His primary duty is to convey revelation from Allah to the prophets.
“Say, [O Muḥammad], ‘Whoever is an enemy to Jibrīl, it is he who has brought the Qur’an down upon your heart, by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good news for the believers.’”
(Qur’an 2:97)
He is strong and mighty, and he appeared to the Prophet ﷺ in his true form.
“He has been taught by one mighty in power, one of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form…”
(Qur’an 53:5–6)
The Prophet ﷺ described Jibrīl:
“I saw Jibrīl descending from heaven, and his great size filled the space between heaven and earth.”
(Reported in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim in meaning)
Jibrīl has accompanied many prophets, and he supported the believers in battle by Allah’s permission.
“Indeed, Allah aided you at Badr when you were few. So fear Allah that you may be grateful. [Remember] when you said to the believers, ‘Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?’”
(Qur’an 3:123–124)
Mīkāʾīl عليه السلام
Mīkāʾīl is responsible for rain and provision by the command of Allah, directing the forces of nature in a way that brings life to the earth.
In a supplication, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned:
“O Allah, Lord of Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl, and Isrāfīl, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen, You judge between Your servants concerning that wherein they differ…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Mentioning Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl, and Isrāfīl together shows their high rank and important roles in carrying out Allah’s commands.
Isrāfīl عليه السلام
Isrāfīl is the angel entrusted with blowing the Trumpet that will announce the end of this world and the beginning of the Resurrection. Allah says:
“And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.”
(Qur’an 39:68)
The Prophet ﷺ also mentioned Isrāfīl, as in the supplication just cited, which shows that Muslims affirm his existence and his key role related to the Last Day.
Malak al‑Mawt (The Angel of Death)
Allah speaks of the angel assigned to take people’s souls at death.
“Say, ‘The angel of death who has been given charge of you will take your soul, then to your Lord you will be returned.’”
(Qur’an 32:11)
In other verses, Allah states that it is He who causes people to die, and that angels and messengers of death take souls. There is no contradiction. Allah is the true doer of all things, and the angels carry out His command.
“Those whose souls the angels take in a state of purity, they say, ‘Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do.’”
(Qur’an 16:32)
So the angel of death and his helpers take the souls of people at the time appointed, with gentleness for the believers and harshness for the disbelievers, by Allah’s justice and wisdom.
The Angels of Revelation, Protection, and Tasks
Besides these named angels, there are many categories with specific tasks.
There are angels who guard and protect people by Allah’s permission.
“For each one are successive [angels] before and behind, protecting them by the command of Allah.”
(Qur’an 13:11)
There are angels who manage tasks in the universe, each operating under Allah’s command.
“By those [angels] lined up in rows, and those who drive the clouds, and those who recite the message…”
(Qur’an 37:1–3)
Muslim scholars understood from these verses that different groups of angels are dedicated to different actions, such as lining in ranks, driving winds and clouds, and reciting Allah’s verses.
The Recording Angels
Every human being is accompanied by angels who write down their words and deeds. This belief nurtures awareness that nothing escapes Allah’s knowledge and that our actions are documented for the Day of Judgment.
“And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, noble and recording. They know whatever you do.”
(Qur’an 82:10–12)
Allah also says:
“When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer ready [to record].”
(Qur’an 50:17–18)
The angel on the right records good deeds. The angel on the left records bad deeds. There are narrations that show how merciful Allah is, including a delay before writing a bad deed to give the person a chance to repent.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The one on the right is in charge of the one on the left. So if the servant does a good deed, it is written as ten good deeds. And if he does a bad deed, the one on the right says to the one on the left, ‘Wait for perhaps he will repent.’”
(Reported in Ṭabarānī and others with supporting narrations)
Even if the exact wording varies between narrations, the general idea is supported by the Prophet’s statements that a good deed is multiplied and that a bad deed is written only as one unless Allah forgives it.
Every word and action is written by noble angels. Remembering this helps a believer to guard the tongue, correct intentions, and hasten to repentance.
Angels and Human Beings
Angels are closely involved with human life from before birth until after death. They are not distant observers. They carry out many tasks connected to people’s creation, guidance, protection, and judgment, always by Allah’s permission.
Angels at Creation and in the Womb
The Prophet ﷺ described how an angel is sent to the womb during pregnancy:
“The creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days as a drop, then he is a clot for a similar period, then a lump of flesh for a similar period. Then the angel is sent to him and breathes the soul into him and is commanded to write four things: his provision, his lifespan, his deeds, and whether he will be wretched or blessed.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This shows that angels have a role in the stages of human development, by Allah’s decree.
Angels Who Guard and Protect
As mentioned earlier, there are angels who guard people by the command of Allah.
“For each one are successive [angels] before and behind, protecting them by the command of Allah.”
(Qur’an 13:11)
They protect a person from harm that is not decreed to reach him. When Allah decrees that something will occur, they do not prevent it. This protection is one of the many unseen blessings that a believer enjoys.
Angels and Guidance to Good
The Prophet ﷺ explained that each person has both an angel and a devil that whisper to him.
“There is none among you but there has been appointed for him a companion from among the jinn and a companion from among the angels.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, others)
The angel encourages truth, patience, and goodness, while the devil encourages evil. This struggle continues as long as a person lives. Remembering the angelic influence helps a believer accept the thoughts that lead to obedience and resist those that lead to sin.
Angels Visiting Gatherings of Remembrance
The angels love gatherings in which Allah is remembered. They attend such gatherings, surround them with their wings, and mention those people to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah has angels who travel the roads seeking the people of remembrance [of Allah]. When they find a people who remember Allah, they call to one another, ‘Come to what you were seeking.’ Then they circle around them with their wings up to the lowest heaven…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī)
In another narration he said:
“No people sit together remembering Allah except that the angels surround them, mercy covers them, tranquility descends upon them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This encourages the believer to join study circles, Qur’an recitation groups, and private gatherings of remembrance, knowing that the unseen world is present and that angels are recording and supplicating.
Angels and the Believer at Death and in the Grave
When a believer is near death, righteous angels come with a peaceful and comforting message.
“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast, the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise which you were promised.’”
(Qur’an 41:30)
The angels that take the soul of the believer do so gently, while for the disbeliever they come with harshness.
“If you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved, striking their faces and their backs and [saying], ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.’”
(Qur’an 8:50)
In the grave, two angels, commonly known as Munkar and Nakīr, come to question the deceased about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned:
“When the deceased is placed in his grave and his companions turn away from him, he hears the sound of their sandals. Then two angels come to him and make him sit up and say, ‘What did you use to say about this man, Muḥammad?’…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
The believer answers correctly by Allah’s grace and finds comfort. The hypocrite or disbeliever fails and faces punishment. Belief in these angels and their questioning is part of belief in the unseen.
Angels and Revelation
Belief in the angels is intimately connected with belief in revelation. The Qur’an did not arrive directly as a voice without an intermediary. Instead Allah chose to send down His words by way of the trustworthy angel Jibrīl.
“It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds, brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], that you may be one of the warners.”
(Qur’an 26:192–194)
The Prophet ﷺ received revelation sometimes through Jibrīl in his angelic form and sometimes in human form, such as when he came as a man to teach the Companions their religion. The ḥadīth of Jibrīl, which mentions Islam, īmān, and iḥsān, is an example.
Belief in the angels therefore confirms that revelation is not a human invention. It came from Allah, delivered by angels who do not betray or alter its content.
Denying the role of the angels in revelation, or claiming that prophets invented what they received, is a rejection of the Qur’an and of a pillar of faith.
Angels in Acts of Worship
Angels have a continuous relationship with human worship. They attend prayers, they record sincerity and humility, and they witness sermons and supplications.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the imam says ‘Āmīn,’ then say ‘Āmīn,’ for if a person’s ‘Āmīn’ coincides with the ‘Āmīn’ of the angels, his past sins will be forgiven.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
He also mentioned the angels at the doors of the mosque on Friday:
“On the day of Jumuʿah the angels stand at the door of the mosque and write down the people in order of their coming. The one who comes early is like one who offers a camel, then those after him like one who offers a cow, then a ram, then a chicken, then an egg. When the imam comes out, they fold up their scrolls and listen to the remembrance.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This shows that angels not only record our attendance, but also value the eagerness of a believer to attend prayer and the sermon.
There are also angels who send blessings upon those who remain in their place of prayer after finishing, as long as they do not break their state of purity or cause harm.
“The angels continue to send prayers upon one of you so long as he remains in the place where he prayed and does not break his wudū’. They say, ‘O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, have mercy on him.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī)
Love and Hatred of the Angels
The angels love the believers who obey Allah and follow His messengers. When Allah loves a servant, He commands Jibrīl to love him, and the angels in heaven also love him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibrīl and says, ‘I love so‑and‑so, so love him.’ Then Jibrīl loves him and announces in the heavens, ‘Allah loves so‑and‑so, so love him.’ Then the inhabitants of the heavens love him, and acceptance is placed for him on earth.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
On the other hand, the angels distance themselves from impurity, foul speech, and disobedience. They dislike the smell of what humans also find repulsive, and they do not accompany those who engage in clear sins without repentance.
The Prophet ﷺ said about keeping the houses free of images and dogs:
“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or images.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
This does not mean that all angels stay away from such a place, because recording angels are always with a person, but it shows that angels of mercy and blessing avoid environments of disobedience.
Belief in the angels should motivate a Muslim to create a home and a life that welcomes angels of mercy: clean, free of forbidden images, filled with remembrance of Allah and acts of obedience.
The Correct Attitude Toward Angels
A Muslim’s relationship with the angels is based on knowledge, respect, and boundaries set by revelation.
First, a Muslim must believe in all the angels in general, and in those who are named or whose roles are described, in detail. Belief in them includes affirming their existence, their servitude to Allah, and the tasks mentioned in the texts.
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers…”
(Qur’an 2:285)
Second, a Muslim must avoid any form of exaggeration. Angels cannot be prayed to, sought for forgiveness directly, or taken as partners with Allah. They are creatures, and duʿāʾ is for the Creator alone.
Third, a Muslim must avoid mockery and careless speech. Making fun of the angels or denying their existence is a form of disbelief, because it is a rejection of what Allah has clearly revealed.
Fourth, a Muslim should feel comforted by the presence and support of the angels. Knowing that there are angels who protect, record, and pray for the believers brings reassurance and inspires good behavior. Yet this comfort is always tied to obedience to Allah, because the angels love what Allah loves and hate what He hates.
Belief in the angels is to affirm their existence as honored servants of Allah, avoid worshiping or exaggerating about them, and let awareness of their presence guide one to purity, sincerity, and obedience.
Effects of Belief in the Angels on Daily Life
Sound belief is not merely information. It shapes feelings and actions. Belief in the angels has several effects on a Muslim’s daily behavior.
First, it strengthens awareness that Allah is watching. Even when a person is alone, angels are recording. This reduces hypocrisy and secret sin.
“Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer ready [to record].”
(Qur’an 50:18)
Second, it encourages good company and gatherings of remembrance, knowing that angels attend such gatherings and that Allah mentions those who remember Him.
Third, it teaches humility. Angels are much stronger and more obedient than humans, yet they are still servants of Allah. If these mighty beings are humble and constantly worshiping, then humans have even more reason to submit and ask Allah for forgiveness.
Fourth, it brings hope and comfort during fear, loneliness, and death. The believer knows that righteous angels are with him in prayer, in travel, in the grave, and on the Day of Judgment.
“And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], ‘Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. Excellent indeed is the final home.’”
(Qur’an 13:23–24)
Finally, belief in the angels keeps a believer safe from superstitions about unseen forces. Instead of attributing events to imaginary spirits or random luck, the believer knows that Allah controls all affairs, that He has angels carrying out His commands, and that true safety lies in obedience, duʿāʾ, and trust in Him.
With this understanding, belief in the angels becomes a living part of īmān, not a distant idea. It constantly reminds the believer of the unseen world that surrounds him and the meeting with Allah that awaits him.