Belief in Angels

Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Angels were created from light, Jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you (in the Quran and Sunnah)." [Sahih Muslim]

Belief in angels, according to what has been revealed concerning them in the Quran and Sunnah, is one of the pillars of eeman. The angles are the noble servants of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), they do as He commands and never disobey Him. They are beings created from light, neither male nor female. They do not have fathers, mothers, mates, or children. Their sustenance is the remembrance and glorification of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). They act without restriction in creation according to what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has permitted for them.

Ten angels we are informed by name about are:
1) Jibreel: duty to dispense revelation to the Messengers of Allah.
2) Mikail: in charge of rain.
3) Israfil: in charge of blowing the horn on the Day of Judgement.
4) Izrail: the angel of death, in charge of taking souls from their bodies.
5 & 6) Munkar and Nakeer: the angels that question the dead in the graves.
7 & 8) Raqeeb and Ateed: the angels that record the good and bad deeds.
9) Ridwaan: the gatekeeper of Paradise.
10) Maalik: the gatekeeper of the Fire.

The virtue of belief in angels is that it helps us to appreciate the dignity of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), His might, and His sovereignty. It helps instill gratitude in us toward Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) because He put some of the angels in charge of His servants, recording their deeds, protecting them and praying for them. We also love and admire the angels because of their worshipping Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in the best possible manner and because they pray for the believers.

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