Belief in the angels
What a Muslim believes about the angels, their nature, and the four angels of the highest rank.
The second thing every Muslim believes in is the angels, called malāʾikah. Allah made them out of light. We cannot see them, but they are really there, in the heavens and on the earth.
What we believe about the angels
- Angels always obey Allah. They never disobey Him.
- Angels are innocent: they never sin.
- Angels are not boys or girls; they are not male or female.
- Angels never eat or drink.
- Angels are always busy remembering and praising Allah.
- Allah gives many angels jobs to do in running the universe, and they always do exactly what they are told.
- Four angels are the greatest of all. Jibril brings messages to the prophets. Mikail brings the rain and the food that keeps creation alive. Israfil will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment. Azrael takes people's souls when they die.
The second article of faith is belief in the angels (malāʾikah): obedient servants of Allah, created from light, present throughout the heavens and the earth though hidden from ordinary human sight.
| Quality | What is believed |
|---|---|
| Obedience | They never act against Allah's commands, and carry out exactly the tasks they are assigned. |
| Sinlessness | They are innocent and commit no sin. |
| Gender | They are free of the attributes of gender, neither male nor female. |
| Bodily needs | They are free from needs such as eating and drinking. |
| Occupation | They are constantly engaged in remembering and praising Allah, and many are assigned specific duties in the workings of the universe. |
| Angel | Role |
|---|---|
| Jibril (Gabriel) | Brings revelation to the prophets. |
| Mikail (Michael) | Provides rain and sustenance. |
| Israfil | Will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment. |
| Azrael | Takes the souls of people when they die. |
The second article of belief is īmān in the malāʾikah: creatures fashioned from nūr (light), obedient servants of Allah, existing throughout the heavens and the earth while remaining imperceptible to ordinary human sense.
| Quality | What is affirmed |
|---|---|
| ʿIṣmah (sinlessness) | They are innocent and commit no sin whatsoever. |
| Freedom from gender | They are free of the attributes of gender, being neither male nor female. |
| Freedom from bodily need | They have no need for food, drink, or the like. |
| Constant worship and duty | They are perpetually occupied in the dhikr and tasbīḥ of Allah; numerous angels are additionally charged with specific duties in the governance of the created order, executing them precisely and never deviating from Allah's command. |
| Angel | Role |
|---|---|
| Jibrīl (Gabriel) | Conveys revelation to the prophets. |
| Mīkāʾīl (Michael) | Charged with rain and sustenance. |
| Isrāfīl | Will sound the trumpet (ṣūr) on the Day of Judgment. |
| ʿAzrāʾīl | Takes the souls of the deceased at death. |
Terms on this page
Related
- Belief in Allah The first article of faith: what a Muslim believes about who Allah is and the qualities that belong to Him alone.
- Belief in the prophets, and the life of the Prophet ﷺ What a Muslim believes about the prophets and their miracles, and a brief account of the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- What faith means, and the words that carry it What iman is, its two parts, who a believer is, and the declarations of faith said with the tongue.
- The Companions and the Prophet's family Who the Sahabah are, the four Rightly Guided Caliphs in their order, and the honour owed to the Prophet's ﷺ household.