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.
Every Muslim must believe in the angels: Allah made them from light, they are really there even though we cannot see them, they always obey Allah and never sin, they are not male or female, they never eat or drink, and they are always praising Allah and doing the jobs He gives them.
1234Four angels are the greatest of all, and every Muslim believes in them and their jobs: Jibril brings messages to the prophets, Mikail brings rain and food, Israfil will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment, and Azrael takes people's souls when they die.
123456789The 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. |
It is obligatory (fard) to believe in the angels (malāʾikah): created from light, present throughout the heavens and the earth though hidden from ordinary sight, never disobeying Allah, free of sin, free of gender, free of bodily needs, and constantly engaged in remembering Allah and carrying out the duties assigned to them.
1234| 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. |
It is obligatory (fard) to believe in the four angels of the highest rank and their duties: Jibril, who brings revelation to the prophets; Mikail, who provides rain and sustenance; Israfil, who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment; and Azrael, who takes the souls of people at death.
123456789The 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. |
Īmān in the malāʾikah is obligatory (farḍ): they are created from nūr, present throughout the heavens and the earth while imperceptible to ordinary sense, and are affirmed to possess ʿiṣmah, freedom from gender and from bodily need, and perpetual occupation in dhikr and tasbīḥ and in the duties assigned to them, from which they never deviate.
1234| 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. |
Belief in the four angels of the highest rank (al-malāʾikah al-muqarrabūn) and their charges is obligatory (farḍ): Jibrīl conveys waḥy to the prophets, Mīkāʾīl is charged with rain and sustenance, Isrāfīl will sound the ṣūr on the Day of Judgment, and ʿAzrāʾīl takes the souls of the deceased.
123456789This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 143 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
(2)Faith in Angels
- Angels are obedient servants of Allah Almighty.
- Allah created them from light.
- They exist (present in both the heavens and the earth), but they are hidden from ordinary human sight.
- They are innocent and do not commit any sins.
- They are free from the attributes of gender; they are neither male nor female.
- They are free from physical needs like eating and drinking.
- They are constantly engaged in remembering and praising Allah.
- Many angels are assigned various duties in the workings of the universe.
- They carry out the tasks they are assigned and never act against Allah's commands.
- Among them, there are four angels who are resolute and hold the highest rank:
- Jibril (Gabriel): brings messages to 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.
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 faith (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 Companions (Sahabah) are, the four Rightly Guided Caliphs in their order, and the honour owed to the Prophet's ﷺ household.