His Angels

Angels are a world of honoured servants whom Allah created from light (Sahih Muslim 2996). We cannot normally see them, but we believe in them because Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have told us about them. Of them the Qur'an says: ﴿لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ﴾ (“they never disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are commanded”) (66:6); ﴿يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ﴾ (“they glorify Him night and day, never tiring”) (21:20). They are not daughters or partners of Allah, and they do not share in His lordship; they are His creation, as we are.

Some are named for us. Jibril brought the revelation down to the prophets (2:97), and Mika'il is named beside him (2:98). Israfil is named with them in a du'a the Prophet ﷺ used to begin his night prayer with (Sahih Muslim 770), and the scholars explain that he is the one charged with blowing the Horn (39:68). The angel of death takes the souls (32:11). Two noble recorders write down every word and deed (50:17-18, 82:10-12). Two angels question each person in the grave (Sahih al-Bukhari 1338), named in another narration Munkar and Nakir (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 1071). Malik is the keeper of Hell (43:77), and angels guard Paradise.

Believing in the angels makes a person mindful that their words are being written, and gives comfort in knowing that the angels who carry the Throne ask forgiveness for the believers (40:7). It also teaches humility: these mighty creatures, some of whom have wings in pairs, threes and fours (35:1), and Jibril himself with six hundred wings (Sahih al-Bukhari 3232), are all devoted servants of Allah.