Every movement in the universe bears witness to a hidden order, where Allah’s radiant servants quietly fulfill their duties.
These angels are the custodians of divine commands, guardians of cosmic balance, and observers of every word and deed of humanity.
Believing in them entails acknowledging the reality of the unseen and strengthening one’s consciousness of servitude to Allah.
Allah has created countless invisible forces to maintain the functioning of the universe.
Similarly, angels serve the divine system: some are messengers of revelation, some are responsible for taking souls, some safeguard human actions, and others oversee the cosmic order.
Yet, they remain unseen.
Faith in them requires accepting their existence without direct perception,
for the Most Merciful and the truthful and trustworthy Prophet ﷺ have testified to their being and their roles.
Belief in Angels
One of the six essential pillars of faith is belief in angels.
This means having complete conviction in their existence, responsibilities, and attributes, exactly as described in the Qur’an and authentic Hadiths.
Forms of Belief in Angels
Belief in the Existence of Angels
Angels are luminous creations of Allah, wholly obedient to Him, and never commit disobedience, even for a moment.
Allah says:
لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ (At-Tahrim: 6)
“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are ordered.”
Angels Worship Allah Constantly
وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنۡ عِندَهُۥ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَلَا يَسۡتَحۡسِرُونَ يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفۡتُرُونَ (Al-Anbiya: 19)
“And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him do not disdain His worship nor tire of it; they exalt Him night and day without pause.”
All angels continuously worship Allah, glorifying Him day and night without interruption.
Belief in the Number of Angels
Only Allah knows the exact number of angels, yet they are countless.
Allah says:
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ (Al-Muddathir: 31)
“And none knows the armies of your Lord except Him.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَطَّتِ السَّماءُ، وحُقَّ لَهَا أَنْ تَئِطَّ، مَا فِيهَا مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلَّا وَمَلَكٌ واضِعٌ جَبْهَتَهُ ساجِدًا لله تَعَالى (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
“The heavens are brimming, and it is right that they be so; there is not a space the size of four fingers in it without an angel prostrating before Allah.”
Belief in the Attributes of Angels
Angels are Created from Light
The Prophet ﷺ said:
خُلِقَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ، وَخُلِقَ الْجَانُّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ، وَخُلِقَ آدَمُ مِمَّا وُصِفَ لَكُمْ (Sahih Muslim)
“Angels were created from light, jinn from scorching fire, and Adam from what has been described to you (i.e., clay).”
Angels Possess Great Power
Allah says:
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ (At-Takwir: 19-20)
“Indeed, this is the speech of a noble messenger, of great strength, established in the presence of the Owner of the Throne.”
This refers to Angel Jibril (Gabriel), highlighting his immense power.
Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
أُذِنَ لِي أَنْ أُحَدِّثَ عَنْ مَلَكٍ مِنْ مَلَائِكَةِ اللَّهِ مِنْ حَمَلَةِ الْعَرْشِ، إِنَّ مَا بَيْنَ شَحْمَةِ أُذُنِهِ إِلَى عَاتِقِهِ مَسِيرَةُ سَبْعِمِائَةِ عَامٍ (Sunan Abi Dawud)
“I have been permitted to speak about one of the angels among the bearers of Allah’s Throne: the distance from the hollow of his ear to his shoulder is a journey of seven hundred years.”
Angels Have Wings
Allah says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (Fatir: 1)
“All praise is due to Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers having wings, two, three, and four; He increases creation as He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw Jibril in his true form. He had six hundred wings, and from each wing fell jewels of pearls and rubies in quantities known only to Allah.” (Musnad Ahmad)
Angels Do Not Eat or Drink
Referring to the angels who visited Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Allah says:
فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ (Adh-Dhariyat: 26-27)
“Then he hurried to his family and brought a fat calf, which he presented to them and said, ‘Will you not eat?’”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
طعَامُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ التَّسْبِيحُ، وَشَرَابُهُمُ التَّهْلِيلُ وَالتَّقْدِيسُ (Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, At-Tabarani)
“The food of the angels is glorification, and their drink is the proclamation of Allah’s oneness and sanctification.”
Angels Are Constantly Engaged in Worship
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا فِي السَّمَاءِ مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلَّا وَفِيهِ مَلَكٌ قَائِمٌ أَوْ رَاكِعٌ أَوْ سَاجِدٌ (Musnad Ahmad)
“There is not a space the size of four fingers in the heavens without an angel standing, bowing, or prostrating.”
Angels Are Neither Male Nor Female
Angels are a special creation of Allah and are not like humans in being male or female.
Allah says:
وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَاثًا ۚ أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ ۚ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ (Az-Zukhruf: 19)
“And they have attributed the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, as females. Have they witnessed their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.”
Belief in the Duties of Angels
Allah has assigned specific responsibilities to the angels. Among them, some of the most well-known angels and their tasks are:
Hazrat Jibril (Gabriel, AS)
He is responsible for delivering Allah’s messages to the prophets.
Allah says:
نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ (Ash-Shu‘ara: 193)
“The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibril) has brought it [the Qur’an] down.”
Hazrat Mikail (Michael, AS)
He is responsible for the distribution of rain and sustenance.
Hazrat Israfil (AS)
He is entrusted with blowing the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection.
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) narrated:
“جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَوْكَلٌ بِالْوَحْيِ، وَمِيكَائِيلُ مَوْكَلٌ بِالْقَطْرِ وَالنَّبَاتِ، وَإِسْرَافِيلُ مَوْكَلٌ بِالنَّفْخِ فِي الصُّورِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.” (Mustadrak Hakim)
“Jibril (AS) is entrusted with revelation, Mikail (AS) with rain and vegetation, and Israfil (AS) with blowing the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Jibril (AS) is responsible for delivering revelation, Mikail (AS) is appointed to manage rain and vegetation (sustenance), and Israfil (AS) is appointed to blow the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection.”
Hazrat Izrail (AS) – The Angel of Death
Hazrat Izrail (AS), known as the Angel of Death, carries out the task of taking the souls of all creatures by Allah’s command.
Allah says:
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ (As-Sajda: 11)
“Say, ‘The Angel of Death, appointed over you, will take your souls; then you will be returned to your Lord.’”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ قَبْضَ رُوحِ عَبْدٍ بِأَرْضٍ جَعَلَ لَهُ إِلَيْهَا حَاجَةً فَيُصِيرُهُ إِلَيْهَا، فَإِذَا بَلَغَ أَجَلُهُ قَبَضَ رُوحَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ.” (Musnad Ahmad)
“When Allah wishes to take the soul of a servant in a specific place, He creates a need for the servant to go there, and when his appointed time arrives, the Angel of Death takes his soul.”
Hazrat Kiraman Katibin (AS) – The Noble Recorders
These are the two angels assigned to record human deeds.
Allah says:
إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٞ مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٞ (Qaf: 50:17-18)
“When the two receivers (angels) receive [all deeds], one seated on the right and one on the left, no word does a person utter except that there is a vigilant angel ready to record it.”
Also, in Surah Al-Infitar:
إِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ (Al-Infitar: 10-12)
“Indeed, over you are appointed noble recorders who know what you do.”
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated:
يَتَعاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلائِكَةٌ باللَّيْلِ ومَلائِكَةٌ بالنَّهارِ ويَجْتَمِعُونَ في صَلاةِ الفَجْرِ وصَلاةِ العَصْرِ، ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ باتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ، وهُوَ أعْلَمُ بهِمْ: كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ، وأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ. (Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Among you, the angels alternate between night and day, gathering during the Fajr and Asr prayers. Then the angels who were with you at night ascend, and Allah asks them—though He knows all—‘How did you leave My servants?’ They respond, ‘We left them praying, and we came to them while they were praying.’”
Hazrat Munkar and Nakir (AS)
Munkar and Nakir are two angels who question every person in the grave. Their task is to examine the faith of the deceased.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated:
إِذَا قُبِرَ المَيِّتُ أَتَاهُ مَلَكَانِ أَسْوَدَانِ أَزْرَقَانِ، يُقَالُ لأَحَدِهِمَا المُنكَرُ، وَلِلآخَرِ النَّكِيرُ. (Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawood)
“When a deceased is buried, two angels with black and blue eyes come to him. One of them is called ‘Munkar’ and the other ‘Nakir’.”
Hazrat Bara’ ibn Azib (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ (Ibrahim: 27)
“Allah keeps the believers firm with the firm word in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, while the wrongdoers are left astray, and Allah does as He wills.”
The Prophet ﷺ further explained:
إِذَا أُقْعِدَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي قَبْرِهِ أُتِيَ فَيُشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَذَاكَ قَوْلُهُ: يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ، وَيَأْتِيهِ الْمَلَكَانِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ، فَيَقُولَانِ: مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ، فَيَقُولَانِ: مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ: هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَيَقُولَانِ: وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ.
When a believer is placed in the grave, these angels come and question him:
- مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ – “Who is your Lord?”
He replies: رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ – “My Lord is Allah.” - مَا دِينُكَ؟ – “What is your religion?”
He replies: دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ – “My religion is Islam.” - مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ – “Who is this man sent among you?”
He replies: هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – “He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Then the Angels ask:
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ؟ – “How do you know?”
The believer replies:
فَيَقُولُ: قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ – “I read the Book of Allah (the Qur’an), believed in it, and affirmed its truth.”
However, the disbeliever or hypocrite will say:
هَاهْ هَاهْ! لَا أَدْرِي! سَمِعْتُ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُهُ (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abi Dawood)
“Ha ha! I do not know. I heard people say something, so I said the same.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ تُبْتَلَى فِي قُبُورِهَا، فَلَوْلَا أَنْ لَا تَدَافَنُوا لَدَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُسْمِعَكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ الَّذِي أَسْمَعُ مِنْهُ (Muslim)
“This Ummah will be tested in their graves. Were it not for the fact that you would start burying one another, I would have prayed that Allah let you hear the punishment of the grave that I hear.”
Hazrat Malik (AS) – Guardian of Hell
وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ (Az-Zukhruf: 77)
“And they will call out: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord judge between us.’”
Hazrat Rizwan (AS) – Guardian of Paradise
Rizwan (AS) is the appointed angel at the gates of Paradise who welcomes the righteous by Allah’s command.
Allah says:
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًۭا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَٰلِدِينَ (Az-Zumar: 73-74)
“Those who feared their Lord will be brought to Paradise in groups. When they arrive and its gates are opened, its keepers will say, ‘Peace be upon you! You have been righteous; enter it to abide therein forever.’”
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِن كُلِّ بَابٍ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ (Ar-Ra’d: 23-24)
“Everlasting Gardens they will enter, along with their righteous parents, spouses, and children. Angels will enter upon them from every gate, saying: ‘Peace be upon you for your patience; what an excellent final abode.’”
Hazrat Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
آتي بابَ الجنةِ يومَ القيامةِ فأستفتحُ، فيقولُ الخازنُ: من أنتَ؟ فأقولُ: محمدٌ. فيقولُ: بك أُمِرتُ لا أفتحُ لأحدٍ قبلَك (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman)
“I will approach the gate of Paradise on the Day of Judgment to have it opened. The keeper will ask: ‘Who are you?’ I will say: ‘Muhammad.’ He will reply: ‘I was commanded not to open it for anyone before you.’”
Summary
Belief in angels spreads the light of certainty in the heart. It is a testimony to Allah’s power and the pinnacle of servitude. Angels are luminous beings who neither tire nor err, constantly obeying Allah’s commands.
- Hazrat Jibril (AS) delivers revelation.
- Hazrat Mikail (AS) distributes provision.
- Hazrat Israfil (AS) awaits the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.
- Hazrat Izrail (AS) manages the journey of souls.
This belief purifies the soul, refines deeds, and instills accountability in the heart. The presence of the Kiraman Katibin keeps one on the straight path. Guardian angels bring peace, while Munkar and Nakir prepare for the Hereafter. Their prostrations teach servitude, and their prayers convey Allah’s mercy.
Faith in angels grants awareness in life, tranquility in the heart, and illumination for the soul.
Advice
Since belief in angels is the second most important pillar of faith, every believer must understand it thoroughly and accept it sincerely.
Prayer: May Allah grant us all true understanding and the ability to have genuine belief in His angels. Ameen.