Angels In Islam

 

Angels

Allah has created many different creatures in this beautiful world and Angles (Faristay) are one of them.

Allah had made Angels from light (Noor), Just like humans are made of clay, and Jinn are made of smokeless fire in order to worship and obey Him. They carry out the duties and orders prescribed for them without flinching or hesitating.

 Quran 66:6

  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارً‌ا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَ‌ةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّـهَ مَا أَمَرَ‌هُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُ‌ونَ

Translation

" O you who have believed,  protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. "

     

Angels have no free will and therefore can do only what Allah orders them to do. Believing in angels is one of the six Articles of Faith in Islam. They do not eat or drink. The angels do not get bored or tired of worshipping Allah.

Quran 21:20

يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ‌ لَا يَفْتُرُ‌ونَ

Translation

" They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken. "

Quran 41:38

فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُ‌وا فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ‌ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْأَمُونَ

 Translation

" But if they are arrogant – then those who are near your Lord exalt Him by night and by day, and they do not become weary. "

Quran 2:30

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَ‌بُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Translation

" And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know. ”

Angels have wings, and can be very large. There is nothing in either the Quran, or the traditions of Prophet Muhammad that indicate that angels are winged babies or have any form of gender.

From the traditions of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) we know that the angel Hazrat Jabril Alaihis Salam has a great size that filled “the space between heaven and earth” and that he had six hundred wings.

Quran 35:1

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ فَاطِرِ‌ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْ‌ضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُ‌سُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُ‌بَاعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ‌ 

Translation

" [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. "

Some Names Of Angels from Quran

Below are the names and functions of the 12 leading Angels-

 

1. Hazrat Jibril (Alaihis Salam)

Hazrat Jibril (Alaihis Salam) is known as the the angel of revelation. He is appointed to convey revelations to the prophets by Allah. 

Hazrat Jibril (Alaihis Salam) is widely known as the angel who communicates with all of the prophets and also for coming down with Allah’s blessings during the night of Laylat al-Qadr (“The Night of Divine Destiny (Fate)”). Hazrat Jibril (Alaihis Salam) is mentioned by name in the Quran.

Quran 2:97

قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِ‌يلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَ‌ىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Translation

Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the Qur’an down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.”

2. Hazrat Mikail (Alaihis Salam)

Hazrat Mikail (Alaihis Salam) manages man’s mundane necessities, bring forth rain and oversee the cultivation of crops. 

Quran 2:98

مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّـهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُ‌سُلِهِ وَجِبْرِ‌يلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِ‌ينَ

Translation

" Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Jabril and Mikail – then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers."

Hazrat Mikail (Alaihis Salam) provides nourishments for bodies and souls, responsible for bringing rain and thunder to Earth, the blowing of the wind, natural events such as the ordering of seasons and is responsible for the rewards doled out to good people in this life.

 

3. Hazrat Israfil (Alaihis Salam)

Hazrat Israfil (Alaihis Salam) is the Angel of Soor (The Trumpet). Hazrat Israfil (Alaihis Salam) will blow two times, in the first one, the Doomsday will occur and in the second blowing, the resurrection will occur.

Quran 69:13

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ‌ نَفْخَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

Translation

" Then when the Horn is blown with one blast. "

The prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that “Hazrat Israfil (Alaihis Salam) is awaiting the order of blowing while He grasps the trumpet”.

Hazrat Israfil (Alaihis Salam) announce the coming of Qiyamah (Judgment Day) by blowing a horn. The blowing of the trumpet is described at many places in the Quran. It is said that the first blow will bring all to attention, will end all life, while the second blow will bring all human beings back to life again to meet their Lord for their final judgement. Those who say it is three blows, say the first one will cause everyone to be startled. The second: everyone will die; and the third will be that of resurrection.

4. Hazrat Izrail (Alaihis Salam)

Hazrat Izrail (Alaihis Salam) is the Angel of Death, the most fearsome of them all, who does not delay nor expedite the hour of claiming the soul.

Hazrat Izrail (Alaihis Salam) grasp the souls of people whose death times have come. He is called as “Malak-ul Mawt”, that is, the angel of death.

Quran 32:11

قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّكُمْ تُرْ‌جَعُونَ

Translation 

Say, “The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.”

 

5. Hazrat Maalik (Alaihis Salam)

He is the guardian of Jahannum (Hell-fire), an unwelcome sight, for the unfortunate and wretched dwellers of the eternal fire.

 

6. Hazrat Ridwan (Alaihis Salam)

He is the guardian of Paradise (Zannat), who welcomes the Prophets and the righteous who have been blessed by Allah for paradise.

 

7. Munkar And Nakir

They are the angels that questions man in the grave after he dies. These two angels question the dead by questions as follows and treat them according to the answers that they receive: Who is your lord? Who is your prophet? What is your book?

 

8. Kiraman Katibeen

Hazrat Raqib (Alaihis Salam) : Sits on man’s right shoulder to record his/her good deeds.
Hazrat Atid (Alaihis Salam) : Sits on man’s left shoulder to record his/her evil deeds.
Together Raqib and Atid are called the Kiraman Katibeen.

Quran 82:11

كِرَ‌امًا كَاتِبِينَ

Translation

" Noble and recording. "

Kiraman Katibin (Honourable Recorders), two of whom are charged to every human being; one writes down good deeds and the another one writes down evil deeds. They are both described as ‘Raqeebun ‘Ateed’ in the Qur’an.

Qur’an 50:16-18

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَ‌بُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِ‌يدِ ﴿١٦﴾ إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ ﴿١٧﴾ مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَ‌قِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

Translation

“(Remember) that the two receivers (recording Angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions. Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” 

 

9. The Angels of Muqarrabun

The angels who are known asIlliyyun and Karubbiyyun are responsible for glorifying Allah, are very close to Him and have an exalted place before Allah.

 

10. Hamalat al-‘Arsh

These Angels carry the “Arsh” (Throne of Allah).

Quran 40:7

الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْ‌شَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَ‌بِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ‌ونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَ‌بَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّ‌حْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ‌ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ

Translation

“Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], “Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.” 

 

11. Mu’aqqibat (The Protectors)

These Angels  keep people from death until its decreed time and who bring down blessings.

 

12. Jundullah

These are the those angels who help prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) in the battlefield.