In Arabic, angels are called Malaika, which means “to assist and help” The Qur’an describes that angels in Islam have been created to worship Allah and carry out His commands.
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
“And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and on the earth of creatures. And the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant.
يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
They fear their Lord above them and do what they are commanded.” [Surat An-Nahl 16:49-50]
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
“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 obey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.” [Surat At-Tahrim 66:6]
Angels in Islam have the following qualities:
- They are created from light.
- They have no free will.
- They are infinite.
- They are invisible.
- They tell Allah about the behavior of humans.
Several angels are mentioned by name in the Quran. With a description of their responsibilities, 4 Angels in Islam are mentioned here:
4 Angels in Islam and Their Duties
-
(Gabriel) Jibreel (A.S)
Jibreel was the one of the Angels in Islam who brought Wahi (Revelation) from Allah. He was in charge of communicating Allah’s words to His Prophets.
Allah has described Jibreel with outstanding characteristics, as He says:
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ
“[That] indeed, the Qur’an is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger.
ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ
[Who is] possessed of power and, with the Throne’s Owner, secure [in position].
مُّطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ
Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍ
And your companion is not [at all] mad.
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
And he has already seen Gabriel on the clear horizon.”
[Surah At-Takweer: 81:19-23]
- The First Attribute: Power: The “Lord of the Throne” here refers to Allaah.
- Second Attribute: Position: “High rank with the Lord of the Throne.” This means that he possesses a high position in the sight of Allaah, which no one else has reached.
- 3rd Attribute: Obedience: All angels obey Jibreel by the Permission of Allah.
- Fourth Attribute: Trustworthiness: This refers to the revelation. Such that he doesn’t make additions or subtractions to it. But instead, He conveys it just as Allah has revealed it to him.
(Raphael) Israfeel (A.S)
He is responsible for blowing on the Trumpet on the day of Judgement. At this point, Israafeel will blow on this horn. Due to Allah’s Command, the souls will float to their respective bodies, which had come out and risen from their graves. Then they will walk to where Allah orders them to go.
Allah says:
يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ
The Day they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, rushing.
[Surah Al-Ma’aarij: 43]
(Michael) Mikaeel (A.S)
He is responsible for the raindrops that fall from the sky. He moves them around and causes the rain to descend wherever Allaah commands. Allah gave him the charge of rainfall and sustenance.
(Angel of Death) Isra’il (A.S)
Taking the soul at the time of death is ascribed to the Angel of Death and Allah. In charge of taking the souls when their prescribed time is over. There is the Angel of Death (Malak-ul-Mawt) about whom Allah says:
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Say, “The Angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord, you will be returned.”
[Surah As-Sajdah: 11]
The Angel of Death has assistants that will aid him, as Allah says:
وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers [i.e., angels of death] take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].
ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَٰسِبِينَ
Then they [i.e., His servants] are returned to Allāh, their true Lord. Surely, His is the judgement, and He is the swiftest of accountants.
[Surah Al-An’aam: 61-62]
Some angels in Islam have responsibilities in this universe that only Allah knows of. So, There are angels in Islam are in charge of the seas and the days. The angels in Islam are also responsible for the winds and put in charge of carrying out many other duties.
All of the events that occur in the universe. And which constantly transpire within it daily are only by Allah’s decree. As for the angels in Islam, they carry out whatever tasks Allah orders them to execute.
Best Online Quran Classes for People of all ages. Special Quran Classes designed for Women and Kids: Take 3 days FREE Trial: AlQuran Classes
