Malāʾikah

Malāʾikah, the angels, are spiritual beings created by Allah from light and constitute an essential component of Islamic belief. Faith in the angels is one of the six pillars of īmān (faith), and belief in them is repeatedly emphasized in the Qurʾān and sunnah. Angels are entirely obedient servants of Allah who neither disobey His commands nor possess any share in divinity. The Qurʾān describes them as honoured servants who act only according to Allah’s instructions: “They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do what they are commanded” (Qurʾān 66:6). Unlike human beings and jinn, angels are free from sinful inclinations and are continually engaged in worship, glorification, and the execution of divine commands.

The Qurʾān assigns various functions to the angels within the divine order of creation. Among them are Jibrīl, who delivered revelation to the prophets; Mīkāʾīl, who is associated with provision and natural phenomena; Isrāfīl, who will blow the Trumpet on the Day of Resurrection; and Malak al-Mawt, who is entrusted with taking souls at death. Other angels record human deeds (Kirāman Kātibīn), protect individuals by Allah’s command, bear the Divine Throne (Ḥamalat al-ʿArsh), and guard Paradise and Hell. The Qurʾān and ḥadīth literature also describe angels descending with divine assistance, conveying blessings upon believers, and supplicating for forgiveness on behalf of the righteous. These diverse functions demonstrate their role as intermediaries in the administration of Allah’s will throughout the universe.

Islamic theology regards angels as part of the unseen world (ʿālam al-ghayb), whose true nature is known only to Allah. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ taught that angels were created from light, distinguishing them from humans, who were created from clay, and jinn, who were created from smokeless fire. Classical Muslim scholars such as al-Ṭaḥāwī, al-Ghazālī, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Kathīr discussed the nature, attributes, and functions of angels in works of theology and Qurʾānic exegesis. Belief in the angels reinforces awareness of Allah’s sovereignty, the reality of the unseen, and the continuous interaction between the heavenly and earthly realms. As faithful servants of Allah, the angels exemplify perfect obedience and remind believers of their own duty to worship and obey their Creator.