Belief in angels is the second of the six pillars of faith in Islam.
When the angel Jibril came to the Prophet ﷺ in the form of a man and asked him about iman, the Prophet ﷺ answered: “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and to believe in divine decree, its good and its bad.”
A Muslim’s faith is not complete without believing in the angels as Allah has described them.
Angels are part of the unseen world, al-ghayb.
We cannot see them in their true form, yet the Quran and Sunnah tell us a great deal about who they are, what they do and how they relate to our lives.
This article explains the nature of angels, the major angels named in the Quran and Sunnah, their duties, the angels who accompany every human being and how belief in angels should shape a Muslim’s daily life.
What Are Angels?
Angels, called mala’ikah in Arabic (singular malak), are noble creatures created by Allah from light.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire and Adam was created from what has been described to you”, meaning clay.
Their nature
Angels do not eat, drink, sleep or tire. They have no free will to disobey Allah.
Allah describes them: “They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do what they are commanded” (At-Tahrim 66:6).
They glorify Allah night and day without becoming weary (Al-Anbiya 21:20).
Their form
Angels have wings. Allah says He made the angels “messengers having wings, two or three or four” (Fatir 35:1).
The Prophet ﷺ saw Jibril in his true form with six hundred wings that filled the horizon.
Angels can take on other forms by Allah’s permission, such as when Jibril appeared as a man in white clothes or when angels visited Ibrahim and Lut as guests.
Their number
Only Allah knows how many angels there are.
The Prophet ﷺ said that Al-Bayt al-Ma’mur, the heavenly house above the Ka’bah, is entered by seventy thousand angels every day who never return to it.
There is not a space in the heavens the size of four fingers except that an angel is placing his forehead in prostration to Allah.
They are not daughters of Allah
The Quran strongly rejects the pre-Islamic belief that angels were female or daughters of Allah (Az-Zukhruf 43:19).
Angels are servants of Allah, honoured but created, and they are not to be worshipped.
The Major Angels and Their Duties
Jibril
Jibril, also called Ar-Ruh al-Amin (the Trustworthy Spirit) and Ruh al-Qudus (the Holy Spirit), is the greatest of the angels.
His primary duty was to deliver revelation from Allah to the prophets. He brought the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over twenty-three years.
Allah says: “The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down upon your heart that you may be of the warners” (Ash-Shu’ara 26:193-194).
Jibril would review the Quran with the Prophet ﷺ every Ramadan, and twice in his final year.
Mika’il
Mika’il is responsible for rain and provision, by Allah’s command. He is mentioned by name in the Quran alongside Jibril (Al-Baqarah 2:98).
Israfil
Israfil is the angel who will blow the Trumpet (as-Sur) to signal the end of the world and then the resurrection.
The Prophet ﷺ described him as having already placed the Trumpet to his mouth, waiting for the command.
The Angel of Death
The angel responsible for taking souls is called Malak al-Mawt in the Quran: “Say: The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you” (As-Sajdah 32:11).
He has helpers among the angels. The name Azrael is common in popular usage but is not established in authentic texts.
Malik
Malik is the keeper of Hellfire. The people of the Fire will call out: “O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us” (Az-Zukhruf 43:77).
Ridwan
Ridwan is mentioned by many scholars as the keeper of Paradise, while the Quran describes the keepers of Paradise greeting its people with peace.
Munkar and Nakir
These two angels question the dead in the grave about their Lord, their religion and their prophet, as described in authentic hadith.
Harut and Marut
Two angels sent to Babylon as a test, mentioned in Al-Baqarah 2:102, who warned people that they were a trial.
Angels Who Accompany Every Human
The noble recorders
Every person has two angels who record their deeds. Allah says: “And indeed, over you are keepers, noble and recording; they know whatever you do” (Al-Infitar 82:10-12).
One records good deeds and the other records bad deeds. “Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared to record” (Qaf 50:18).
The guardian angels
“For each one are successive angels before and behind him who protect him by the command of Allah” (Ar-Ra’d 13:11).
These angels protect a person from harm until the time of Allah’s decree.
The angels who change shifts
The Prophet ﷺ said that angels take turns among us by night and day, gathering at Fajr and Asr. Those who spent the night ascend and Allah asks them how they left His servants.
They reply: “We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.” This shows the special virtue of praying Fajr and Asr.
Angels and the Believers
They make dua for the believers
The angels who carry the Throne ask forgiveness for the believers (Ghafir 40:7-9).
Angels also send blessings upon those who teach people good, those who sit waiting for prayer in the masjid and those who pray in the first rows.
They attend gatherings of knowledge and dhikr
The Prophet ﷺ said that angels travel the roads seeking gatherings of remembrance. When they find them, they surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven.
They descend on Laylat al-Qadr
“The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter” (Al-Qadr 97:4).
They support the believers in battle and hardship
Angels were sent to support the believers at Badr (Aal Imran 3:124-125).
They give glad tidings at death
“Indeed, those who have said: Our Lord is Allah and then remained steadfast, the angels will descend upon them, saying: Do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tidings of Paradise” (Fussilat 41:30).
Things That Keep Angels Away
The Prophet ﷺ taught that angels of mercy do not enter a house that contains a dog kept without need or images of living beings that are displayed.
Angels are also harmed by what harms humans, such as bad odours, which is why the Prophet ﷺ advised those who had eaten raw garlic or onions not to come to the masjid.
These teachings encourage Muslims to keep their homes and bodies clean and pure.
How Belief in Angels Affects Daily Life
Awareness of being watched
Knowing that two angels are recording every word and action encourages a believer to guard their tongue and behaviour.
Comfort and companionship
A believer is never truly alone. Angels protect them, pray for them and accompany them in good gatherings.
Motivation for good deeds
Knowing that angels pray for those who teach good, wait for prayer or sit in gatherings of remembrance encourages us to do these deeds more often.
Humility
Angels worship Allah constantly without tiring, yet they will say on the Day of Judgement: “Glory be to You, we did not worship You as You deserve.” This teaches us humility in our worship.
Respect for revelation
Knowing that the Quran was carried by Jibril, the most honoured angel, increases our love and respect for the Book of Allah.
Common Misconceptions
Angels are not intermediaries to pray to
Muslims do not pray to angels or seek their help directly. Dua is directed to Allah alone.
Angels are not fallen beings
Iblis was not an angel. The Quran says: “He was of the jinn” (Al-Kahf 18:50). Angels cannot disobey Allah, while jinn have free will like humans.
Angels are not equal to Allah
They are honoured creations, entirely dependent on Allah.
Teaching Children About Angels
Children are often fascinated by angels.
Parents can teach them simply: angels are made of light, they always obey Allah, two angels write down everything we do and say, and angels love it when we read the Quran and remember Allah.
This helps children develop a sense of being cared for and watched over, and motivates them to say kind words and do good deeds.
Angels in the Story of Creation
The Quran describes a remarkable conversation between Allah and the angels before the creation of Adam. Allah said: “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.”
The angels asked: “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” (Al-Baqarah 2:30).
Allah then taught Adam the names of all things and asked the angels to tell Him the names, and they replied humbly: “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us.”
This conversation shows the angels’ humility, their honesty in asking and their complete submission once Allah’s wisdom became clear.
It also shows the honour Allah gave to humanity through knowledge.
Angels and the Quran Reciter
The Prophet ﷺ said that the one who recites the Quran skilfully will be with the noble, righteous scribes, meaning the angels.
One night the companion Usayd ibn Hudayr was reciting Surah Al-Baqarah when his horse became restless, and he saw something like a canopy of lights rising into the sky.
The Prophet ﷺ told him these were angels who had come close to listen to his recitation, and that had he continued, people would have seen them in the morning.
These narrations give every learner of the Quran a beautiful motivation: when we recite sincerely and correctly, we are in honoured company.
Living With the Angels in Mind
Belief in angels should not remain an abstract idea. It can shape small daily choices.
Before speaking, remember the recorder on your shoulder. Before entering your home, say Bismillah and greet with salaam, knowing that angels are present.
Keep your home clean and fragrant, fill it with Quran recitation and remove things that drive the angels of mercy away.
Attend gatherings of knowledge and dhikr, knowing that angels surround them. Pray Fajr and Asr on time, knowing that the angels will report your state to Allah.
These simple habits turn a pillar of faith into a living reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are angels made of?
Angels were created from light.
Do angels have free will?
No. Angels always obey Allah and never disobey Him.
Who is the greatest angel?
Jibril is considered the greatest of the angels, as the one entrusted with revelation.
How many angels record our deeds?
Two angels record each person’s deeds: one on the right for good deeds and one on the left for bad deeds.
Is Iblis an angel?
No. The Quran states that Iblis was of the jinn.
Angels and the Day of Judgement
On the Day of Resurrection, the angels will play a great role.
They will drive every soul to the gathering place, bring forth the records of deeds and stand in rows before their Lord.
Allah says: “And your Lord has come and the angels, rank upon rank” (Al-Fajr 89:22).
The records written by the noble scribes will be presented, and each person will be told: “Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as an accountant” (Al-Isra 17:14).
The angels will then welcome the righteous at the gates of Paradise with greetings of peace.
Remembering these scenes motivates us to fill our records with good deeds now, while there is still time.
Final Thoughts
Belief in angels opens a window to the unseen world and reminds us that we are part of a much larger creation devoted to Allah’s worship.
Angels carry revelation, record our deeds, protect us, pray for us and will greet the righteous with glad tidings.
Living with this awareness makes a believer more careful in speech, more consistent in worship and more hopeful of Allah’s mercy.
Let this pillar of faith deepen your connection with Allah and inspire you to fill your days with deeds the angels will be glad to record.
Study the pillars of faith with a patient teacher.