Belief in the Angels (Al-Mala'ika)
📜 Belief in the Angels — The Second Pillar of Faith
🌟 The Night of Al-Isra: When the Prophet ﷺ Saw Jibril
The night journey to Jerusalem, then the ascension through the heavens...
The Prophet ﷺ raises his eyes... and there he is: Jibril, in his true form.
Not a man in white clothes. Not a messenger in human form.
But a being with six hundred wings—each wing covering the entire horizon...
The Prophet ﷺ: (describing what he saw)
« I saw him descending from the heavens, his immense size filling the space between the sky and the earth. »
(Sahih Muslim 177)
At that moment, Muhammad ﷺ understood: the unseen world is filled with magnificent creatures, created from pure light, who never cease glorifying their Lord...
And you—do you know who these beings are that surround you at every moment, recording your every word and deed?
Belief in the angels is the second pillar of the six pillars of faith.
📖 The Foundational Hadith
📜 From the Hadith of Jibril
The Prophet ﷺ said in defining faith:
"That you believe in Allah, and His angels, and His Books, and His messengers, and the Last Day..."
(Sahih Muslim 8)
🌳 The Angelic Hierarchy
🌳 The Major Angels
Revelation
Rain/Provision
The Trumpet
Takes souls
Guardian of Hell
Guardian of Paradise
🔍 The Nature of Angels
Their creation
📜 From Light
"The angels were created from light, the jinn from smokeless fire, and Adam from what has been described to you."
(Sahih Muslim 2996)
Key characteristics
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Obedience | They never disobey Allah |
| No food/drink | They do not eat or drink |
| Wings | Two, three, four, or more |
| Size | Jibril covers the horizon with one wing |
| Number | Only Allah knows their count |
👼 Angels by Name and Function
1️⃣ Jibril (Gabriel) — The Spirit
﴿Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel — it is he who brought the Quran down upon your heart﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 97]
Role: Revelation to the prophets
2️⃣ Mika'il (Michael)
Role: Rain, vegetation, sustenance
3️⃣ Israfil
Role: Will blow the Trumpet on the Day of Resurrection
📜 The Angel Ready to Blow
"How can I be at ease when the bearer of the Trumpet has put it to his mouth, bending his head forward, waiting to be commanded to blow?"
(Tirmidhi 2431)
4️⃣ Malik — Guardian of Hell
﴿And they will call: "O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say: "Indeed, you will remain."﴾ [Az-Zukhruf: 77]
5️⃣ The Angel of Death
﴿Say: The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.﴾ [As-Sajdah: 11]
📊 Categories by Function
📊 Angels by Their Duties
8 on Day of Judgment
Kirām al-Kātibīn
Al-Hafadha - protect us
Munkar/Nakir
70,000/day
The Noble Recording Angels
﴿And indeed, appointed over you are keepers, noble and recording; they know whatever you do.﴾ [Al-Infitar: 10-12]
📝 Every Word is Recorded
You're sitting alone. You think no one is watching.
You type a message. You whisper a word. You think a thought that almost becomes speech...
﴿He does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared.﴾ [Qaf: 18]
Two angels. Always present. One on your right recording good. One on your left recording evil.
The one on the right is given precedence. The one on the left waits—perhaps you'll repent...
The Guardian Angels
﴿For each person are successive angels before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah.﴾ [Ar-Ra'd: 11]
The Alternating Angels
📜 They Meet at Fajr and Asr
"Angels take turns among you—night angels and day angels. They gather at Fajr prayer and Asr prayer."
When Allah asks: "How did you leave My servants?"
They reply: "We left them praying, and we found them praying."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari 555)
📜 Stories of the Angels
Moses and the Angel of Death
⚰️ The Striking of an Eye
The Angel of Death comes to Moses عليه السلام...
Angel of Death: "Respond to your Lord!"
Moses, not recognizing him as an angel, strikes his eye and puts it out!
Allah restores his eye and sends him back...
Allah: "Place your hand on the back of an ox. For every hair your hand covers, you will be granted a year of life."
Moses: "Then what?"
Allah: "Then death."
Moses: "Then let it be now."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari 1339)
Even prophets must meet the angel of death. But Moses chose to meet his Lord sooner.
🛡️ Refutations of Doubts
Doubt 1: "Angels are just symbols"
| Claim | Refutation |
|---|---|
| "They're not real" | The Quran describes them with wings, form, size |
| "Just metaphors for good" | The Prophet ﷺ saw Jibril with 600 wings |
| "No evidence" | Ijma' of the Ummah on their real existence |
Doubt 2: "How can they record everyone?"
Answer: Allah created 70,000 angels entering Al-Bayt Al-Ma'mur daily—never returning! Their number is beyond count. Recording all humans is easy for them.
🌟 Effects of This Belief
| Effect | How it changes you |
|---|---|
| Awareness | Every word recorded → more careful speech |
| Love | Loving those who worship Allah constantly |
| Gratitude | Allah assigned protectors to you |
| Reverence | Nothing is hidden |
| Aspiration | Imitating their tireless worship |
🎯 Contemporary Applications
Case 1: "It's just between me and my screen"
Situation: Someone browses inappropriate content thinking: "No one sees me."
Reality: ❌ The recording angels are present.
﴿He does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared.﴾ [Qaf: 18]
✅ Summary
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pillar | Second of the six pillars of faith |
| Creation | From light |
| Nature | Perfect obedience, no sin |
| Named angels | Jibril, Mika'il, Israfil, Malik, Angel of Death |
| Functions | Revelation, recording, protection, carrying the Throne |
| Our duty | Believe, love them, be conscious of their presence |
🤲 Supplication
O Allah, send Your prayers and peace upon Jibril, Mika'il, Israfil, and all Your noble angels.
O Allah, make us among those for whom the angels make supplication.
🛡️ Refutation of Doubts
First Doubt: "We cannot see angels, so they don't exist"
❌ The Doubt: Materialists say: "Show me an angel and I'll believe!"
✅ The Refutation:
-
We believe in many invisible things:
Electricity, radio waves, viruses... We believe in their existence through their effects. -
The information comes from a reliable source:
Allah has informed us, and He is the Absolute Truth. -
The Prophet ﷺ saw them:
He saw Jibrîl on multiple occasions and transmitted the information to us.
Fourth Doubt: "Angels and jinn are the same thing"
❌ The Doubt: "Angels and jinn are synonyms for the same creatures!"
✅ The Refutation:
-
Their creation is different:
- Angels are created from light
- Jinn are created from fire
-
Their nature is different:
- Angels have no free will to disobey
- Jinn have the choice between good and evil
-
The Quran distinguishes them:
﴿وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ﴾
"And when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam,' they prostrated, except Iblis. He was of the jinn." [Al-Kahf: 50]
📜 Stories about the Angels
The Prophet's ﷺ Encounter with Jibrîl
The Prophet ﷺ narrated:
«رَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي خُلِقَ عَلَيْهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ، لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ قَدْ سَدَّ الْأُفُقَ»
"I saw Jibrîl in his original form twice; he had 600 wings that covered the horizon." (Al-Bukhari 3232, Muslim 177)
What grandeur! Yet he obeys Allah with complete submission.
Jibrîl in Human Form during the Hadith
Jibrîl عليه السلام came to the Prophet ﷺ in human form:
«رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ، شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعْرِ، لَا يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلَا يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ»
"A man with intensely white clothes, intensely black hair, no signs of travel on him, and none of us knew him."
He asked questions about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.
The Angel of Death and Moses عليه السلام
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«جَاءَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ: أَجِبْ رَبَّكَ، فَلَطَمَ مُوسَى عَيْنَ مَلَكِ الْمَوْتِ فَفَقَأَهَا»
"The Angel of Death came to Moses and said: 'Respond to your Lord!' Moses struck the eye of the Angel and put it out." (Al-Bukhari 1339, Muslim 2372)
Moses didn't know he was an angel! Allah restored his eye and gave him a choice.
The Angels Who Take Turns
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلَائِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلَائِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ»
"Angels take turns among you, night angels and day angels. They gather at the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer." (Al-Bukhari 555, Muslim 632)
💎 Statements of Scholars about the Angels
Imam Ibn Kathir رحمه الله
"Angels are honored servants who never disobey Allah in what He commands them and do what they are ordered. They are occupied with His obedience night and day."
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
"Belief in angels is one of the pillars of faith. Whoever denies their existence or reduces them to symbols has disbelieved in the Quran and Sunnah."
Imam As-Sa'di رحمه الله
"Angels are the most honorable creatures after the prophets. They are occupied with worshiping Allah, executing His commands, and never disobeying Him."
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله
"When the servant knows that there are two angels recording his words and deeds, he becomes more vigilant and more respectful toward Allah."
Supplication
O Allah, send Your prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon Jibrîl, Mikâ'îl, Isrâfîl, and all Your close angels.
O Allah, make us among those whom the angels love and for whom they supplicate.
O Lord, increase me in knowledge! 📖