Angels (Arabic: ملائكة malāʾikah; singular: ملاك malāk) are heavenly beings mentioned many times in the Quran and hadith. Unlike humans or jinn, they have no free will and therefore can do only what God
orders them to do. An example of a task they carry out is that of
testing of individuals by granting them abundant wealth and curing their
illness.[1] Believing in angels is one of the six Articles of Faith in Islam. Just as humans are made of clay, and jinn are made of smokeless fire, angels are made of light.
There is no standard hierarchical organization in Islam that parallels the division into different "choirs" or spheres, as hypothesized and drafted by early medieval Christian theologians. Most[who?]
Islamic scholars agree that this is an unimportant topic in Islam,
simply because angels have a simple existence in obeying God already,
especially since such a topic has never been directly addressed in the
Quran. However, it is clear that there is a set order or hierarchy that
exists between angels, defined by the assigned jobs and various tasks to
which angels are commanded by God. Some scholars suggest that Islamic
angels can be grouped into fourteen categories as follows, of which
numbers two-five are considered archangels.
Not all angels are known by Muslims however, the Quran and hadith only
mentions a few by name. Due to varied methods of translation from Arabic
and the fact that these angels also exist in Christian contexts and the Bible, several of their Christian and phonetic transliteral names are listed:- Jibrail/Jibril (Judeo-Christian, Gabriel), the angel of revelation, who is said to be the greatest of the angels. Jibrail is the archangel responsible for revealing the Quran to Muhammad, verse by verse. Jibrail is widely known as the angel who communicates with (all of) the prophets and also for coming down with God's blessings during the night of Laylat al-Qadr ("The Night of Power").
Israfil or Israafiyl (Judeo-Christian, Raphael), is an archangel in Islam
who will blow the trumpet twice at the end of time. According to the
hadith, Israfil is the angel responsible for signaling the coming of
Qiyamah (Judgment Day)
by blowing a horn. The blowing of the trumpet is described in many
places in the Quran. It is said that the first blow will bring all to
attention. The second will end all life,[3] while the third blow will bring all human beings back to life again to meet their Lord for their final judgement.
- Mikail (Judeo-Christian, Michael), who provides nourishments for bodies and souls. Mikail is often depicted as the archangel of mercy who is responsible for bringing rain and thunder to Earth. He is also responsible for the rewards doled out to good persons in this life.
- 'Azrael/'Azraaiyl also known as Malak al-maut (Judeo-Christian, Azrael), the angel of death. He is responsible for parting the soul from the body. He is only referred as malak al-maut, meaning angel of death, in the Quran.
Similarly, angels also came to ʾIbrāhīm (Abraham) in human form, and he was not aware that they were angels until they told him so. Lūṭ (Lot) also had angels come to him to warn him of the impending doom of his people. All angels praise and glorify God and they never become tired of doing this....then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.—Quran, sura 21 (Al-Anbiya), ayah 20
There are angels standing in rows, who never get tired or sit down, and others who bow or prostrate, and never raise their heads. Abu Dharr al-Ghifari is quoted as saying:...for in the presence of thy Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it).—Quran, sura 41 (Fussilat), ayah 38
No angel is able to disobey God due to the way God created angels. For this reason, Islam does not teach that Iblīs or Shayṭan (the Devil or Satan) was a fallen angel, rather he was one of the jinn."The Messenger of Allah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: 'I see what you do not see and hear what you do not hear. The heaven makes a noise like groaning, and it has the right to (or it is no surprise), for there is no space in it the width of four fingers, but there is an angel there, placing his forehead in sujood (prostration) to Allaah. By Allaah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much, you would not enjoy your relationships with women and you would go out in the street praying to Allaah.'"
The Quran also mentions that angels have qualities that may be typified by the word wings:O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.—Quran, sura 66 (At-Tahrim), ayah 6
The preceding sentence does not imply that all angels have two to four wings. Most notably, archangels (namely Gabriel and Michael) are described as having thousands of wings.[citation needed]Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs):...—Quran, sura 35 (Fatir) ayah 1
However, according to hadith collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Muhammad said that Gabriel had 600 wings;
The angels also accompanied Muhammad up to Jannah (Heaven) when he received commands from God. Instead of riding on an angel, Muhammad rode a creature called a Buraq whose stride spans from horizon to horizon.Narrated Abu Ishaq-Ash-Shaibani:
I asked Zir bin Hubaish regarding the Statement of Allah: "And was at a distance Of but two bow-lengths Or (even) nearer; So did (Allah) convey The Inspiration to His slave (Gabriel) and then he (Gabriel) Conveyed (that to Muhammad). (53.9-10) On that, Zir said, "Ibn Mas'ud informed us that the Prophet had seen Gabriel having 600 wings."—Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 455[14]
Angels are not equal in status and consequently they have been delegated different tasks to perform. The names and roles of some angels have been mentioned to us:
- The angels of the Seven Heavens.
- Hafaza, (The Guardian Angel):
- Kiraman Katibin (Honourable Recorders), two of whom are charged to every human being; one writes down good deeds called Raqib, and the another one called Atid writes down evil deeds.
- Mu'aqqibat (The Protectors) who keep people from death until its decreed time and who bring down blessings.
- Jundullah, those who help Muhammad in the battlefield
- The angels who violently pull out the souls of the wicked,
- Those who gently draw out the souls of the blessed,
- Those angels who distribute (provisions, rain, and other blessings) by (God's) Command.
- Those angels who drive the clouds.
- Hamalat al-'Arsh, those who carry the 'Arsh (Throne of God), comparable to the Christian Seraph
- Arham, those that give the spirit to the foetus in the womb and are charged with four commands: to write down his provision, his life-span, his actions, and whether he will be wretched or happy.
- The Angel of the Mountains
- Munkar and Nakir, who question the dead in their graves.
- Darda'il (The Journeyers), who travel in the earth searching out assemblies where people remember God's name.
- The angels charged with each existent thing, maintaining order and warding off corruption. Their number is known only to God.
- Ridwan is the angel who is responsible for Jannah (Paradise)
- Maalik is the chief of the angels who govern Jahannam (Hell)
- Zabaniah are 19 angels who torment sinful persons in hell
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