Angels are
unseen creatures of light created by Allah to act as intermediaries between Him
and the visible world. The Islamic concepts of creation, revelation, prophecy,
events that occur in the world, worship, the spiritual life, death,
resurrection, and the central position of man in the cosmos cannot be
understood without reference to the angels.
Belief in
angels is one of the six pillars of belief or faith without which there is no
faith. Angels are a part of the world of the Unseen which we cannot comprehend.
Allah has told us about them in many places in the Qur’an and via His Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Although we
cannot see angels, Allah may show them to some humans. The Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) saw Jibreel (Gabriel) in his real shape with
six hundred wings that covered the horizons. As angels can also change shape
and appear in any form, Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) while he was among his Companions in the
appearance of an unknown man with very white clothes and very black hair.
Angels are
assigned certain functions. These functions include delivering the revelation
from Allah to whomever He wishes among His prophets. The Angel Jibreel is the
angel in charge of this. The Angel Mika’eel (Michael) is in charge of rain and
the growth of plants. Israfeel is in charge of blowing the horn to announce the
day of resurrection. The Angel of Death takes away people’s souls at the time
of death, while Malik is the keeper of Hell.
Other
angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, or responsible for protecting human
beings. The recording angels are busy recording people's deeds. Two angels are
in charge of questioning the dead after they are placed in their graves. Some
angels are in charge of Paradise while
others are in charge of Hell.
The angels
are not all of one size or status. The biggest and most important of the angels
is Jibreel (peace be upon him). The number of angels is known only to Allah.
Angels are
different from human beings in that they do not have a will of their own. They
were created for the specific purpose of serving Allah and carrying out his
commands. Some angels are in a state of constant worship to Allah, prostrating
to Him and never raising their heads.