The reality of belief in the angels

Q: What does belief in the angels mean?

A: Praise be to Allaah.

The angels form an unseen world; they were created by Allaah from light and they obey the commands of Allaah:
"who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded" [al-Tahreem 66:6 - interpretation of the meaning].
{لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ}
Transliteration: Lā Ya`şūna Allāha Mā 'Amarahum Wa Yaf`alūna Mā Yu'umarūna

Belief in the angels implies four essential things:

1 - Affirming that they exist and that they are part of the creation of Allaah, subject to His Lordship and subjugated to Him.

"…honoured slaves.

They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command" [al-Anbiya' 21:26-27 - interpretation of the meaning].
{عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ (26) لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ}
Transliteration: Bal `Ibādun Mukramūna, Lā Yasbiqūnahu Bil-Qawli Wa Hum Bi'amrihi Ya`malūna

"who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded" [al-Tahreem 66:6 - interpretation of the meaning].
{لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ}
Transliteration: Lā Ya`şūna Allāha Mā 'Amarahum Wa Yaf`alūna Mā Yu'umarūna

"And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship).
They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so)" [al-Anbiya' 21:19-20 - interpretation of the meaning].
{وَمَنْ عِندَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ (19) يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ}
Transliteration: Wa Man `Indahu Lā Yastakbirūna `An `Ibādatihi Wa Lā Yastaĥsirūna, Yusabbiĥūna Al-Layla Wa An-Nahāra Lā Yafturūna

2 - Belief in the names of those whose name we know, such as Jibreel, Mikaa'eel, Israafeel, Maalik, Radwaan and others - peace be upon them.

3 - Belief in the attributes of those whose attributes we know, as we know the description of Jibreel from the Sunnah, and that he has six hundred wings which filled the horizon or the sky.

4 - Belief in the actions which we know some of them do, so Jibreel (peace be upon him) was entrusted with that which revives the heart, namely the Revelation. Israafeel is entrusted with sounding the Trumpet-blast (to herald the onset of the Day of Resurrection); Mikaa'eel is entrusted with the rain; Maalik is entrusted with Hell, and so on.

One of the most important things that we must believe in is that every person has two angels with him who record his deeds. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"(Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions)
Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)" [Qaaf 50:17-18].
{إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (17) مَا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ}
Transliteration: 'Idh Yatalaqqá Al-Mutalaqqiyāni `Ani Al-Yamīni Wa `Ani Ash-Shimāli Qa`īdun, Mā Yalfižu Min Qawlin 'Illā Ladayhi Raqībun `Atīdun

i.e., a watcher from among these angels who is present. So beware lest these two angels record anything from you that will be bad for you on the Day of Resurrection, for everything that you say will be recorded against you, and when the Day of Resurrection comes, each person's book of deeds will be brought out,

"…and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.
(It will be said to him): 'Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.'" [al-Isra' 17:13-14 - interpretation of the meaning].
{وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَاباً يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُوراً (13) اقْرَأْ كَتَابَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيباً}
Transliteration: Wa Nukhriju Lahu Yawma Al-Qiyāmati Kitābāan Yalqāhu Manshūrāan, Aqra' Kitābaka Kafá Binafsika Al-Yawma `Alayka Ĥasībāan

We ask Allaah to conceal our sins and forgive us, for He is All-Seeing, Ever Responsive. And Allaah knows best.

See: A'laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah, 86; Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 3/160.

For more information see question no. 843 and 14610.


Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid


Islam Q&A