Angels in Islam: The Names and Roles of the Malaika
Quick answer: Belief in angels is one of the six articles of Islamic faith, alongside belief in Allah, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. Angels are created beings of light, without free will to disobey, who carry out specific tasks assigned by Allah.
What Are Angels in Islam?
Angels (Malaika) are beings created by Allah from light, distinct from humans and jinn. Unlike humans, angels have no free will to disobey Allah. They don’t eat, sleep, marry, or have gender, and they carry out the specific tasks Allah has assigned them without deviation.
Belief in Angels Is Not Optional
The Quran states plainly that whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has strayed far from the truth. Belief in angels sits alongside belief in Allah Himself as a foundational article of faith, not a secondary or optional detail.
The Named Angels and Their Roles
Jibreel (Gabriel)
The angel responsible for delivering revelation to the prophets, including bringing the Quran to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Often considered the greatest of the angels.
Mikael (Michael)
Associated with rain and provision, distributing sustenance according to Allah’s command.
Israfeel
The angel who will sound the trumpet (the Sur) to signal the coming of the Day of Judgment.
Malak al-Mawt (The Angel of Death)
Responsible for taking the souls of the deceased at the appointed time, often referred to by the name Azrael in popular tradition, though this specific name isn’t found directly in the Quran.
Munkar and Nakir
The two angels described in hadith as questioning the deceased in the grave about their faith and deeds.
Ridwan and Malik
Ridwan is described in tradition as the gatekeeper of Paradise, and Malik as the gatekeeper of Hellfire.
Angels That Accompany Every Person
The Quran describes two angels recording every person’s deeds, one on each side, writing down everything said and done. These are known as Kiraman Katibin, the honorable recorders. Separately, hadith describes angels who alternate in tracking a person’s presence at Fajr and Asr prayers specifically, reporting on those who were found praying.
Angels and Gatherings for Remembrance
As covered in our piece on Mahfil, angels are specifically described in hadith as surrounding gatherings held for dhikr, seeking out these gatherings and calling one another toward them.
Common Misconceptions About Angels
- “Angels are simply a symbolic or metaphorical concept.” Mainstream Islamic belief holds angels as real, created beings, not metaphors or symbols for abstract forces.
- “Angels can choose to disobey, similar to humans.” Angels are described as having no capacity for disobedience; this distinguishes them clearly from both humans and jinn, who do have free will.
- “People become angels after death.” Angels are a distinct creation from humans; the two categories don’t convert into one another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can humans see angels?
Generally, angels are unseen by ordinary human perception, though the Quran and hadith describe specific instances of angels appearing in human form to certain prophets and individuals by Allah’s permission.
Do angels have free will?
No. Angels are described as fully obedient to Allah’s commands, without the capacity to disobey that humans and jinn possess.
How many angels are there?
The exact number isn’t specified in Islamic sources. Only specific angels with named roles are described in detail; the broader population of angels is understood to be vast and largely unspecified.
Conclusion
Belief in angels isn’t a peripheral detail of Islamic theology. It’s one of six foundational articles of faith, and understanding their roles, from recording deeds to surrounding gatherings of remembrance, shapes how a believer understands their own daily life as something genuinely witnessed, not simply private.
See our related piece on the importance of Mahfil, and browse upcoming Islamic gatherings near you.