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Lesson Belief in the Angels

Belief in the angels is a pillar from the pillars of faith. In this lesson, you will learn about their reality, characteristics, and actions. You will also what belief in the angels entails.

  • Learning the meaning of belief in the angels and its significance
  • Learning some of their characteristics and actions
  • Learning about the fruits of believing in the angels

The meaning of belief in the angels:

The firm belief in the existence of angels, and that they are part of a metaphysical world, separated from the world of humans and the world of the jinn. They are pious and honorable beings who worship Allah as He deserves to be worshiped. They do what He commands them to do, and never disobey Allah. As Allah says in the Qur'an: {Rather, they are [but] honored servants. They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command} (Al-Anbiya:26-27).

The importance of believing in the angels

Belief in the angels is one of the six pillars of faith. The Almighty said: {The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers} (Al-Baqarah:285). And the Prophet ﷺ said that faith is: “to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree, both good and bad” (Muslim 8).

Belief in the angels is obligatory upon every Muslim, and whoever denies this is misguided and has erred. The Almighty said: {And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray} (An-Nisa:136). Allah attributed disbelief to those who deny this pillar of belief.

The Prophet ﷺ said that the sky was heavy with those in it. There is no area a handspan wide except that an angel is standing, kneeling, or prostrating in it.

What does belief in the angels include?

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Belief in their existence: We believe that they are creatures of Allah Almighty, existing in reality.
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Belief in those whose names we know from among them, such as Gabriel (peace be upon him). As for those whose names we do not know we believe in them in general.
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Belief in what we know from their characteristics.
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Belief in what divine revelation informed us about in terms of the acts that they perform by the directive of Allah the Exalted.

Some of the attributes of the angels that we believe in are:

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They are of a metaphysical world, creatures that worship Allah Almighty and have nothing of the attributes of lordship and divinity. Rather they are Allah's servants who are completely obedient to Him, as Allah Almighty said about them: {They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them. Rather they do as they are commanded} (At-Tahrim:6).
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They were created from light. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The angels were created from light” (Muslim 2996).
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They have wings. Allah said that He gave the angels wings that vary in number. Thus the Glorified said: {[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers with wings: two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is capable of all things} (Fatir:1).

Allah has entrusted the angels with various deeds, including:

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Conveying the revelation from Allah Almighty to His Messengers, peace be upon them. Gabriel is entrusted with this.
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Taking the souls. Angel of Death and his aides are entrusted with this.
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Saving the deeds of servants and writing them down, whether they are good or evil. Those who are entrusted with this are known as the Honorable Writers [kiram katibun].

We often marvel at the survival of a person from a fatal accident. However, we must not forget that one of the actions of the angels is to protect the children of Adam from fatalities by the command of Allah.

Faith in the angels has a lot of benefit in a believer's life. Among them:

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Recognizing the grandeur and power of Allah and the perfection of His ability. For the greatness of the creature reflects the greatness of the Creator. Therefore, a believer's faith and glorification of Allah increases when he knows that Allah has created winged angels from light.
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Remaining steadfast in obedience to Allah the Exalted. The belief that the angels write down all his deeds necessitates fear of Allah the Exalted. Hence, a servant does not disobey Him in public or in private.
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Being patient in obedience to Allah and developing a feeling of peace and tranquility upon the realization that thousands of angels exist in the universe who obey Allah in the best and most perfect way.
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Gratitude to Allah the Exalted for His care and concern for mankind, as He made some of the angels to guard and protect them.

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