Religious history has
recorded several instances where Angels appeared in the form
of pleasant-looking men to certain individuals, including
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Maryam (mother of Prophet Jesus
Christ), Ibraheem (a.s.) and Prophet Lot; and also to communities,
such as the inhabitants of the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Neither male nor female, these intelligent beings do not
eat, drink, sleep nor have desires. They are created from
light (noor) and in such a way that they always obey and
never go against Divine commands and never tire of serving
Almighty Allah. For Muslims, this Article of Faith stipulates
that they must believe in the Angels, whose population is
infinite. This command is contained in the Qur'anic verse:
"Uprightness is not to turn your faces towards east or west,
but uprightness is to believe in Allah (SWT) and the Last
Day, the angels, the Book and the Prophets,…." [Al-Baqarah:
177]
Names of few of the angels and their brief description is
mentioned below:
Jibreel : To deliver the Divine Revelations from Allah Almighty
to His chosen Messengers from among the Prophets.
Mikaaeel : To manage man's mundane necessities, bring forth
rain and oversee the cultivation of crops.
Israafeel : To blow the Trumpet: once, for the destruction
of the universe; and again, for the Resurrection of all accountable
beings to face Judgment Day.
Izraaeel : Angel of Death, the most fearsome of them all,
who does not delay nor expedite the hour of claiming the
soul.
Apart from the above ten, there are numerous other angels
whose duties are:
- To carry the throne of Allah
- To glorify Allah and to continuously prostrate to Him
- To beg forgiveness from Allah for believers and those
who have repented.
- To beg for goodness for those human beings doing good
deeds, and to beg for the destruction of those reluctant
to donate a portion of their wealth in the way of goodness
- To say Ameen (Amen) together with those praying to
Allah in congregation
- To take turn guarding humans all day and night, with
the changing of the guard occurring in the late afternoon
and at dawn.
In a hadeeth (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad - pbuh) narrated
by Aishah, Prophet Muhammad said:
"The Angels are created from light, the Jinn from the burning
fire, and Adam from what has been expounded to you (i.e.
fashioned out of clay)." [Muslim]
Although man is created from clay and Angels from light,
the Qur'an categorically states that Man is the 'jewel of
creation'. Evidence of this is seen in the following Qur'anic
verse:
"Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould)" [At-Teen:
4]
