Do Muslims Believe In The Existence Of The Angels?

To Believe His Angels

The Belief in Angel (al-Malaikah) is the second pillar of faith in Islam.
Allah says: "The Messenger believe in what has been revealed to him from His Lord, and so do the believers. Believe in Allah, His angels and His messengers"

Sura Al-Baqarah (2:285)

It is obligatory, and in fact an essential part of faith to respect all of the angels. Therefore, it is unthinkable for Muslims to have any animosity towards any of the angels, let alone cursing them any such action is considered an act of disbelief.

Some Jews once came to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam and told him that they had five questions for him. If he could answer all the questions satisfactorily, they would be his followers. The prophet answered the first four to their satisfaction, and then they asked the final question; There is not any prophet except that he has an angel assigned to him as a companion who brings him news from Allah (SWT). "So tell us! who is your companion?"

The Prophet (SAW) replied, : "Jibrael (Angel Gabriel) Peace be on him"

They said, " that is the one who bring down war, fighting, and punishment our enemy. "If only you had said Mika'eel, who bring down mercy, rain, and vegetation it would have been that we follow you!,

Then Allah (SWT) revealed the the reply:"Say: Who is an enemy to Jibraeel? for it is he who has brought it (their Quran) down to your hear, by Allah's leave, confirming that which was before it, and as a guidance and a mercy to the believers. Whoever is an enemy to Allah, and to His angels, and to His Messengers, and [in particular to] Jibra'eel and Mika'eel, then let him know that Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers." Sura Al Baqarah, (2:97-98)

[Related by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, and Al-Nasa'e]

What Is The Duties of Angels?

11 Muharram, 1436

 Duties of Angels

Angels have various duties, with each having a well-defined role. "And there is not any among us, except that he has a known position. And we are indeed the ones who are arranged in ranks for prayer. And we are indeed the ones who glorify Allah"
(Sura Al-saffat, 37:164-166)

Angels thus teach us the benefits of specialization. So, in the Islamic society, some members musts specialize in the Qu'ran and its sciences, some in Hadith sciences, others in medicine, still others in agriculture and soon and so forth, so that the Muslim community becomes efficient and well balanced.  Similarly, in the home, the responsibilities are divided. While the man is responsible primarily for supporting the family financially, the woman has an important role in upbringing the children, although she is by no means confined to only this task.

Only Allah (SWT) knows all the details and roles of all the angels: "And none know the hosts of your Lord except He"
(Sura Al-Muddathir, 74:31)

Nevertheles, He has told us about some of these angels through the Qu'ran and Sunnah.

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

9 Muharram, 1436

The names and Roles of some Angels
Only few angels are mentioned by name in the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Others are mentioned either by specific names or by roles or their general nature of serving and worshiping Allah (SWT).

Among those are:

Jibreel (angel Gabriel), This is the most distinguished of the angels, and is intrusted with carrying revelation to the Prophets. This includes briging the Qu'ran to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which is referred to in the following:

"Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds: with it came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth to thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish in clear Arabic tongue."

(Sura Al-Shu'ara', 26:192-195)

Angel Jibreel is also called "the Holy Spirit" as mentioned in the Qu'ran

"Those Messengers we endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus, the son of Mary, we gave Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each others, after clear (signs) had come to them but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His  plan."
(Sura Al-Baqarah, 2:253)

What Is The Nature Of The Angels?

8 Muharram, 1436

The Nature of Angels

Angels are being created from light:

Aisha, radhiallahu anha, narrated: that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhe wa sallam said: "Angels were created from light, Jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you [in the Qur'an and Sunnah], (Related by Muslim).

They do not have to desires of their own, neither do they eat or drink, They are honored servants of Allah (SWT) and never disobey Him.

They are perpetually in His service, in prostration, in a standing posture, or through various other forms of worship.

Allah says: And those who are before Him are not scornful of worshiping Him, nor do they tired or get bored. They glorify Him night and day; they do not halt"
(Sura Al-Anbiya, 21:19-20)

They are honored servants, who do not precede Him in speech, and they act according to His command. "He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede, except for those whom He approves"
(Sura Al-Anbiya, 21:26-27)

Angels are also described as having wings:

"Praise be to Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth, the creator of angels having wings two, three or four.
(Sura Fatir, 35:1)

However, we should not try to guess the nature or form of these wings.
Certainly, there in no basis in Islam for the corrupt notion prevalent in the West, that angels are like beautiful little girls with a pair of wings on there backs.

We should be careful that our children are not exposed to those books which contain such misleading pictures, so that they do not grow up with an incorrect concept of angels.

The angels do not have gender. They also do not procreate, Allah has denounced those who regard them as females. Indeed, to do so is the way of the believers. "Those who do not believe in the Hereafter surely call the angels with female appellations"
(Sura Al-najam, 53:27)

Can Angels be seen?

7 Muharram, 1436

Prophets can see angels is their natural form.
Al-Bukhari recorded that 'Aishah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) saw angel Jibreel twice in his natural form.

However, ordinary people (i.e., non Prophets) cannot see them unless they (angels) take on a visible form. Angels can indeed take a material form, such as that of a handsome man. An example of this is found in the Quran where Allah sent angels to give Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (AW) glad tidings of a son, and then to assist the prophet Lut (LOT) (AW). Lut people, being homosexuals, lusted after these angels, but Allah destroyed the depraved sinners.

Allah says: salam (i.e., greetings of peace) He answered! "salam"   See Sura Hud, 11:69-83

Also in the Qu'ran, there is an the incident in which angel Jibreel came to Maryam (Mary) the mother of Isa (Jesus) (AW) to inform her that she would miraculously give birth to 'Isa (Jesus)
Allah says: "Then we sent to her our spirit (angel Jibreel) and He appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.  (Sura Maryam, 19:17-21)

Lastly, there is the famous "Hadith Jibreel" related by Muslim, in which angel Jibreel came to the Prophet (SAW)in the form of a man, and asked him about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.

This was done in public view, and its purpose was the teach the people about their religion.