Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Belief in the angels is one of the pillars of faith. It includes firmly believing in their existence, believing in those whose names have been authentically established, believing in the attributes that have been authentically reported about them, and believing in the duties and tasks that Allah has assigned to them. They are honored servants whom Allah created from light. They do not disobey Him and they carry out whatever He commands them.
The angels are part of the unseen world that Allah تعالى created. They are His honored servants, submissive to His command and never departing from obedience to Him.
Allah تعالى says:
“Rather, they are honored servants. They do not precede Him in speech, and they act according to His command.”
[Al-Anbiya: 26–27]
And He سبحانه وتعالى says:
“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are commanded.”
[At-Tahrim: 6]
Allah تعالى also says:
“They are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they tire. They glorify Him night and day without ever weakening.”
[Al-Anbiya: 19–20]
Thus, they are created beings under Allah’s dominion, and they possess none of the characteristics that belong exclusively to divinity.
We believe in the names of the angels whose names Allah or His Messenger ﷺ has made known to us, such as:
Jibril, Mika’il, Israfil, and Malik, peace be upon them.
As for those whose names have not been established by authentic evidence, we believe in them generally, but we do not assign names to them on our own.
We believe in the authentic descriptions of the angels without adding anything to them or imagining what their exact nature is like.
Among these descriptions is what has been authentically reported about Jibril عليه السلام. The Prophet ﷺ saw him in the form in which Allah created him, and he had six hundred wings.
The angels are magnificent created beings whose nature and attributes differ from those of human beings. Therefore, their conditions should not be measured by human conditions.
Allah has assigned specific duties and functions to some of the angels. Among them are:
Jibril عليه السلام is entrusted with revelation.
Israfil is entrusted with blowing the Trumpet.
Mika’il is entrusted with rain and matters related to it.
Malik is the keeper of Hell.
Some angels are assigned to record a person's deeds.
Allah تعالى says:
“When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. He does not utter a word except that with him is an observer ready to record it.”
[Qaf: 17–18]
Thus, a person’s deeds and words are preserved and recorded according to what Allah has commanded His angels.
Belief in the angels is not merely about knowing information about them. Rather, it instills in the Muslim awareness of Allah and care regarding his words and deeds, because he knows that Allah has appointed among His angels those who record what he does.
Allah تعالى says:
“Read your record. Today, your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you.”
[Al-Isra: 14]
Therefore, a person should strive to ensure that good deeds are recorded for him—deeds that he will be pleased to see on the Day of Resurrection.
The reality of belief in the angels rests upon four fundamental matters: believing in their existence, believing in the names of those whose names have been authentically established, believing in their attributes that have been authentically reported, and believing in the duties that Allah has assigned to them.
They are honored servants who obey Allah تعالى and do not disobey Him in what He commands them. Belief in them is an essential part of the Muslim’s creed.
And Allah knows best.