Angels
Allah (subhan wa ta’ala) has created many different types of creatures and one of those creatures are called Angels (or ‘al-Malaikah’ in the Quran). We usually cannot see them and they are made of pure LIGHT. They only do whatever Allah (SWT) tells them to do and they cannot ever disobey God because unlike us human’s, they have no choice of their own –they have no ‘Free Will.’ They pray, worship and glorify Allah all the time. Belief in the Angels is a big part of our Faith as Muslims, like the belief in ONE God and the many Prophets of God too. There are some very special angels who are given extra special tasks by Allah. Some of them are mentioned below.
Jibrael(Gabriel): He is a very important angel. He is the angel of revelation and revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). He also communicated with all the Prophet’s and is responsible for bringing down Allah’s blessings on Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) on one of the last 10 days of Ramadan. He is also responsible for bringing punishment on to nations who do many wrongs. Jibrael (alayhis salaam) is mentioned in the Quran several times.
Mikael(Michael):
The angel Mika'il (Michael) is named once in the Qur'an: "Say: Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and prophets, to Jibril and Mika'il … Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith. (2:98) According to commentary, this refers to some disbelievers during the time of the Prophet
The Prophet asked Jibril, "What is Mika'il in charge of? He replied, ‘The plants and the rain’" (At-Tabarani). Mika'il has assistants who follow his orders and make the clouds and winds move according to Allah's will. In another hadith, the Prophet asked Jibril, "Why do I never see Mika'il laugh? He replied, "Mika'il has not laughed since the Fire was created. (Ahmad)
Israfeel:
The angel given the Trumpet. He is ready to blow the blasts ushering in the Day of Judgement upon Allah's command. It is reported the Messenger of Allah said, "How can I enjoy myself when the one with the horn has raised the ‘horn’ to his mouth, knitted his brow and is waiting to blow? They said, "What should we say, Messenger of Allah? He replied, "Say: Allah is enough for us, and the best Guardian. We have put our trust in Allah. (At-Tirmidhi). The ‘du’a’ (supplication) of the Prophet
concerning these three angels is, "O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika’il, and Israfil, Bringer of the heavens and the earth into being, Knower of the unseen and visible, it is You who judges between Your slaves concerning the things about which they disagree. Guide us to the truth in respect of the things about which there is disagreement by Your permission. You guide whomever You will to a straight path."
Malakul Maut angel of death. He is responsible for parting the soul from the body. He is only referred as malak al-maut, meaning angel of death, in the Quran.
Malik: The main guardian of hell.
Munkar and Nakeer: Stern angels who question humans upon death as to their beliefs. They ask three questions: Who is your God? Who is your Prophet? What is your Religion? They punish those in the grave who did not believe, or were bad and disobedient in their lives. The only way for a believer to answer these three questions is if they do their best to practice islam here in earth
Haroot and Maroot:Two angels who came to earth and taught men some of ‘black magic’ such as breaking up family, marriage etc as a test to mankind in the time of babylon.
Kirama Katibeen:These two angels sit on every person’s right and left shoulder to record his/her good or bad. The angel on the right always records a good deed even before it is done. While the angel on the left is told to wait before recording a bad deed. And if a person has not done a bad deed , the angel on the right records it as a good deed.
Hadith 14, 40 Hadith QudsiOn the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said:Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah's name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, filling that which is between them and between the lowest heaven. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven. He (the Prophet (ﷺ)) said: Then Allah (mighty and sublime be He) asks them - [though] He is most knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You (Subhana llah), exalting you (Allahu akbar), witnessing that there is no god but You (La ilaha illa llah), praising You (Al-Hamdu lillah), and asking [favours] of You. He says: And what do they ask of Me? They say: They ask of You Your Paradise. He says: And have they seen My Paradise? They say: No, O Lord. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise! They say: And they ask protection of You. He says: From what do they ask protection of Me? They say: From Your Hell-fire, O Lord. He says: And have they seen My Hell-fire? They say: NO. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire: They say: And they ask for Your forgiveness. He (the Prophet (ﷺ)) said: Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for, and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: They say: O Lord, among them is So-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: And He says: And to him [too] I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer.
It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, and an-Nasa'i).
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and `Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying." Sahih al-Bukhari 555
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(A group of) angels stay with you at night and (another group of) angels by daytime, and both groups gather at the time of the 'Asr and Fajr prayers. Then those angels who have stayed with you overnight, ascend (to Heaven) and Allah asks them (about you) ---- and He knows everything about you. "In what state did you leave My slaves?' The angels reply, 'When we left them, they were praying, and when we reached them they were praying.' " Sahih al-Bukhari 7429
Narrated Ibn Al-Musaiyab:
Abu Huraira said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'A prayer performed in congregation is twenty-five times more superior in reward to a prayer performed by a single person. The angels of the night and the angels of the day are assembled at the time of the Fajr (Morning) prayer." Abu Huraira added, "If you wish, you can recite:-- 'Verily! The recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn (Morning prayer) is ever witnessed (attended by the angels of the day and the night).' (17.78) Sahih al-Bukhari 4717
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.' " Sahih al-Bukhari 1442
