Allaah created the angels:

Allaah, the Almighty, created various types of creatures, both visible and invisible.

We can see the sun, the moon, the mountains, the rivers, trees, animals, birds, and fish. Even the minutest creatures that we cannot see with the unaided eye such as germs, bacteria, microbes and the particulates of matter can be seen and recognized through special equipment that magnify them hundreds of times.

Yet, there are other creatures created by Allaah that we can neither see nor recognize with our senses such as the Jinn and the angels.

Belief in the angels is one of the six pillars of faith and is one of the bases of Islamic doctrine.

Allaah Says (what means): {And whosoever disbelieves in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away.} [Quran 4:136]

When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked about faith, he said:

"To believe in Allaah, His Angels and His Books, and His Messengers and the Last Day and Divine Predetestination, whether good or evil."

Why can’t we see the angels?

We can neither see nor hear the angels because they are created from light and are created in a special way. Yet, we believe in them and that Allaah gave them special properties and characteristics. They do not eat, drink, or sleep. They are not males and females like human beings. They are completely different creatures.

Angels never disobey Allaah

Allaah made the angels (may Allaah exalt their mention) infallible and He protected them from committing sins.

Allaah Says (what menas): {Who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded.} [Quran 66:6]

They glorify Allaah day and night and they never get tired or bored because of excessive worship. They never do any action unless Allaah commands them to do so.

Description of the angels

Allaah created the angels in the best shape and He made them extremely beautiful, bright and strong. He provided them with wings. Some of them have two wings, others have three while still others have four. Some even have more according to the mission for which Allaah created them.

We cannot imagine these wings and how they look. They are not like the wings of the birds. It is not even permissible to hold a comparison between their wings and those of birds. The resemblance of their wings to those of birds is only in the name but not in their essence.

Allaah Says (what means): {All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, the (only) Originator [or the (only) Creator] 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. Verily, Allaah is Able to do all things.} [Quran 35:1]

Angels may appear in human shape

Some angels appeared in human form to Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, and his wife Saarah. The angels visited Prophet Ibraaheem as guests and they gave his wife glad tidings that she would give birth to a son although she had been infertile.

Allaah Says (what means): {Has the story reached you, of the honored guests [three angels; Israel Jibreel (Gabriel) along with another two] of Ibraaheem (Abraham)? When they came in to him, and said, "Salaam,!" He answered; "Salaam," and said: "You are a people unknown to me,") Then he turned to his household, so brought out a roasted calf [as the property of Ibraaheem was mainly cows]. And placed it before them, (saying): "Will you not eat?" Then he conceived a fear of them (when they ate not). They said: "Fear not." And they gave him glad tidings of an intelligent son, having knowledge (about Allaah and His religion of True Monotheism).} [Quran 51:24-28]

Jibreel, may Allaah exalt his mention, also appeared to Maryam (Mary) and gave her glad tidings that she would give birth to ‘Eesaa (Jesus) without a father so that he would be a miracle to all people.

Allaah Says (what means): {And mention in the Book (the Quran, O Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the story of) Maryam, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrael], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allaah) from you, if you do fear Allaah." (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."} [Quran 19:16-19]

Jibreel, may Allaah exalt his mention, also used to come to the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in the shape of an unknown, graceful Bedouin. Sometimes, he would come in the shape of a companion named Dihyah Al-Kalbi who was a graceful handsome man.

The number of angels

Allaah created a large number of angels. Only Allaah knows their exact number.

Allaah Says (what means): {And none can know the hosts of your Lord but He.} [Quran 74:31]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: "Heaven has groaned, and it has the right to groan. By Him, in whose hand my soul is, there is not in it as much as the space of four fingers in which there is not an angel prostrating his forehead before Allaah."

Some names of angels:

-  Jibreel (Gabriel) "the Angel of Revelation": He is the best of all the angels. He conveyed revelation from Allaah, the Almighty, to the Prophets. He gave Maryam glad tidings that she would give birth to ‘Eesaa without a father. He was sent down with the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, for the first time in the Cave of Hiraa'.

- Meekaa'eel "the angel of rain": He is the angel assigned by Allaah to move the clouds where Allaah commands him. He has other angels who assist him.

- Israafeel "the angel who will blow the trumpet": On the Day of Judgment, he will, upon the command of Allaah, blow the trumpet and then all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon.

Then he will blow again and everyone will be resurrected by the Will of Allaah.

-  Maalik "the guard of Hellfire": he is the angel in charge of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment as he will push forward all the disbelievers, sinners, and criminals into the Hellfire.

The missions of the angels:

There are many types of angels, and they have various missions which Allaah charged them to perform. They obey Allaah in whatever He commands them to do and never disregard His instructions. Among these angels:

·  The bearers of the Throne: They are the angels who bear the Throne of Allaah. They are constantly praising and glorifying Allaah and they pray to Allaah to forgive the obedient believers.

· The angels of revelation: They are sent down with revelation to the selected Prophets and Messengers.

· The angels of Paradise: they receive the believers who will dwell in Paradise and provide them with the marvelous blessings and joys found there.

· The guards of Hellfire: They are stern and severe angels appointed by Allaah to inflict a just penalty on the criminals who had spread corruption on earth.

· The angels who are scribes: Every human being has two appointed angels who write down whatever good or evil he says or does. Allaah Says (what means): {But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, honorable writing down (your deeds)} [Quran 82:10-11]

· The angels who take away the souls of man: in the case of a faithful slave, white-faced angels with a coffin from Paradise will come and take away his soul. In the case of a disbeliever, angels with gloomy faces who have a coffin from the Hellfire will take away his soul.

· The angels questioning human beings in the grave: There are two angels: Munkar and Nakeer. When a person is put into the grave and people leave, the two angels will come and make him sit up and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet.

· The angels of the mountains: they are in charge of the affairs of the mountains.

· The angels of the clouds: they drive the clouds to the places commanded by Allaah. The clouds may bring benefits to people when they cause the rain to fall and hence the land is irrigated. Clouds may also bring punishment and destruction if they turn into floods that destroy everything.

· The angels assigned to develop the sperm and give it a human shape and breathe the soul into the embryo

· The angels assigned to guard human beings: Allaah assigned some angels to guard every human being. These angels succeed each other day and night. They accompany the person and never leave him/her. By the Command of Allaah, these angels guard human beings against detrimental and death-causing incidents.

Houses entered by the angels

· The House of Allaah (the Mosque): angels like mosques, attend the Muslims' prayer, and invoke Allaah to grant forgiveness to the Muslims.

·  A house where the Quran is recited: the angels attend the meetings where Allaah is being mentioned and the Quran is recited. The angels keep on invoking forgiveness for the believer as long as he is reciting the Quran.

·  Islamic knowledge gatherings: angels like Islamic knowledge gatherings, whether they are in mosques, schools, institutes or even at home. Angels surround students seeking religious knowledge and provide them with love and care.

Angels witness the human beings' deeds

· Angels attend the Friday prayer: the angels receive the Muslims going to Friday prayer and record their levels and good deeds depending on who came to the mosque first. When the preacher ascends the pulpit, the angels would sit down to listen to him.

· The angels know the Muslims who go to the mosques: the angels like them and write down a good reward and wipe out an evil deed for every step to the mosque.

· The angels attend the gatherings for mentioning Allaah and Quranic recitation: they attend every Quranic gathering and meeting in which Allaah is mentioned and they ask Allaah to forgive those who mention Him and recite the Holy Quran.

· The angels attend religious knowledge classes: the angels like religious knowledge classes and they lower their wings in appreciation and respect of students of religious knowledge. 

·The angels accompany those who ask Allaah for forgiveness and those who repent: Allaah created angels who roam around seeking those who ask Allaah for forgiveness, those who repent and those who invoke Allaah out of love, sincerity and sub massiveness.

· The angels attend funerals: the angels are present when a Muslim dies, ask Allaah to forgive him, say "Aameen" (Amen) whenever the other Muslims supplicate for the dead and they attend the funeral procession. Allaah gives whoever attends the funeral rewards as weighty as the mountain of Uhud.

Jinn and angels

Jinns are creatures that we do not see, and they are different from angels. The angels are created from light while the Jinns are created from fire.

Jinns have some characteristics and qualities resembling those of human beings. They, like human, are divided into males and females. They also reproduce, give birth, die, eat, and drink like humans. Jinns live in desolate, deserted places and eat dung and bones.

Like humans, some of Jinns are believers and others are disbelievers. The non-believing Jinns are called "Satans". The most tyrannical and blasphemous of them are called "the Rebellious Satans" and the most famous one is the cursed Iblees. When Allaah commanded the angels to prostrate themselves to Aadam, may Allaah exalt his mention, Iblees refused and he was punished and dismissed from Paradise.

Iblees promised mankind to cause their deviation. That is why he is working hard to keep them away from worshipping Allaah. Allaah, the Almighty, warned us against the temptations of Iblees and his followers and He commanded us never to obey Iblees and never surrender to him.