Angels in Islam serve as a means of connecting the divine realm with the earthly realm, carrying out Allah's commands, and facilitating the spiritual journey of believers. They embody qualities of purity, obedience, and submission to Allah, serving as a source of guidance, protection, and comfort for humanity.
In Islam, angels play a crucial role as messengers, servants, and guardians appointed by Allah to carry out various tasks. The purpose of angels in Islamic belief is multifaceted and includes:
1. Servants and Worshipers of Allah: Angels are beings created by Allah to worship and serve Him. They are free from sin and carry out their duties with absolute obedience and devotion to Allah.
2. Messengers and Conveyors of Revelation: Angels serve as messengers between Allah and His prophets. They deliver revelations, such as the Quran, to the prophets, serving as intermediaries in the communication between the divine and the human.
3. Recording Deeds: Angels are responsible for recording the deeds of humans. It is believed that each person has two angels, known as Kiraman Katibin, who record their good and bad deeds throughout their lives.
4. Protection and Guardianship: Angels provide protection and guardianship to believers. They accompany individuals, offering guidance, assistance, and protection from harm, both seen and unseen.
5. Execution of Divine Decree: Angels execute the divine decree of Allah, carrying out His commands and implementing His will in the universe. They play a role in various natural phenomena and events, such as controlling the winds, rain, and other elements of nature.
6. Witnesses on the Day of Judgment: On the Day of Judgment, angels will bear witness to the deeds of humans and testify before Allah regarding their actions in the earthly life.
7. Intercession: Some angels, such as the Angel of Death (Izra'il), are entrusted with specific tasks related to the afterlife, such as taking the souls of the deceased and interceding on behalf of believers.
The substance from which Allah created them is light. In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from 'Aa'ishah (رضى الله عنها) that the Messenger of Allah (ï·º) said: “The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you.” [Muslim, 4/2294, hadith no. 2996].
The Messenger (ï·º) did not explain what light this is that they were created from. Hence we cannot indulge in trying to say more about this matter, because it is the matter of the unseen concerning which no further clarification has been narrated, apart from this hadith.
It is narrated that 'Ikrimah said: "The angels were created from the light of glory and Iblees was created from the fire of glory." And it is narrated that 'Abd-Allah ibn 'Amr said, "Allah created the angels from the light of the arms and chest." It is not permissible to accept these views, even if they are narrated through sound chains from these scholars, because they are not infallible, and they may have taken these ideas from the Israaeeliyyaat (reports from Jewish sources). [Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah, 1/197].
All praise is due to Allah we ask Him to bless the Prophet Sallah Llah Alei Wasalam and the companions and let us die in the path of Qur'an and Sunnah.