Belief in the Angels
Pillar 2
Who are the Angels?
The second pillar of Iman is the belief in angels, who are purely spiritual beings created by Allah from light. They are incapable of disobeying Allah and meticulously carry out His commands. Unlike humans, they do not have free will, nor do they eat, drink, or sleep.
Their Roles and Responsibilities
Angels are assigned various duties by Allah. Some of the most prominent angels and their roles mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah include:
- Jibril (Gabriel): The archangel responsible for delivering Allah's revelations to the prophets.
- Mika'il (Michael): Responsible for distributing rain and sustenance by the command of Allah.
- Israfil: The angel who will blow the trumpet to signal the Day of Judgment.
- Malak-ul-Mawt (Angel of Death): Entrusted with the task of taking souls at the time of death.
- Kiraman Katibin (Honorable Scribes): Two angels who accompany each human, recording their good and bad deeds.
The Unseen World
Belief in angels is a part of believing in the 'Ghaib' (the unseen), which is a fundamental aspect of Islamic faith. It acknowledges that human perception is limited and that a vast, unseen reality exists beyond our senses. This belief reinforces the majesty and power of Allah, who governs both the seen and unseen realms.