Angels are beings created from light who obey God completely and do not disobey. They have no free will to sin. Muslims believe in them as part of the faith: for example, Gabriel brought the revelation, and angels record each person's deeds.
The fuller answer
The Quran mentions Gabriel (Jibril), who delivers revelation, Michael (Mika'il), who is in charge of rain and provision, Israfil, who will blow the trumpet, and the angel of death. Two angels record the good and bad deeds of each person, and angels guard people by God's command.
Angels are not worshipped and are not God's children, as some believed in the past. The Quran says they are honoured servants who do not speak before He speaks and who act on His command. Muslims also say that they pray for believers and that the angels take part in prayer circles and in Quran recitation.
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.
