True followers of Islam believe in the existence of angels, as affirmed in the Holy Qur’an. The information we are given about them is as follows:
1). Angels were created before the creation of mankind: “And when thy Lord said unto the angels, “Lo! I am about to place a viceroy on earth. They said, “Wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we hymn thy praise and sanctify thee?” He said, “Surely I know that which ye know not.”(Qur’an;20:30).
2). Angels were created in order to obey God totally: “0’ ye who believe! ward off from yourselves and your families a fire whereof the fuel is men and stones, over – which are set angels strong, severe, who resist not God in that which He commands them, but do that which they are commanded”(Qur’an;66:6) They celebrate His praises and bow down before Him”(Qur’an;7:206). “Those who bear the throne, and all who are round it, hymn the praises of their Lord and believe in Him”(Qur’an;40:7)
3). When God has created Adam, He taught him the nature of all things and made him teach the angels about these facts since they expressed ignorance about them. Then when Adam’s superiority over the angels was established. God ordered them to bow to Adam. They did this not in worship, but in reverence.
4). Angels sometimes take the physical form of human beings. The Holy Qur’an states in the chapter concerning the story of Mary: “… Then we sent unto her Our spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man”(Qur’an;19; 17). “And Abraham’s guests were angels in the form of human’ beings, to whom a sumptuous dinner of fatted calf was laid out:’ And when he saw their hands reached not to it he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said, “Fear not. Lo! We are sent unto the folk of Lot”(Qur’an;11:70).
5). The angles’ abode is in heaven, and they come down to earth according to God’s orders: “We (angels) come not down save by commandment of the Lord. Unto Him belongs all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that is between those two, and thy Lord was never forgetful”(Qur’an;19:64).
6). And the angels are grouped in various categories and denominations, according to their characteristics and degree of servitude to God. God describes them as follows: “Praise be to God, The Creator of the heavens and the earth. Who appoints the angels messengers having wings-two, three and four. He multiplies in creation what He will”(Qur’an;35:1). “There is not one of us (angels) but hath his known position”(Qur’an;37:164′).
7). Among the angels is Gabriel, who conveys the revelation: “Say (O Mohammed, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Gabriel ‘. For he it is who hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by God’s leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers. (Qur’an;2:9).And among the angels are those responsible for death: “Say (one day), the angel of death who has been given charge of you will gather you, and then unto your Sustainer you will be brought back”(Qur’an;32:1 1).
8). Among the angels are also those who blow the trumpet and the Angel Michael and the bearers of the throne: “Those who bear the Throne, and all who are round about it, hymn the praises of their Lord”(Qur’an;40:7). “And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the throne of thy Lord that day, above them”(Qur’an;69:17).
9). There are angels who are responsible for the comfort of those in paradise: “Gardens of Eden which they enter, along with all who do right of their fathers and their helpmates and their seed. The angels enter unto them from every gate”(Qur’an;13:23). And there are still more angels who are charged with the task of inflicting punishment on those who are in hell: “0’ ye who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a fire whereof the fuel is men and stones, over which are set angels strong, severe, who resist not God in that which He commands them, but do that which they are commanded”(Qur’an;66:6). Some angels are assigned the work of recording mankind’s deeds: “He utters no word but there is with him an observer ready”(Qur’an;50:18), “Generous and recording” (Qur’an;82:11).
10). And there are angels who usher men into the Divine presence on the Day of Judgement, and bear witness against them: “And every soul cometh, along with it a driver and a witness” (Qur’an;50:21).
11). The Holy Qur’an also states that angels infuse believers with courage and fortitude at times of war: “When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying) ‘’I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm.”(Qur’an;8:12). The angels pray for soldiers and seek God’s forgiveness for them: “He it is Who bless you, and His angels (bless you) that He may bring you forth from darkness into light”(Qur’an;33:43). “Our Lord! Thou comprehends all things in mercy and knowledge, therefore forgive those who repent and follow Thy way. Ward off from them ill-deeds; and he from whom Thou ward off ill-deeds that day, him verily hast Thou taken into mercy. That is the supreme triumph”(Qur’an;40:79). And the angels witness the dawn prayers with the believers: “And (the recital of) Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn is ever witnessed”(Qur’an;17:78). When we pass on from this worldly life, the angels bring tidings to believers and reproach to unbelievers: “But behold as for those who say, “Our Sustainer is God”, and then steadfastly pursue the right way-upon them do angels often descend, (saying), “Fear not and grieve not, but receive the glad tiding of that paradise which has been promised to you!”(Qur’an;41:30). “Behold, those whom the angels gather in death while they are still sinning against themselves, (the angels) will ask, “What was wrong with you?”. They will answer, “We were too weak on earth”. (The angels) will say, “Was then God’s earth not wide enough for you to forsake the domain of evil?”. For such then, the goal is hell – and how evil a journey’s end!”(Qur’an;4: 97). “And if thou couldst but see (how it will be) when He causes those who are bent on denying the truth to die: the angels will strike their faces and their backs, and (will say), “Taste suffering through fire in return for what your own hands have wrought, for never does God do the least wrong to His creatures (Qur’an;8: 50-51).
12). The angels lead sinners to the fire and rebuke them: “And those who were bent on denying the truth will be urged on in throngs towards hell till, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will ask them, “Have there not come to you apostles from among yourselves, who conveyed to you your Sustainer’s messages and warned you of the coming of this your Day of Judgement?” They will answer, “Yea – indeed”. But the sentence of suffering will (already) have fallen upon the deniers of the truth. (And) they will be told, “Enter the gates of hell, therein to abide!”(Qur’an;39:71-72) And angels also greet and welcome those who enter paradise: “And those who keep their duty to their Lord are drives unto the garden in troops till, when they reach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them, “Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye (the garden of delight), to dwell therein.”(Qur’an;39:73).Angels do not marry or have children, and they are not described as being sexual beings, males or females.
13). The above gives a general picture of what is mentioned about angels in the Holy Qur’an. And, as stated before, because they are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, believers are expected to believe in them. To believe in Angels is among one of the basic tenets of faith. “The messenger believed in that which had been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers – we make no distinction between any of His messengers.” (Qur’an;2:285).
Benefits, Gained by Belief in Angels:
Belief in angels increases our awareness of God’s glory and makes us more conscious of His mercy, as angels pray for believers and seek forgiveness on their behalf. By knowing that angels keep a record of all our deeds, we are able to steer clear of what would be harmful to us, as believers. What’s more, we feel encouraged to embark upon noble deeds, such as Striving for the cause of God, knowing that God has ordered the angels to support us. We therefore seek to behave in such a way that will lead us to paradise, where we shall be greeted by them. Likewise, we will abstain from actions which will lead us to hell, where angels will rebuke us. In other words, the overall benefit from having a belief in angels is that it will make us more committed in our obedience to God, and more conscious of abstaining from doing what is against His will. And in so doing, we strengthen angelic qualities within ourselves.