Islam: Importance of Angels (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)
Revision Note
Written by: Angela Yates
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Malaikah: The Nature & Importance of Angels
What are the nature of Malaikah?
Malaikah is the Arabic word for angels
Muslims believe in angels because they are mentioned in the Qur’an
Angels are beings created by Allah to perform various tasks
These include governing the universe and the laws of nature
Communicating with humans, often via the prophets
Praising Allah and guarding his throne
The kiraman katibin (noble scribes) malaikah are responsible for recording people’s good and bad deeds for the Day of Judgement
Welcoming humans into paradise
Malaikah are thought to be genderless, winged, and made of light
They do not have a physical form and cannot be seen
However, they can take on a physical shape when needed and, therefore, can appear to humans in a way that they can imagine
For example, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to the prophet Muhammad in the form of a human and to Isa (Jesus) as a dove
Angels are believed to help people whose faith is strong
Angels do not have free will – they can only obey Allah’s will. Therefore, they cannot sin
Jibril, Izra'il & Mika'il in the Qur'an
What is the Importance of the Angels Jibril, Izra'il & Mika'il in the Qur’an?
Islam teaches that Allah has created numerous angels and that they are in ranks
Those who are higher in rank are called ‘archangels’
They include Jibril, Izra'il & Mika'il who hold special importance in Islam
The Importance of Angels in the Qur’an
Angel | Appearance in the Qur’an | Why the angel is important | What the angel teaches Muslims today |
|---|---|---|---|
Jibril (known as Gabriel in Christianity and Judaism) | Revealed the whole Qur’an to Muhammad over 23 years after first appearing to the Prophet in the cave of Hira’ Also revealed to Maryam (Mary) that she was pregnant with Isa (Jesus) | The angel of revelation The communicator between Allah and prophets Without Jibril humanity would not have received the message of the Qur’an | Muslims follow the teachings Allah revealed to Muhammad through Jibril, which give them guidance on how to live and come closer to Allah |
Izra’il | Called the Angel of Death in the Qur’an (Surah 32:11) Responsible for signalling the coming of the Day of Judgement by blowing a trumpet Takes souls to Allah when they die ‘The Angels of Death put in charge of you will reclaim you, and then you will be brought back to your Lord’ (Qur’an, Surah 32:11) | Izra’il helps Muslims understand that they need to live their lives according to Allah’s will, so that they will be rewarded in the afterlife | Muslims should live their life in the expectation that they will be judged by Allah on the Day of Judgement |
Mika’il (known as Michael in Christianity and Judaism) | Known as the Angel of Mercy or Sustenance Mentioned by name in the Qur’an along with Mika’il ‘If anyone is an enemy of God, His angels and His messengers, of Gabriel [Jibril] and Michael [Mika’il], then God is certainly the enemy of such disbelievers’ (Qur’an Surah 2:98) | Oversees and maintains life on earth, for example, bringing the rain for the plants Rewards those who have led a good life on earth The teaching of Mika’il shows Muslims that it is possible to be rewarded in the afterlife Some Muslims think that Mika’il as angel of sustenance means that he will provide not only physical food, but also spiritual sustenance for the soul | Mika’il gives Muslims reassurance that it is possible to be rewarded in the afterlife |
Significance of Angels for Muslims Today
Belief in malaikah (angels) is one of the six Beliefs of Islam for Sunni Muslims and so it is essential for them to believe in angels
However, they are mysterious figures, and Muslims therefore have differing beliefs about their nature
For example, some believe that the idea that angels have wings is a metaphor for being powerful
Even though it is difficult to understand their nature fully, they are extremely significant
They are Allah’s creation and so they help Muslims to understand him better
They are important because Allah has communicated with and has revealed important truths to humanity through them
They are significant for helping believers in their time of need (Surah 41:30-32)
They also have an important part to play in helping Allah to decide what will happen to people in the afterlife
The Qur’an says that angels known as kiraman katibin (noble scribes) are present with people throughout their lives, one on each shoulder
The one on the right shoulder notes good deeds and the one on the left shoulder notes bad deeds
These are then presented to Allah at the Day of Judgement (Surah 82:10-12)
This affects how Muslims live their lives
Because malaikah have been given all these roles of importance by Allah, they must be respected by Muslims today
Worked Example
Outline three beliefs about angels in Islam
(3 marks)
Answer:
Muslims believe that angels:
Are messengers from Allah (1)
Do not have physical bodies (1)
Can help people whose faith is strong (1)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A metaphor is a direct comparison suggesting a resemblance between one item and another. Some Muslims understand some of the descriptions of malaikah to be a metaphor, for example, the description of them as having wings as a metaphor for power. This does not mean they do not believe in angels. Metaphors can be a useful tool to describe mysterious objects more easily by comparing them to objects that are easier to describe
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