The absolute belief and attestation to the existence of the Angels, that they have similar characteristics with those of the humans, they also have sense organs, they move around, ascend and descend, they are seen and they speak to the Messenger of Allaah (may the Blessings and Salutations Him), they are non-lightning figures and not abstract matters as claimed by the philosophers. It is compulsory to believe in their greatness and superiority with Allaah, they are honored servants, they do not disobey Allaah in whatever they are commanded and they do as they are commanded (by Allaah).
It is compulsory to believe in their assignments and that they differ in ranks with Allaah in respect to the assignments given to them. Among them: are those who carry the Throne of Allaah, as Allaah have said:
﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يَحۡمِلُونَ ٱلۡعَرۡشَ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُۥ ٧﴾ [الغافر ٧]
“Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it” [Al-Ghaafir: 7]
And He also said:
﴿وَٱلۡمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرۡجَآئِهَاۚ وَيَحۡمِلُ عَرۡشَ رَبِّكَ فَوۡقَهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ ثَمَٰنِيَةٞ ١٧﴾ [ الـحاقّـة:۱٧]
“And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them]”. [Al Haqqah:17]
And from amongst them (the Angels) are Allaah has brought closer to Himself, from amongst are the Angels charged with the (raising and setting of the Sun, (shinning of the) Moon, Stars, and the drops of Rain, the Angels charged with the Human, Animal and Plant life, those in charge of the Paradise and the preparation of its dignity for its dwellers, those charged with the Hell, igniting it and the preparation of its punishments for its dwellers. From amongst the Angels is the Angel charged with the human sperm and its transformation until its creation is completed. From amongst them are those charged with safeguarding of the Children of Aadam (may the Salutations of Allaah be upon Him), as Allaah has said:
﴿لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٞ مِّنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦ يَحۡفَظُونَهُۥ مِنۡ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ ١١﴾ [ الرّعد: ۱۱]
“For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah”. [Ar Ra'd:11]
And He also said:
﴿وَإِنَّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَحَٰفِظِينَ ١٠﴾ ] الانفطار:۱٠[
“And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers”, [Al Infitar:10]
From amongst them are those charged with the writing of the good and evil deeds of the Slaves of Allaah, as Allaah have said:
﴿إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٞ ١٧ مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٞ ١٨﴾ [ ق:۱٧-۱٨]
“When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left, Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]”. [Qaf: 17-18]
From amongst them is the Angel charged with the grabbing of the souls and its removal from their bodies as Allaah have said:
﴿وَهُوَ ٱلۡقَاهِرُ فَوۡقَ عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَيُرۡسِلُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ تَوَفَّتۡهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ ٦١﴾ [ الأنعام:٦۱]
“And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties]”. [Al An'am:61]
And He also said:
﴿۞قُلۡ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ ٱلَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ ١١﴾ [ السجدة:۱۱]
“Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned." [As Sajdah:11]
From amongst them is the Angel charged the blowing of the trumpet (on the day of Resurrection), He is Israafeel (may the Salutations of Allaah be upon Him), when He blows the second trumpet, all souls would return to their bodies, the bodies would begin to rise and come out of their graves for the Reckoning and Recompense.
From amongst them is the Angel charged with the Revelations to the Prophets with which the heart and the soul flourishes.
The head of the Angels are the three Angels, Jibreel, Meekaeel and Israafeel, as a result of this, the Prophet (may the Blessing and Salutation of Allaah be upon Him) sought closeness with the Oneness in the Lordship of Allaah to these three Angels in His opening supplication, as reported in the authentic hadeeth by al-Imaam Muslim that the Prophet (may the Blessing and Salutation of Allaah be upon Him), whenever he wakes up in the night to perform the night prayer would say after he makes the opening takbeer:
((اللهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ، ومِيكَائِيلَ، وإِسْرَافِيلَ، فَاطِرَ السَمَاوَاتِ والأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُو فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لمِاَ اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الحَقِ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِمٍ))
“Oh Allaah, the Lord of Jibreel, Meekaeel and Israafeel, the Originator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Knower of the unseen and the seen, You Judge between your slaves in whatever they differ in, guide me by your might in whatever they differ in from the truth, verily, You guide whoever you wish to the correct path”
Reported by al-Imaam Muslim (may Allaah be merciful upon Him) in the Book of the Prayer of the Traveler and its Reduction, hadeeth No. 770.
