In Islam, angels are beings created by God from light who worship Him constantly and carry out His commands without ever disobeying. Belief in them is one of the six articles of Muslim faith. The Quran names Jibril (Gabriel), who brought revelation, and Mikail (Michael), and describes many other angels by their roles, from recording deeds to taking souls at death.
Angels appear throughout the Quran: announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary, visiting Abraham, bringing the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and standing in rows on the Day of Judgment. This guide explains what Muslims believe about angels, lists the angels named in the Quran and authentic hadith with their roles, and compares the Islamic view with the jinn and with Christian ideas about angels.
Key takeaways
- Belief in angels is an article of faith: the Quran says the believers "have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers" (Quran 2:285).
- Sahih Muslim 2996 states that angels were created from light, jinn from smokeless fire and Adam from clay.
- The Quran describes angels as beings who "do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded" (Quran 66:6).
- The Quran names Jibril (Gabriel) and Mikail (Michael) together in Quran 2:98, while Israfil is named in a prayer of the Prophet recorded in Sahih Muslim 770.
- Two angels record every person's words and deeds, described in the Quran as "noble and recording" (Quran 82:11).
Why is belief in angels an article of faith?
Muslims hold six core beliefs: in God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. In the famous hadith of Jibril, recorded in Sahih Muslim 8 and Sahih al-Bukhari 50, the angel Jibril came in human form and asked the Prophet what faith (iman) is. The answer began with belief in God and then His angels. Our guide to what Muslims believe covers all six articles.
The Quran makes the same point strongly. It counts disbelief in the angels alongside disbelief in God as going "far astray" (Quran 4:136). Angels matter in Islamic belief because they are the link between God's command and the world: they bring revelation, carry out His decree and record human deeds.
What are angels made of, and what are they like?
Angels (mala'ikah, ملائكة; singular malak) were created from light, according to a hadith narrated by Aisha in Sahih Muslim 2996. The Quran describes them in a few clear ways.
- Obedient by nature. They "do what they are commanded" (Quran 16:50) and "exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken" (Quran 21:20).
- Not children of God. The Quran rejects the idea that angels are God's offspring, calling them "honored servants" who "act by His command" (Quran 21:26-27).
- Neither male nor female. The Quran criticizes those who call the angels female, asking, "Did they witness their creation?" (Quran 43:19).
- Winged. God "made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four" and "increases in creation what He wills" (Quran 35:1). Sahih al-Bukhari 3232 reports that the Prophet saw Jibril with six hundred wings.
- Able to take human form. An angel appeared to Mary "as a well-proportioned man" (Quran 19:17), and angels visited Abraham as guests (Quran 11:69).
Their number is beyond counting. Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 reports that 70,000 angels pray each day at al-Bayt al-Ma'mur, a house of worship in the heavens, and never return to it, because a new group comes each day.
Names of angels in Islam and their roles
Only a few angels are named in the Quran or authentic hadith. Many others are known by their roles. The table below separates what comes from the Quran, what comes from hadith, and what comes from later tradition.
| Angel | Role | Main source |
|---|---|---|
| Jibril (Gabriel) | Brings revelation to the prophets | Quran 2:97-98; 26:193 |
| Mikail (Michael) | Named alongside Jibril; scholars link him to rain and provision | Quran 2:98 |
| Israfil | Named in the Prophet's night prayer; scholars identify him as the one who blows the Horn | Sahih Muslim 770; Quran 39:68 |
| Malak al-Mawt (Angel of Death) | Takes souls at death | Quran 32:11 |
| Malik | Keeper of Hell | Quran 43:77 |
| Kiraman Katibin | Record each person's deeds | Quran 82:10-12 |
| Munkar and Nakir | Question the dead in the grave | Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1071 (hasan) |
| Harut and Marut | Two angels sent to Babylon as a test | Quran 2:102 |
| Bearers of the Throne | Carry the Throne and pray for believers | Quran 40:7; 69:17 |
| Guardian angels | Protect each person by God's decree | Quran 13:11 |
Jibril (Gabriel)
Jibril is regarded by scholars as the greatest of the angels. He is the one who brought God's revelation to the prophets, including the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran calls him "the Trustworthy Spirit" (Quran 26:193) and says he "brought the Qur'an down upon your heart" (Quran 2:97). He is also called "the Spirit" in Quran 97:4, which describes the angels descending on the Night of Decree, explained in our guide to Laylatul Qadr.
Mikail (Michael)
Mikail is named once in the Quran, together with Jibril:
Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael - then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.
Many scholars describe Mikail as the angel entrusted with rain and the provision that grows from it. This role comes from reports and commentary outside the Quran rather than from the verse itself.
Israfil
Israfil is not named in the Quran. His name appears in the opening prayer the Prophet used for his night prayer, reported by Aisha in Sahih Muslim 770: "O Allah, Lord of Jibra'il, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth." Scholars widely identify him as the angel who will blow the Horn that begins the resurrection (Quran 39:68).
The Angel of Death
The Quran refers to Malak al-Mawt, "the angel of death," in one verse:
Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."
The name "Azrael" (or Izra'il), common in English, does not appear in the Quran or in authentic hadith. It comes from later tradition. Other verses mention helpers who take souls with him (Quran 6:61). Our guide to what happens when you die in Islam describes how the hadith of al-Bara' ibn 'Azib depicts this moment.
Malik and the keepers of Hell
Malik is the angel in charge of Hell. In Quran 43:77, the people of the Fire call out to him to ask God to end them, and he replies, "Indeed, you will remain." The Quran also says nineteen angels are appointed over Hell (Quran 74:30). The keeper of Paradise is often called Ridwan in later literature, but this name is not in the Quran.
Who are the Kiraman Katibin, the recording angels?
The Kiraman Katibin (kiraman katibin), meaning "noble scribes," are the two angels who record each person's deeds. The name comes directly from the Quran:
And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers,
The next verses call them "noble and recording" and say "they know whatever you do" (Quran 82:11-12). Another passage says two receivers sit "on the right and on the left," and that no word is spoken without an "observer prepared [to record]" (Quran 50:17-18). The Arabic words in that verse, raqib and 'atid, are often treated as the angels' names, but many scholars explain them as descriptions: "watchful" and "ready."
Belief in the recording angels encourages Muslims to watch their speech and conduct. Their record is what each person will be shown on the Day of Judgment. It also connects to God's name Ar-Raqib, "the Watchful One," since the angels record by His command while He already knows all things.
Other roles of angels in the Quran and Sunnah
Angels are active in the lives of believers in many ways described in the sources.
- Protecting people. "For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah" (Quran 13:11).
- Praying for believers. The angels who carry the Throne ask God to forgive those who repent (Quran 40:7). Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2685, graded sahih, says God's angels pray for the one who teaches people good.
- Attending prayer. Sahih al-Bukhari 555 reports that angels take turns by night and day and gather at the dawn and afternoon prayers.
- Supporting believers in battle. The Quran says God sent angels to help the Muslims at Badr (Quran 8:9).
- Avoiding certain places. Sahih al-Bukhari 3322 says angels do not enter a house with a dog or images in it.
Angels vs jinn: what is the difference?
Angels and jinn are both part of the unseen world, but Islam treats them as very different creations.
| Aspect | Angels | Jinn |
|---|---|---|
| Created from | Light (Sahih Muslim 2996) | Smokeless fire (Quran 55:15) |
| Free will | No, they always obey | Yes, they can obey or disobey |
| Moral nature | Always good | Some believers, some evil |
| Eat and have families | No | Yes |
The most important consequence concerns the devil. Because angels cannot disobey, Islam teaches that Iblis was never an angel. The Quran states that "he was of the jinn" (Quran 18:50). Our guide to what jinn are explains this in more depth, and the Adam journey shows the angels' prostration to Adam and Iblis's refusal scene by scene.
How do Islamic and Christian views of angels compare?
Islam and Christianity share a great deal here. Both name Gabriel as God's messenger: in the Bible he appears to Daniel and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1). Both honor Michael, who appears in Daniel, Jude and Revelation. Both describe angels praising God and serving as His messengers.
The main differences are these. Christian tradition generally holds that Satan and the demons are fallen angels who rebelled, while Islam teaches that angels cannot rebel and that Satan is a jinn. Medieval Christian theology developed detailed ranks of angels, such as the nine choirs, while the Quran mentions roles without a fixed hierarchy. For a wider view, see our comparison of Islam and Christianity and our guide to Mary in the Quran, which tells the story of the angel's announcement to her.
Read about the angels on Quran Universe
You can read the key verses about angels on Quran Universe with Arabic text, word-by-word meaning and Tafsir Ibn Kathir: the angels' creation story in Surah al-Baqarah, the recording angels in Surah al-Infitar, and the Night of Decree in Surah al-Qadr.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of angels in Islam?
The Quran names Jibril (Gabriel) and Mikail (Michael) in Quran 2:98, Malik, the keeper of Hell, in 43:77, and Harut and Marut in 2:102. Israfil is named in Sahih Muslim 770, and Munkar and Nakir in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1071. "Azrael" for the Angel of Death comes from later tradition.
What is the role of Jibril in Islam?
Jibril (Gabriel) is the angel who brought God's revelation to the prophets, including the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran calls him the Trustworthy Spirit (26:193). He also appeared in human form to teach the companions about Islam, faith and excellence, in the hadith of Jibril recorded in Sahih Muslim 8.
Who is the angel of death in Islam?
The Quran calls him Malak al-Mawt, "the angel of death," in Quran 32:11, and says he takes the soul of each person when their appointed time comes. He has helpers among the angels (Quran 6:61). The popular name "Azrael" or Izra'il does not appear in the Quran or in authentic hadith.
Who are the Kiraman Katibin?
The Kiraman Katibin, or "noble scribes," are the two angels assigned to every person to record their deeds and words. They are described in Quran 82:10-12 as "noble and recording" and as knowing whatever people do. Quran 50:17-18 says they sit on the right and the left. Their record will be shown on the Day of Judgment.
What is the role of Israfil?
Israfil is not named in the Quran, but he is named in a prayer of the Prophet recorded in Sahih Muslim 770, alongside Jibril and Mikail. Muslim scholars widely identify him as the angel who will blow the Horn at the end of the world and again at the resurrection, described in Quran 39:68.
Do angels have free will in Islam?
No. Islamic belief holds that angels always obey God. The Quran says they "do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded" (66:6). This is why Islam teaches that Iblis, who refused God's command, was a jinn rather than a fallen angel, as stated in Quran 18:50.