The Importance of Believing In Angels

The Duties of Angels

Angels have various duties, with each having a well defined role.

The Qur’an says:
“And there is not any among us, except that has a known position. And we are indeed the ones who glorify Allah.”
(Qur’an 37:164-166)

Angels teach us the benefits of specialization. So, in the Islamic society, some members must specialize in the Qur’an and its sciences, others in medicine, still others in agriculture and so on and so forth,
so that the Muslim community becomes efficient and well balanced.
Similarly, in the home, the responsibilities are divided. While the man
is responsible primarily for supporting the family financially, the
woman has an important role in the upbringing of the children, although
she is by no means confined to only this task.

Only Allah knows all the details and roles of all the angels:
“…And none know the hosts of your Lord except He…”
(Qur’an 74:31)

Nevertheless, He has told us about some of these angels through the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

The Names and Roles of Some Angels

Only a few angels are mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Others are mentioned either by specific names or by role or their general nature of serving and worshipping Allah.Among those mentioned are:

Jibreel – This is the most distinguished of the angels, and is entrusted with carrying revelation to the Prophets. This includes bringing the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammed (saws), which is referred to in
the following:

“And it is surely the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The trusted Spirit has brought it down to your heart, in order that you might be one of the warners, in clear Arabic speech.”
(Qur’an: 26:192-195)

Angel Jibreel (as) is also called ‘the Holy Spirit’, as mentioned in the Qur’an:

“And we gave Isa, son of Maryam, clear proofs, and supported him with Ruh-al-Qudus (holy spirit ie. Jibreel).”
(Qur’an 2:253)

Mika’el – The one entrusted with the sustenance of creatures, and is also one of the most prominent angels.

The Recorders – These are two angels who accompany every human being and record his deeds. One of them stays on the right side and he records only good deeds. The other stays on the left side and records
only bad deeds.The one on the right (the generous one – He records good deeds and is
so named because each good deed is rewarded ten times over or even more.

“And indeed, there are over you scribes, generous and recording. They know what you do.”
(Qur’an: 82:10-12)

These angels record our deeds, words, and thoughts. Allah says regarding mankind:

“He utters not any word except that there is with him an observer, ready.”
(Qur’an: 50:18)

The system of recording of deeds is detailed in Hadith Qudsi. Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas in which he narrates from his Lord:

“Indeed, Allah has defined the good and the evil deeds, and then explained them. So, whoever had the thought to do a good deed, but did not do it, Allah writes it for him as a complete good deed, while if he
actually did it. Allah writes it for him as ten good deeds, or up to
seven hundred fold, or even many times more. And, if he had a thought
to do an evil deed, but dispelled the thought and did not do it. Allah
writes it for him as a complete good deed, while if he entertained the
thought and acted on it, Allah writes it as a single evil deed.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

The one on the left – The recorder of evil deeds: He is simply called the recorder, because each evil deed counts as only one act.

The Guardians – They are angels who protect us from whatever evil Allah wills to save us from.

“For each (person) there are angels in succession in front of him and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command.”

(Qur’an 13:11)

The succession of angels referred to is clarified in a Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, which tells us that the angels of the day and the angels of the night succeed one another, meaning that
they perform their duties in shifts. At the time of Fajr (dawn) and Asr
prayers, both the angels of the night and the angels of the day are
present. Then, the angels of the night ascend, and their Lord asks
them, although he is the All-Knowing. “How did you leave my servants ?”
They say, “We came to them while they were praying, and when we left
while they were praying,.” The Fajr prayer, then, is of special
blessing, and we should take great care to perform it on time, and to
recite long portions of the Qur’an for:

“Indeed, the recitation of Fajr is witnessed”
(Qur’an 17:78)

The angels of the night and day witness it.

The protecting angels only leave us when we have the call of nature and when we are have sexual relations with our spouses, and so we should recite the appropriate supplications from the Sunnah prior to
performing these acts.

Also, it must be noted that angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures (of animals and Humans). Related by Bukhari and
Muslim.

The Angel of Death – He is entrusted with taking the souls of all creatures in the universe.

“Say: The Angel of Death, who is set over you, will take your souls, then you shall be brought to your lord.”
(Qur’an: 32:11)

There are angels with him who torture the wrongdoers at the time of death:

“If only you could see, when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieve, the angels are beating their faces and their backs.”
(Qur’an l 8:50)

Munkar and Nakeer – They are the two angels in charge of questioning people in their graves about their faith.

Ridwan and Malik – They watch over Heaven and Hell. The custodian of Heaven is called Ridwan, while that of Hell is named Malik. Hell has nineteen angels who watch over it.

“Over it (Hell) are nineteen (angels)”
(Qur’an 74:30)

There are angels who welcome the believers into heaven, greeting them with peace:

“And angels shall enter unto them from every gate saying: “salaam alaykum” (peace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home.”
(Qur’an 13:23-24)

Eight angels will carry the Arsh, which is Allah’s greatest creation, on the Day of Judgment:

“And the angels will be on its sides, and eight angels will that Day, bear the throne of your Lord above them.”
(Qur’an 69:17)

Subhanallah, Let us remember these things and draw closer to God and read much of Quran during Ramadan.

(source:Islamzpeace.com)