Angels are creatures made of light [1] that are invisible and have no need for food, drink, sleep, reproduction, but were created just like humans and jinn [2] to worship Allah and remember Him. These conscious beings never rebel against Allah’s orders.[3] Therefore, they are sinless. In a state of obedience always, they see and contemplate the artistry of Allah’s creation in the universe.
According to the Islam, A person who does not believe in angels does not believe in the angel of revelation [4], and therefore doesn’t believe neither in revelation nor in the prophets mentioned in the Qur’an. Indeed, believing in angels is commanded in many verses of the Qur’an [5] and is counted right after believing in Allah. Prophet Muhammad(Peace and blessing be upon him) also proclaimed believing in angels as one of the six conditions of faith.[6]
In some societies and beliefs, angels were attributed as divinity, and there were communities who said, “They are the daughters of Allah”. Allah has clearly rejected this attribution, in the verses of the Qur’an.[7] According to Islam, some of the reasons for the creation of angels are as follows:
-Allah created everything in the universe from the atmosphere to the atom, in a certain order and with a creativity [8] Then He created beings who would see this art and glorify (praise) it. Humans and jinn have limited vision. From the galaxies to the lowest layers of the earth, they do not have the equipment to see and comprehend every atom without limit. Allah has created angels, who can be found everywhere from the center of the earth to the layers of the sky, so that they can see and appreciate these arts, names, and attributes in the universe.
– In the Qur’an, Allah states that He is not in need of anything He has created.[9] Therefore, angels are not helpers of Allah, as Allah do not need their help. They are only witnessing creations. In these events, the real creator is Allah. Because with Allah’s will to create, when He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, “Be!” And it is! [10] Angels are the reason behind the curtain, as the human mind will be amazed and consternated by this sudden creation.
[1] Muslim, Book of Zuhd,61 4/2294
[2] See, what kind of beings are jinn?
[3] At-Tahrim/ 6
[4] Announcement of God’s commands to the prophets
[5] Al-Baqarah/177, Al-Baqarah/285, An-Nisa/136
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari,’Iman’,36; Sahih Al-Muslim,’Iman’,5
[7] An-Nahl/57
[8] Al-Baqarah/29
[9] Al-Ikhlas /2
[10] Al-Baqarah/117