Angels in Islam: Names, Duties and Everything You Need to Know

Angels in Islam are unseen creations of Allah who carry out His commands. Belief in them is part of Islamic faith, alongside belief in Allah, His Books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree.

The Quran and authentic Hadith describe angels delivering revelation, recording deeds, guarding people by Allah’s command, taking souls, carrying the Throne, guarding Hell, questioning people in the grave, and constantly worshipping Allah.

What Are Angels in Islam?

The Arabic word for angel is:

مَلَك

Transliteration: Malak

The plural is:

مَلَائِكَة

Transliteration: Malaikah

Angels are part of the unseen world. Muslims believe in them because Allah and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told us about them.

Quran 2:285 describes believers as believing in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. The famous Hadith of Jibril also includes belief in angels as part of Iman.

Belief in angels therefore is not an optional part of Islamic theology.

What Are Angels Made Of?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that angels were created from light.

He also said that the jinn were created from a flame of fire, and Adam was created from what the Quran had already described.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2996.

The Hadith does not explain exactly what kind of light was used or how angelic bodies work.

Those details belong to the unseen. Muslims affirm what the authentic sources say without inventing a physical explanation.

What Is the Nature of Angels?

Several Quran verses give us important characteristics.

Angels Obey Allah

Quran 66:6 describes angels who:

do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and do what they are commanded.

This is why it is more accurate to say that Islam describes angels as completely obedient to Allah than to make complicated philosophical claims about whether they possess “free will” in exactly the same way humans do.

Angels Worship Allah Continually

Quran 21:19 to 20 describes angels near Allah as worshipping without arrogance or tiredness and glorifying Him day and night.

Angels Have Wings

Quran 35:1 describes angels as messengers with two, three, or four wings and says Allah increases His creation as He wills.

This does not mean every angel has a maximum of four wings. Authentic Hadith describe Jibril with far more.

Angels Can Appear in Human Form

In the Hadith of Jibril, the angel appeared before the Prophet ﷺ and his companions looking like a man with very white clothing and very black hair.

After he left, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained that the visitor was Jibril, who had come to teach them their religion.

Source: Sahih Muslim 8a.

Angels therefore do not always appear to humans in their original angelic form.

How Many Angels Are There?

Islam does not give a total number.

The Quran says:

None knows the forces of your Lord except Him.

Source: Quran 74:31.

One Hadith gives some idea of their immense number. During the Night Journey, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was shown Al Bayt al Mamur, where 70,000 angels worship every day. Once they leave, they do not return, and another group comes.

Source: Sahih al Bukhari 3207.

This indicates a number far beyond the small lists of 10, 20, or 25 angels sometimes taught to children.

Those lists are educational collections of selected angels. They are not the total number of angels in existence.

The Four Main Angels in Islam

Many Islamic school books describe four “main angels”:

1. Jibril
2. Mikail
3. Israfil
4. Malak al Mawt

This is a useful teaching structure, but the Quran and Hadith do not establish a formal category called “the four main angels.”

Jibril, Mikail, and Israfil are grouped together in an authentic dua of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Angel of Death is also given a major responsibility in the Quran.

It is therefore reasonable to teach these four prominent figures together, but they should not be presented as a divinely fixed list.

Names of Angels in Islam and Their Duties

Jibril

Arabic: جبريل

Jibril is known in English as Gabriel.

He is one of the best known angels in Islam because Allah entrusted him with delivering revelation.

Quran 2:97 states that Jibril brought the Quran to the heart of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by Allah’s permission. Quran 2:98 names Jibril and Mikail together.

Jibril also appears in the Hadith of Jibril, where he questioned the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, Iman, Ihsan, and the Last Hour in order to teach the companions.

How Big Is Jibril?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ saw Jibril in his true form with 600 wings.

Source: Sahih al Bukhari 3232.

This shows why children’s drawings of small human shaped angels with two wings should not be treated as accurate Islamic descriptions.

Mikail

Arabic: ميكال

Common transliteration: Mikail or Mika’il

Mikail is named directly in Quran 2:98 alongside Jibril.

The Quran does not directly state his specific duty in that verse. Islamic scholarly tradition and transmitted reports associate Mikail with rain, vegetation, and provision.

This distinction matters. It is accurate to say:

The Quran names Mikail. Islamic tradition associates him with rain and provision.

It is less accurate to claim that Quran 2:98 itself says he controls rain.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also mentioned Jibril, Mikail, and Israfil together when beginning one of his night prayer supplications.

Source: Sahih Muslim 770.

Israfil

Arabic: إسرافيل

Israfil is not named in the Quran, but he is named in authentic Hadith.

Sahih Muslim 770 records the Prophet ﷺ beginning his night prayer with a dua calling upon Allah as the Lord of Jibril, Mikail, and Israfil.

Islamic tradition identifies Israfil as the angel entrusted with blowing the Trumpet at the end of the world and for resurrection.

The Quran clearly says that the Trumpet will be blown and that creation will fall before being raised again. However, verses such as Quran 39:68 do not name the angel blowing it.

This is another useful source distinction:

The Quran confirms the Trumpet. Hadith and Islamic tradition identify its angel as Israfil.

Malak al Mawt: The Angel of Death

Arabic: ملك الموت

Quran 32:11 calls this angel:

Malak al Mawt

Meaning:

The Angel of Death

Allah says the Angel of Death who has been entrusted with people will take their souls before they return to their Lord.

Is the Angel of Death Named Azrael?

Azrael or Izrail is the name commonly used in Muslim culture.

However, the Quran does not call the Angel of Death Azrael, and the name is not established through a sound Prophetic Hadith.

The safest wording is therefore Malak al Mawt, the title used directly in the Quran.

Using Azrael as a traditional name is common, but it should not be presented as if Quran 32:11 names him that way.

Malik

Arabic: مالك

Malik is named directly in Quran 43:77.

The people of Hell will call to Malik and ask that their punishment be ended. Malik responds that they will remain.

Malik is therefore one of the angels whose personal name is clearly established by the Quran.

He is associated with the guardianship of Hell.

Munkar and Nakir

Arabic: منكر ونكير

Munkar and Nakir are the two angels associated with questioning a person after burial.

Jami at Tirmidhi 1071 names them directly and describes them questioning the deceased about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Imam Tirmidhi described the narration as Hasan Gharib, while the displayed Darussalam grading is Hasan.

The exact experiences of the grave belong to the unseen.

Muslims should affirm what reliable texts establish rather than adding frightening details from folklore.

Kiraman Katibin: The Recording Angels

Arabic: كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ

The phrase means:

Honorable recorders

Quran 82:10 to 12 says that people are watched by honorable angels who record and know what they do.

Quran 50:17 to 18 also describes two recording angels, one to the right and one to the left. It says no word is spoken without an observer ready to record it.

This teaching makes the recording angels especially relevant to everyday Muslim life.

Speech matters.

A casual insult, lie, cruel comment, or false accusation may feel temporary to the speaker, but Islam teaches that words are part of a person’s accountable actions.

Are Raqib and Atid the Names of the Two Angels?

Many people are taught that the two recording angels are personally named Raqib and Atid.

Quran 50:18 uses the Arabic phrase raqibun atid, meaning a vigilant observer who is ready.

These words are better understood as descriptions in the verse rather than clearly established personal names for two angels.

The Quran calls the recording angels Kiraman Katibin, honorable scribes, in Surah Al Infitar.

Guardian Angels

Quran 13:11 says that each person has successive angels before and behind them who guard them by Allah’s command.

Their protection is not independent from Allah.

Angels do not control destiny on their own. They perform the duties Allah assigns to them.

This distinction applies to every angelic role. Muslims believe in angels while worshipping only Allah.

Hamalat al Arsh: The Bearers of the Throne

The Quran describes angels who carry Allah’s Throne.

Quran 40:7 says the angels carrying the Throne and those around it glorify Allah and ask Him to forgive believers who repent.

This verse gives a beautiful picture of angels praying for believers.

Authentic Hadith also describe the enormous size of one of the angels who bears the Throne.

Sunan Abi Dawud 4727 reports that the distance between the angel’s earlobe and shoulder is described as a journey of 700 years. The report is graded Sahih by Al Albani.

The point is not to calculate the angel’s body in kilometers.

The description communicates a scale far beyond normal human experience.

The Angels Who Guard Hell

The Quran says angels are appointed over Hell.

Quran 66:6 describes them as strong and severe, completely obedient to Allah.

Quran 74:30 states that nineteen are appointed over it, and the following verse explicitly says that the wardens of the Fire are angels.

This does not mean only nineteen angels exist.

The number refers to those appointed in this particular context.

The same verse says that no one knows all the forces of Allah except Him.

Harut and Marut

Arabic: هاروت وماروت

Harut and Marut are named in Quran 2:102 in the passage concerning Babylon and magic.

The common reading and translation identify them as two angels. The verse says they warned people that they were a test and that people should not fall into disbelief.

Stories about Harut and Marut are sometimes expanded with dramatic details not found in the Quran.

A careful Islamic article should stick to what the verse and reliable tafsir establish.

What About Ridwan?

Ridwan is commonly described as the angel who guards Paradise.

However, there is an important source issue.

The name Ridwan is not established in the Quran or a Sahih Hadith. It appears in weaker reports and became widely used among Muslim scholars and popular teaching.

Authentic sources confirm that Paradise has angelic keepers, but they do not clearly establish Ridwan as the personal name of their chief.

This means Ridwan can be mentioned as a traditional name, but it should not be placed in the same source category as Jibril, Mikail, or Malik.

What Are the Four Types of Angels in Islam?

There is no Quran verse or authentic Hadith that divides all angels into exactly four types.

For learning purposes, their duties can be grouped into four broad categories.

1. Angels Connected With Revelation and Divine Messages

The clearest example is Jibril, who delivered revelation.

Angels also brought messages to prophets such as Ibrahim, Lut, Zakariyya, and Maryam.

2. Angels Connected With Human Life

This category includes recording angels, guardian angels, and angels connected with stages of human life.

Their duties remind Muslims that everyday actions are known to Allah.

3. Angels Connected With Death and the Hereafter

This includes the Angel of Death, Munkar and Nakir, the guardians of Paradise and Hell, and angels involved in the events of the Last Day.

4. Angels Devoted to Worship and Cosmic Duties

This includes the bearers of the Throne and the countless angels who continuously glorify Allah.

This four part structure is a teaching tool, not a formal division established by revelation.

Angels vs. Jinn vs. Humans

Sahih Muslim 2996 clearly distinguishes the origin of angels, jinn, and Adam.

Are Angels and Jinn the Same?

No.

Angels and jinn are separate creations.

Angels are created from light and described as obeying Allah. Jinn are created from fire and can believe or disbelieve.

Iblis is therefore not a fallen angel in Islamic teaching. Quran 18:50 identifies him as being from the jinn.

Can Angels Sin?

Quran 66:6 describes angels as not disobeying Allah and doing what they are commanded.

For a beginner, the clearest answer is that Islamic scripture presents angels as obedient servants of Allah rather than beings who rebel against Him.

This differs from some popular Western stories about fallen angels.

Do Angels Eat?

The Quranic story of Ibrahim shows angelic visitors being offered a roasted calf.

When their hands did not reach toward the food, Ibrahim became afraid. They then revealed that they were messengers sent toward the people of Lut.

This passage is commonly understood as evidence that angels do not require human food.

Do Angels Sleep?

The Quran describes angels glorifying Allah night and day without tiring or slackening.

It does not describe them as needing normal human rest.

Are Angels Male or Female?

The Quran rejects pagan claims that angels were daughters of Allah.

Muslims should therefore avoid imposing ordinary human gender categories on beings from the unseen when revelation does not require us to do so.

Arabic grammar may use masculine forms when referring to angels, but grammatical form is not the same as proving human biological sex.

Can Humans Become Angels After Death?

No Islamic source teaches that righteous people turn into angels after death.

Humans remain human souls and are resurrected as humans.

Angels are a separate creation.

The idea that a good person “became an angel” may be used poetically in some cultures, but it is not Islamic theology.

How Big Are Angels in Islam?

Angels are not all described at the same size.

The Quran tells us angels can have different numbers of wings.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ saw Jibril with 600 wings.

Another authentic report describes one bearer of the Throne as so enormous that the distance from its earlobe to shoulder is expressed as a journey of 700 years.

These descriptions tell Muslims not to reduce angels to tiny winged figures.

Their true forms belong to the unseen and can be far beyond ordinary human scale.

Why Do Angels Matter in Everyday Muslim Life?

Belief in angels is not meant only to satisfy curiosity about the unseen.

The recording angels remind a Muslim that private actions and words matter.

The angels who ask forgiveness for believers remind a Muslim of Allah’s mercy.

Jibril reminds Muslims how revelation reached the prophets.

The Angel of Death reminds people that life is temporary.

The guardians of Hell remind people of accountability.

The angels who continually worship Allah remind people that worship is part of the order of creation, not simply a human habit.

Learning about angels should therefore increase faith and responsibility rather than create endless speculation about things Allah has not revealed.

Angels in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism

Islam shares some angelic figures with Jewish and Christian traditions.

Gabriel and Michael are important names in all three traditions. Angels also function as divine messengers in their scriptures.

However, the religions do not teach every detail in exactly the same way.

One important Islamic distinction concerns Iblis. Islamic scripture identifies Iblis as a jinn, not an angel. Islam also consistently describes angels as obedient to Allah.

For Islamic belief, the Quran and authentic Sunnah remain the authority for what Muslims affirm about angels.

Conclusion

Angels in Islam are not decorative winged characters or spirits of dead humans.

They are real creations of Allah from the unseen world.

Some carry revelation. Some record deeds. Some guard by Allah’s command. Some take souls. Some carry the Throne. Some guard Hell. Some question people after burial. Countless others worship Allah in ways human beings may never know.

Islam also teaches restraint when speaking about them.

Jibril, Mikail, Malik, Harut, and Marut are named in the Quran. Israfil, Munkar, and Nakir are named through Hadith. Malak al Mawt is a Quranic title. Names such as Azrael and Ridwan are widely used but are not established at the same level.

The best way to learn about angels is therefore the same way Muslims approach every part of the unseen: believe what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ taught, and avoid turning popular tradition into revelation.

Frequently Asked Questions