2. Belief in the Angels

The second pillar of Emaan is to believe in the existence of angels.

They were created from light by Allah Almighty before the creation of humans.

Angels were created to worship Allah Almighty and to carry out his commands.

Allah Almighty mentions this in the Quran in Surah At-Tahrim (Chapter 66, verse 6):

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ٦

Translation: O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.

In Surah Al-Anbya (Chapter 21, verses 19-20), Allah Almighty mentions:

وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ ١٩

Translation: To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire.

يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ ٢٠

Translation: They glorify [Him] day and night, never wavering.

Again in Surah Al-Anbya (Chapter 21, verses 26-27), Allah Almighty mentions:

وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًۭا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌۭ مُّكْرَمُونَ ٢٦

Translation: And they say, “The Most Compassionate has offspring!” Glory be to Him! In fact, those angels are only [His] honored servants,

لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ ٢٧

Translation: Who do not speak until He has spoken, [only] acting at His command.

The Angels tasked with some of the important jobs are:

Angel Jibreel has the job of delivering revelations to Allah’s Messengers.

Angel Israfeel has the job of blowing the trumpet on the Day of Judgement.

Angel Isra’il takes the soul at the time of death and is known as the Angel of Death.

Every human being on this planet has two angels assigned to him/her who record every good and bad deed, no matter how big or small. This is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Qaf (Chapter 50, verses 17-18):

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌۭ ١٧

Translation: As the two recording-angels—[one] sitting to the right, and [the other to] the left—note [everything],

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭ ١٨

Translation: Not a word does a person utter without having a [vigilant] observer ready [to write it down].