The Duties of Angels – As Muslims, we are obliged to believe in the Pillars of Faith. The pillars of faith themselves feel and think that the figures mentioned in the posts, even though they cannot be seen directly.
One of the Pillars of Faith that Muslims must believe in is the belief in Angels. In Islam, angels are creatures of Allah SWT created from light. There are thousands of Angels in the world who are tasked with helping Allah SWT, such as recording good deeds and evil deeds, guarding the doors of heaven and hell, and so on.
So that Sinaumed knows more about the duties of Angels, you can refer to this article. The following are the names of angels and their responsibilities that Muslims must know.
Angels in Islam
Angels (Arabic: الملائكة (plural); singular: الملك), according to Islam, are creatures created by Allah SWT. Angels do not eat or drink and do not have lust like humans. According to Arabic, “Malaikat” is the plural of “Malak,” which means strength. This word itself becomes the form of mashdar (infinitive) al-alukah, which means treatise or mission.
Angels themselves are creatures who always obey God and never disobey. Angels always worship Allah SWT without stopping and they like to find and surround the dhikr assembly. In addition, Angels also have the ability given by Allah SWT. Namely, they can change their shape to resemble humans.
Angels as heavenly beings created by Allah (in Islam) from light, then carry out specific tasks assigned to them. At the same time, the messenger is usually called the Apostle. Allah created angels themselves from light or nur if based on the hadith of the prophet Muhammad, “This angel himself has been created from light.”
Believing in the existence of Angels is one of the six Pillars of Faith in Islam, the second pillar of faith. Believing in Angels is assuming that there are Angels, even though they are invisible, and thinking that they later become one creature created by Allah. They also worship Allah and always obey Him and never sin.
No one then knows the exact number of Angels. Only Allah knows the number. Even though humans cannot see angels, if God wills, angels can be seen by humans. This generally happens to the Prophets and Apostles. Angels always appear as men to the Prophets and Apostles, as happened to the Prophet Ibrahim.
Names and Duties of Angels
The names and duties of Angels in Islam are as follows.
1. Jibril
First is the Jibril, who must deliver revelations to the Messengers of Allah SWT. In this modern era, there are no more Prophets or Messengers. Because the Prophet Muhammad SAW was the last Messenger and died thousands of years ago. Jibril also has a task besides conveying revelations to the Messengers of Allah SWT, while the job is to blow the spirit into the fetus in the womb.
2. Mikail
Angel Mikail must provide sustenance to living things on Earth. Angel Mikail cares for every living thing on earth, not only humans but also animals, plants, and others.
Everyone will then get their sustenance through the Angel Mikail. Not only in providing care, with the permission of Allah SWT, Angel Mikail is also in charge of regulating heat, rain, and plants on earth.
3. Israfil
Angel Israfil with the task of guarding and blowing the trumpet on the Day of Judgment. The trumpet is a kind of trumpet that is large. When Allah SWT has ordered Angel Israfil to blow the trumpet, the Day of Judgment will also come.
On the Day of Resurrection, all living things will die. Then, after blowing the first trumpet, Allah SWT will revive Angel Israfil to blow the trumpet again. All living things will be resurrected when the second trumpet has been blown. It is at this time that it is called the Day of Resurrection.
4. Izrail
Furthermore, the name of the Angel that must be believed is Angel Izrail. His job is to take the lives of all living things in the world. Not a single creature will miss its destiny to die when the time comes.
When a living creature dies, the Angel Izrail will come to the beast and take its life. Angel Azrael can also be said to be an angel whose name is quite well-known among the names of other angels. Angel Izrailas is an angel who is very obedient to the commands of Allah SWT, including taking the lives of Allah’s creatures.
5. Munkar
The Munkar Angel has the task of questioning people in the grave and doing various bad things. After the Angel Azrail takes away the human life and he dies, then in the grave, he will meet the Munkar Angel, who will question his faith and come to people who often do bad things in their lives.
In the Koran itself, Angel Munkar is described as a scary figure who carries a sledgehammer as his weapon. He will then ask the human and if the human cannot answer, the Munkar Angel will then hit the human’s head using his gun until it is destroyed.
It doesn’t stop there, humans will then be resurrected and asked the same questions. The Munkar angel will then strike his weapon if the human cannot answer. And so on until the Day of Resurrection arrives.
6. Nakir
Angel Nakir is in charge of asking people in graves to do good. Angel Nakir, the opposite of Angel Munkar, will come to the tomb and ask humans about their goodness.
Narrated in the Koran, Angel Nakir will have a friendly and pleasant face. It is also told that if the Angel Nakir visits a human, then that person will enter God’s heaven.
7. Raqib
Angel Raqib is in charge of recording the various good deeds of humans as long as he lives in the world. Narrated in the Koran, this good deed note will then be made by the Angel Raqib, who will later become a savior and a person considered for entering heaven.
8. Atid
Angel Atid is in charge of recording humans’ evil deeds while living in the world. The opposite of Angel Raqib, Angel Atid will record all the evil deeds humans do while they are still alive. The slightest ugliness and crime did not escape Angel Atid’s notes.
9. Malik
The ninth angel that must be believed is the Angel Malik. The Angel Malik must guard the gates of hell.
This is in accordance with the letter At-Tahrim verse 6 which reads
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا قُوْٓا اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَاَهْلِيْكُمْ نَارًا وَّقُوْدُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلٰۤىِٕكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُوْنَ اللّٰهَ مَآ اَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُوْنَ مَا يُؤْمَرُوْنَ
It means:
“O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from the fires of hell whose fuel is human and stone; the guardians are angels who are rough, harsh, and do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and always do what order.”
Hell is a place for those who always do bad things in their lives and do not believe in Allah SWT.
10. Ridwan
Angel Ridwan has the task of guarding the gates of heaven. In the Qur’an, heaven is described as a beautiful place and a gift for those who have always believed in Allah SWT during their lifetime.
Angels Included in Magical Beings
Faith in the Angels of Allah SWT means that we also believe wholeheartedly in Allah SWT’s greatness. If someone does not believe in the existence of the Angels of Allah SWT, then that person is not said to be a believer or believer.
Angels created by Allah SWT existed before humans were created. The creation of angels is also different from humans; Allah SWT in creating angels comes from nur or light.
Quoted from the book Secrets of the Nature of Angels Jinn and Satan by Umar Sulaiman, Angels are included as supernatural beings. That is, they are then invisible, cannot be touched, and cannot be felt by the five human senses; the bodies of Angels are subtle and changeable. Angels are also not male or female. Allah SWT also created Angels in a beautiful form. As in the word of Allah QS. Joseph verse 31.
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
Meaning: So when the women see him, they will feel amazed at his (beauty), and hurt his (fingers) and say: ‘Glory is God, this is not human. Truly this is none other than a noble Angel’. (QS. Yusuf: 31).
Angels Have Wings
Apart from that, the Angels of Allah SWT also have such beautiful wings. As in the word of Allah SWT QS. Fathir verse 1.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Meaning: Praise be to Allah, the creator of the earth and the sky, who will then make angels as messengers (who will take care of various kinds of affairs) and have wings, of which there are two, three, and four, respectively. Allah also adds to His creation what He then wills. Verily, Allah is Powerful over all things.” (QS. Fathir: 1).
The function of Faith in Angels Faith in Angels includes being sure and confirming that Allah SWT created Angels from light (nur). Besides that, the process of faith in other Allah SWT Angels is always to do good deeds and always not try not to do evil deeds because Angels always supervise him.
By trying to enter heaven, which Angel Ridwan guards, having piety and faith in Allah SWT, and competing to get Lailatul Qadar by increasing sincerity, dedication, and discipline, we have tried to fear Allah.
Also, please always think and be careful in carrying out every action because every good deed or evil deed will be accounted for.