Al Malaikah | The Angels; The Names and The Responsibilities

Assalamu’alaikum wr wb,

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has Created many different creatures. Some of them we can see, like the beautiful birds in the sky, the Elephants in the wild, the fish in the sea, and you and me.

But Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has also made creatures that we cannot see! Do you know what they are?

One type of Creature that we cannot see are called Al Malaikah or the Angels. They are made of light.

Angels are workers of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. They do whatever Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) tells them to do. They pray and worship and Glorify Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, some carry the throne of Allah (Ta’ala), some help Muslims in times of need (like the battle of Badr), others sit on our shoulders and write down all the good and bad deeds that we may do. Angels have many, many different jobs.

Belief in the Angels is a fundamental part of Iman (faith), just like the belief in Tawheed/Tauhid (Oneness of Allah) and the Risalah (Prophet-hood). .

Below are the names and functions of the 10 leading Angels (alayhum salam).

  • Jibril: To deliver the Divine Revelations from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to His chosen Messengers from among the prophets (alayhum salam).
  • Mikail: To manage man’s mundane necessities, bring forth rain and oversee the cultivation of crops.
  • Israfil: To blow the Trumpet: once, for the destruction of the universe; and again, for the Resurrection of all accountable beings to face Judgment Day.
  • Izrail: Angel of Death, the most fearsome of them all, who does not delay nor expedite the hour of claiming the soul.
  • Maalik: Guardian of Jahannum (Hell-fire), an unwelcome sight, for the unfortunate and wretched dwellers of the eternal fire.
  • Ridwan: Guardian of Paradise, who welcomes the Prophets (alayhum salam) and the righteous who have been blessed by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).
  • Munkar : To question the dead on issues relating to his/her God, prophet Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam, religion, belief, deeds, etc. Questioning in the grave.
  • Nakir: To question the dead on issues relating to his/her God, prophet Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam, religion, belief, deeds, etc.
  • Raqib: Sits on man’s right shoulder to record his/her good deeds.
  • Atid: Sits on man’s left shoulder to record his/her evil deeds.

Together Raqib and Atid are called the Kirama Katibeen.
“(Remember) that the two receivers (recording Angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions. Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” (Qur’an 50:16-18) In another verse (82:11), these Angels are referred to as Kiraman Katibin or “honorable scribes”.

Wassalamu’alaikum wr wb.

62 thoughts on “Al Malaikah | The Angels; The Names and The Responsibilities

  1. Pingback: Al Malaikah | The Angels; The Names and The Responsibilities | muslimtransformers

  2. Assalamu Alaikum,may Allah (S.W.A.).guid us to the right part,grand us to jannatul alfirdaus.and wish us all the best.

  3. JKM. Many thanks for the notes on the angels. One correction: Kiraman Katebeen is mentioned in 82:11 (Surat-al-Infitar), not in 85:11.

  4. Useful information Alhamdulillah…
    some ancient books call the angel of death Azrael, or Izrael, and it means “Helped by God”. but Muslims do not use this name as it is not mentioned in the Qur’an nor in the Sunnah. He is called Malauk-ul-Mawt.

    • It is narrated in saheeh reports that the two angels whose task it is to question the deceased are black and blue, and one is called al-Munkar and the other is called al-Nakeer.

      Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When the deceased – or one of you – is buried, there come to him two black and blue angels, one of whom is called al-Munkar and the other al-Nakeer. They say: ‘What did you say about this man?’ and he says what he used to say: ‘He is the slave of Allah and His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ They say: ‘We knew that you would say that.’ Then his grave is made spacious for him, seventy cubits by seventy, and it is illuminated for him. Then it is said to him: ‘Sleep,’ and he says: ‘May I go back to my family and tell them?’ They say: ‘Sleep like the bridegroom who will be woken by none but the dearest of his family to him,’ until Allah raises him from that resting-place of his.”

      Source: http://islamqa.info/en/72400

  5. Hi, please clarify. I have come across 2 names of angels (hope i am correct). The names are Samanael and Mahalael. Excuses me if spelling mistakes are done. Could you please let me know the duties of the 2 angels. I tried in many places and with many people. Not got the answer. These are the names apart from the 8 angels which we know.

    • Assalamu’alaikum,

      I’m not a schoolar and I don’t want to give you false information. Here are some information from islamqa.info website regarding the Angels. Please send your question to the islamqa admins for more details.

      Their number:
      The angels are many, and their number is known only to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, describing the Much-Frequented House (al-Bayt al-M’amoor) in the seventh heaven:
      “Then I was taken up to the Much-Frequented House: every day seventy thousand angels visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another [group] coming after them.” [al-Bukhaari].

      ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Hell will be brought forth that day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be pulled by seventy thousand angels.” [Muslim].

      Their names:
      The angels have names, but we know only the names of a few of them. We have to believe in the names reported in the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic teachings) texts, as a part of general belief in the angels.

      I hope it helps.

      Jazaakallah khairan

      Wassalamu’alaikum
      Rahmah

  6. SubhanAllah Mdm Rahmah. Your words are true as I have heard them from the ulama. Syukran and Jazakallahu khairan.

    My dua for u and family…ameen ya Rabb.

  7. May Allahu Subhana Wata’allah Guard And Protect Us From Doing The Evil And Also Make Us Among The People Of Aljannatul Firdaus…..’Ameen’.

  8. Jazakumllah akhiran
    May Almighty Allah grant you long life in good health and prosperity .
    And may Almighty Allah continue to give you the power to send such useful information.
    May Almighty Allah grant you a space in paradise 😇😇😇😇😇

  9. Asalaam alaikum ww, May Allah The Almighty bless you with the best blessings for this article. Amin

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