ANGELS

beings created by God to serve him. Archangels: Jibril (Gabriel), the angel of revelation; Mikal (Michael), the angel of providence; Israfil who blows the trumpet of doom; and 'Azrail, the angel of death. There is also Ridwan who guards Paradise, Malik who guards Hell, Munkar and Nakir who question the dead, the throne-bearers, the Cherubim, and others.

Muslims believed angels to be sexless and created of light.

Jinn are different spirit beings. They may be good or evil, and sometimes enter humans to control them. They may be male or female and created from fire. Iblis (Satan) is among the Jinn (al-Kahf 18:50). Muslims have argued that Satan is not an angel based on this.

Muslims believe that Angels are created so that they do not sin and do not have free will, but always obey the commands of Allah. Allah creates the angels to praise him. Some Muslims also believe that the angels act as veils to bad things that do not befit the majesty of Allah. [Why would Allah need to be veiled from anything?]

Some issues around the concept of angels in the Qur'an are discussed in these articles:

- Allah, Adam, and the Angels
- Can Angels Disobey?
- Is "the Holy Spirit" Only Another Name for the Angel Gabriel?

In the Bible, angels are

- at Jesus' disposal,

> "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:52-54)

The Qur'an states regarding angels:

- eight to bear God's throne on Judgement Day, al-Haqqah 69:17

- false claim that they are female, az-Zukhruf 43:19; an-Najm 53:27

- foretold birth of Jesus, Âl 'Imran 3:42,80,125; an-Nisa' 4:97,166; al-A`raf 7:11; al-Anfal 8:9,12,50; ar-Ra`d 13:11,13,23; al-Hijr 15:7,17,28; an-Nahl 16:2,32; bani Isra'il 17:61; al-Kahf 18:51; Ta Ha 20:116; al-Hajj 22:75; Saba' 34:40; al-Fatir 35:1; Sad 38:72; az-Zumar 39:75; al-Mu'min 40:7; Ha Mim Sajdah 41:30; az-Zukhruf 43:19; at-Tahrim 66:6; al-Haqqah 69:17; al-Ma`arij 70:4; al-Mudathir 74:31; an-Naba' 78:38; al-Fajr 89:22; al-Qadr 97:4

- foretell birth of John, Âl 'Imran 3:39

- "guardian", al-Infitar 82:10-12; at-Tariq 86:4

- job of some angels to look for those who celebrate praise of Allah, Sahih Bukhari 008.417

- nineteen lord over hell, al-Mudathir 74:30-31

- no external angel delivered revelations, al-Baqarah 2:97; ash-Shu`ara' 26:194

- not sent to satisfy whims, al-Hijr 15:7-8

- of death, as-Sajdah 32:11

- sent to inspire, an-Nahl 16:2

- mentions decrees in heaven, which devils tries to hear, Sahih Bukhari 4.432

- al-Baqarah 2:30-34,98,177,210,248,285; al-Anfal 8:50; ar-Ra`d 13:23; al-Anbiya' 21:108; al-Hajj 22:75; al-Furqan 25:22,25; as-Sajdah 32:11; al-Ahzab 33:43,56; Saba' 34:40; al-Fatir 35:1; as-Saffat 37:150; Sad 38:71; az-Zumar 39:75; Ha Mim Sajdah 41:14,30; ash-Shura 42:5; az-Zukhruf 43:53,60; Muhammad 47:27; an-Najm 53:26; at-Tahrim 66:4,6; al-Haqqah 69:17; al-Ma`arij 70:4; al-Fajr 89:22; al-Qadr 97:4

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