In Islam, angels (Arabic: Malāʾikah; Hebrew: מלאכים, Malachim; Persian: فرشتگان, Fereshtagān) are celestial beings believed to be created from light by Allah to serve as His messengers and agents. They are described as having no free will and are tasked with various duties, such as communicating Allah's word to prophets, recording human deeds, and carrying out divine punishments or rewards. Angels in Islam are not to be worshipped, as they are considered servants of Allah like humans, but they possess superior knowledge and abilities. The Quran mentions several angels by name, including Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael), Israfil (Rafael), and Azrail (Azrael), each with specific roles. The concept of angels in Islam shares some similarities with Jewish and Christian traditions but also has distinct theological interpretations.
Heavenly beings found in the Islamic tradition
In Islam, angels are believed to be heavenly beings, created from a luminous origin by God. The Quran is the principal source for the Islamic concept of angels, but more extensive features of angels appear in hadith literature, Mi'raj literature, Islamic exegesis, theology, philosophy, and mysticism.