Angels

Q. Apart from the four famous angels who are near and dear to Allah, are all angels equal or is there some difference in their ranks?

A. The four well-known angels stand above others. The rest differ in ranks; some are nearer and dearer to Allah than others.

Q. What work do the angels do?

A. Innumerable angels are assigned different duties in the heavens and on earth. They perform their duties exactly as Allah commands them.

Q. Name some of the duties of the angels.

Hadrat Jibreel (peace be upon him) – brought Allah’s Books and Messages to the prophets, helped them, and sometimes brought Allah’s punishment to sinners.
Hadrat Mika’eel (peace be upon him) – brings food and rain to Allah’s creatures. Angels under him manage clouds, winds, rivers, ponds, and canals.
Hadrat Israafeel (peace be upon him) – will blow the soor (trumpet) on the Day of Judgment.
Hadrat ‘Izraa’eel (peace be upon him) – takes out the souls of living beings. Angels under him handle the souls of the good and the sinful.

Other angels’ duties include:

Two angels with every person: one writes good deeds, the other bad — called kiraamun-kaatibeen.
Some guard humans from calamities, protecting the weak, old, and children.
Two angels, Munkar and Nakeer, question the dead in their graves.
Some angels roam the world attending gatherings where Allah is remembered, Qur’an is recited, or religious knowledge is shared.
Some look after Jannah (Paradise).
Some look after Jahannam (Hellfire).
Some bear the ‘Arsh (Throne of Allah).
Some continuously worship and praise Allah.
Their duties change day and night. Night angels leave at Fajr, and day angels take over until ‘Asr, then return.

Q. How is it known that the angels do these jobs?

A. We know this from the Holy Qur’aan and the Hadeeth Shareef, where these duties are clearly mentioned.