ILM AL-HÂL

25 BELIEF IN THE ANGELS The second article of Îmân (faith) is to believe in the angels. The angels are created from nûr (light). They are gentle, spiritual beings that can take any form they wish. They are neither male nor female. They don’t disobey Allâh تعالـى in carrying out His orders. They do not need to eat or drink and they do not get tired. Some angels are charged with tasks in the heavens, some on the earth and some at Al-‘Arsh (the divine throne). Only Allâh تعالــى knows the exact number of the angels. Four high-ranking angels (i.e. the archangels) are the prophets of the angels. THE FOUR ARCHANGELS 1. Jibrâ’îl عليــه الســام : He was charged with the task of conveying the revelations of the divine scriptures to the prophets عليهــم الســام . This angel acted as a messenger between Allâh تعالــى and His prophets by revelation.