Allah Almighty, by His wisdom and power, created various creatures, among which the purest and most luminous creatures are the angels (Malaika). They are obedient servants of Allah who do not disobey Him in any matter, rather they immediately act upon every command of His. They remain engaged in worship day and night, glorifying Him; laziness or fatigue never comes near them.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has said:
﴿ وَقَالُوْا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمٰنُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَہُ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّکْرَمُوْنَ ٭ لَا یَسْبِقُوْنَہُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَہُمْ بِأَمْرِہٖ یَعْمَلُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “(The polytheists) say that the Most Merciful has taken a son! Exalted is He; rather, they are honored servants who do not precede Him in speech and act by His command.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿ لَا یَعْصُوْنَ اللّٰہَ مَا أَمَرَہُمْ وَیَفْعَلُوْنَ مَا یُؤمَرُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and do what they are commanded.”
And He said:
﴿ یُسَبِّحُوْنَ اللَّیْلَ وَالنَّہَارَ لَا یَفْتُرُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “They exalt Allah night and day and do not slacken.”
The Angels’ Love for the Believers
Angels do not only worship but also love the believers. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
(( إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللّٰہُ عَبْدًا نَادَی جِبْرِیْلَ… ))
Translation: “When Allah loves a servant, He tells Jibreel, ‘I love so-and-so, so you love him too.’ Jibreel also loves him and announces among the angels of the heavens, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ Then all the angels love him, and acceptance is placed for him on earth.”
Angels pray for the believers
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ ھُوَ الَّذِیْ یُصَلِّیْ عَلَیْکُمْ وَمَلَائِکَتُہٗ لِیُخْرِجَکُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَی النُّوْرِ ﴾
Translation: “He it is Who sends down blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light.”
For whom do angels pray for forgiveness?
➊ For those who repent
﴿ اَلَّذِیْنَ یَحْمِلُوْنَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَہُ… فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِیْنَ تَابُوْا ﴾
Translation: “Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], ‘Our Lord, forgive those who have believed and admitted their faith.'”
➋ For those who teach good to people
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ وَمَلَائِکَتَہٗ… لَیُصَلُّونَ عَلٰی مُعَلِّمِ النَّاسِ الْخَیْرَ ))
Translation: “Allah, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, the ants and the fish all pray for the person who teaches good to people.”
➌ Those who remain seated at their place of prayer
(( وَالْمَلَائِکَۃُ یُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَیْہِ… اَللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَہُ ))
Translation: “As long as a person remains seated at his place of prayer, the angels continue to pray: O Allah! Have mercy on him, forgive him, accept his repentance.”
➍ Those who pray in the first row
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ وَمَلَائِکَتَہٗ یُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَی الصُّفُوفِ الْأُوَلِ ))
Translation: “Allah and His angels send mercy upon those in the first row.”
➎ Those who join the rows together
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ وَمَلَائِکَتَہٗ یُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ یَصِلُوْنَ الصُّفُوفَ ))
Translation: “Allah and the angels send mercy upon those who join the rows together.”
➏ Those who have suhoor (pre-dawn meal)
(( اَلسَّحُوْرُ کُلُّہُ بَرَکَۃٌ… فَإِنَّ اللّٰہَ وَمَلَائِکَتَہٗ یُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَی الْمُتَسَحِّرِیْنَ ))
Translation: “Suhoor is entirely blessed, do not abandon it, even if it is just a sip of water, because Allah and the angels send mercy upon those who have suhoor.”
➐ Those who visit the sick
(( مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ یَعُوْدُ مُسْلِمًا… إِلَّا صَلّٰی عَلَیْہِ سَبْعُوْنَ أَلْفَ مَلَکٍ ))
Translation: “Whoever visits a sick Muslim in the morning, seventy thousand angels pray for him until the evening.”
➑ Those who send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ
(( مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ یُصَلِّیْ عَلَیَّ إِلَّا صَلَّتْ عَلَیْہِ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ… ))
Translation: “When a Muslim sends blessings upon me, the angels pray for him as long as he continues to send blessings.”
➒ The absent prayer of a believer for another believer
(( دَعْوَۃُ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ… قَالَ الْمَلَکُ: آمِیْنَ وَلَکَ بِمِثْلٍ ))
Translation: “When a Muslim prays for his brother in his absence, the angel says: Ameen, and may the same be for you.”
On whom do angels descend and with whom do they associate
Allah Almighty created angels not only for His worship but they also have a great responsibility towards the people of faith — they descend upon them, assist them, pray for them, and share with them in various occasions of goodness.
➊ Upon those who remain steadfast
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللّٰہُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَیْْہِمُ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیْ کُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ٭ نَحْنُ أَوْلِیَاؤُكُمْ فِی الْحَیَاۃِ الدُّنْیَا وَفِی الْآخِرَۃِ ﴾
Translation: “Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast, the angels descend upon them saying, ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We are your allies in this world and the Hereafter.'”
These verses clarify the reality that those who remain firm on monotheism and perform righteous deeds, angels descend upon them in this world and the Hereafter bringing reassurance and glad tidings.
➋ Prayer of Fajr and Prayer of Asr time
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
(( یَتَعَاقَبُوْنَ فِیْكُمْ مَلَائِکَۃٌ بِاللَّیْلِ وَمَلَائِکَۃٌ بِالنَّهَارِ… ))
Translation: “The angels of the day and the angels of the night alternate among you, and they gather at the time of Fajr and Asr prayers. Then the angels who spend the night with you ascend, and Allah asks them: In what condition did you leave My servants? They say: We left them praying, and when we returned, they were still praying.”
➌ People of remembrance and gatherings of knowledge
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ لِلّٰہِ مَلَائِکَۃً یَطُوْفُوْنَ فِی الطُّرُقِ یَلْتَمِسُوْنَ أَہْلَ الذِّکْرِ… ))
Translation: “There are angels of Allah who roam the earth in search of those who remember Him. When they find a gathering of remembrance, they call out to each other: Come, this is what we were looking for. Then they cover them with their wings until the sky is filled with them.”
Then Allah Almighty asks the angels: “What were My servants saying?”
They reply: “They were glorifying You, praising You, and declaring Your greatness.”
Allah says: “I bear witness that I have forgiven all of them.”
One angel says: “There was also one person among them who was not part of them; he had come for some other purpose.”
Allah says: (( وَلَہٗ غَفَرْتُ، ہُمُ الْقَوْمُ لَا یَشْقٰی بِہِمْ جَلِیْسُہُمْ ))
Translation: “I have forgiven him as well; these are the people with whom whoever sits is not deprived.”
➍ Angels write the names of those who come for Friday prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِذَا کَانَ یَوْمُ الْجُمُعَۃِ، كَانَ عَلَی كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ یَکْتُبُوْنَ الْأَوَّلَ فَالْأَوَّلَ… ))
Translation: “When the day of Friday comes, angels stand at every door of the mosque, recording the names of those who come in order. When the Imam sits to deliver the sermon, they roll up their scrolls and come to listen to the remembrance.”
➎ Angels participate with the believers in prayer
Hazrat Rifa’ah bin Rafi’ (RA) narrates that a person said while rising from bowing:
(( رَبَّنَا وَلَکَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْدًا کَثِیْرًا طَیِّبًا مُبَارَکًا فِیْہِ ))
Translation: “O our Lord! And all praise is for You—countless, pure, and blessed praise that is perfect in every aspect.”
The Messenger ﷺ said:
(( لَقَدْ رَأَیْتُ بِضْعَۃً وَثَلَاثِیْنَ مَلَکًا یَبْتَدِرُوْنَہَا، أَیُّہُمْ یَکْتُبُہَا الْأَوَّلُ ))
Translation: “I saw more than thirty angels competing with each other to be the first to write these words.”
Similarly, he said:
(( إِذَا أَمَّنَ الْإِمَامُ فَأَمِّنُوا، فَإِنَّہٗ مَن وَّافَقَ تَأْمِیْنُہٗ تَأْمِیْنَ الْمَلَائِکَۃِ، غُفِرَ لَہُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِہٖ ))
Translation: “When the Imam says ‘Ameen,’ you should also say it, because whoever’s ‘Ameen’ coincides with the angels’ ‘Ameen,’ their past sins are forgiven.”
➏ Angels come close to the reciter of the Quran
It is narrated by Hazrat Asid bin Hudhair (RA) that when he was reciting Surah Al-Baqarah at night, his horse got startled. The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( تِلْکَ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ دَنَتْ لِصَوْتِکَ… ))
Translation: “Those were angels who came near your voice; if you had continued reciting, people would have seen them in the morning.”
➐ On those who recite and teach the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِی بَیْتٍ مِنْ بُیُوتِ اللّٰہِ یَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللّٰہِ وَیَتَدَارَسُونَہٗ بَیْنَہُمْ، إِلَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَیْہِمُ السَّکِیْنَۃُ، وَغَشِیَتْہُمُ الرَّحْمَۃُ، وَحَفَّتْہُمُ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ، وَذَکَرَہُمُ اللّٰہُ فِیْمَنْ عِنْدَہٗ ))
Translation: “Those who gather in the houses of Allah to recite the Quran and ponder over it, tranquility descends upon them, Allah’s mercy envelops them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among His special servants.”
➑ Angels convey the greetings of the Ummah to the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ لِلّٰہِ مَلَائِکَۃً سَیَّاحِیْنَ فِی الْأَرْضِ یُبَلِّغُوْنِیْ عَنْ أُمَّتِی السَّلَامَ ))
Translation: “Some angels of Allah roam the earth and convey my greetings to me on behalf of my Ummah.”
➒ On the students of religious knowledge
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ سَلَکَ طَرِیْقًا یَطْلُبُ فِیْہِ عِلْمًا سَلَکَ اللّٰہُ لَہٗ بِہِ طَرِیْقًا إِلَی الْجَنَّۃِ، وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِکَۃَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَہَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ ))
Translation: “Whoever takes a path to seek knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him, and the angels spread their wings for the seeker of knowledge.”
➓ Angels Give Glad Tidings to the Believers
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ فَنَادَتْہُ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ وَھُوَ قَآئِمٌ یُّصَلِّیْ فِی الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللّٰہَ یُبَشِّرُکَ بِیَحْیٰی ﴾
Translation: “When he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called to him, ‘Allah gives you the glad tidings of Yahya (a son).'”
Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( فَإِنِّیْ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ إِلَیْکَ بِأَنَّ اللّٰہَ قَدْ أَحَبَّکَ كَمَا أَحْبَبْتَہُ فِیْہِ ))
Translation: “I am the Messenger of Allah to you, bringing this message that just as you loved your brother for the sake of Allah, Allah has also loved you.”
The Assistance of Angels to the Believers and Their Descent on Other Occasions
Angels are not only involved in worship and supplication but also, by the command of Allah Almighty, perform duties of helping, guiding, and protecting the people of faith. There are numerous evidences in the Quran and Sunnah that show that angels accompany the believers on many occasions.
Helping the Believers in Battles and Keeping Them Steadfast
Allah Almighty sent down angels to help the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) during the Battle of Badr, as stated in the Quran:
﴿ اِذْ تَسْتَغِیْثُوْنَ رَبَّکُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَکُمْ اَنِّیْ مُمِدُّکُمْ بِاَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِکَۃِ مُرْدِفِیْنَ ﴾
Translation: “When you were asking help from your Lord, so He answered you, ‘Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand angels following one another.'”
Similarly, it is stated:
﴿ وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّٰہُ بِبَدْرٍ وَّاَنْتُمْ اَذِلَّۃٌ… ﴾
Translation: “Allah helped you at Badr when you were weak. So fear Allah that you may be grateful. When you said to the believers, ‘Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?’ Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels, marked.”
These verses indicate that when believers fight for the truth and seek help from Allah, angels are sent down to assist them and instill fear in the hearts of their enemies.
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ اِذْ یُوْحِیْ رَبُّکَ اِلَی الْمَلَائِکَۃِ اَنِّیْ مَعَکُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا ﴾
Translation: “When your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed.'”
Help of Angels for Believers Trapped in Calamity
Angels assist the believers not only on the battlefield but also in times of distress and hardship.
❀ Help of Angel Jibril (AS) for Hazrat Hajar (RA)
When Hazrat Hajar (AS) was searching for water between Safa and Marwah and her child Hazrat Ismail (AS) was suffering from thirst, Allah Almighty sent Angel Jibril (AS).
It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari that Jibril (AS) struck the ground with his heel or wing, and from there the Zamzam spring gushed forth.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
(( یَرْحَمُ اللّٰہُ أُمَّ إِسْمَاعِیلَ، لَوْ تَرَکَتْ زَمْزَمَ لَکَانَتْ زَمْزَمُ عَیْنًا مَعِینًا ))
Translation: “May Allah have mercy on Umm Ismail! If she had left Zamzam as it was, it would have become a flowing river.”
❀ Divine Help in Distress — The Incident of Ibn Kathir
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (RA) ﴿ أَمَّنْ یُّجِیْبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ اِذَا دَعَاہُ وَیَکْشِفُ السُّوْئَ ﴾
Translation:“Who is it that responds to the distressed one when he calls upon Him, and removes the evil and makes you inheritors of the earth?”
In its exegesis, a strange incident is narrated:
A poor man narrates that one day while renting out my mule, a person rode it. He asked me to take an unknown path. When we reached there, he began to draw a knife to kill me. I ran away and pleaded with him in the name of Allah, but he did not listen. I said: “Let me offer two units of prayer.” He allowed me. I started praying but due to fear, I could not recite anything. Then suddenly this verse came to my tongue:
﴿ أَمَّنْ یُّجِیْبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ اِذَا دَعَاہُ وَیَکْشِفُ السُّوْئَ ﴾
Translation:“Who is it that responds to the distressed one when he calls upon Him, and removes the evil and makes you inheritors of the earth?”
At that moment, a horseman appeared who killed my enemy by spearing him. I asked him: “Who are you?”
He replied: “I am the one sent by the One who accepts the prayer of the distressed and removes hardship.”
This incident is clear evidence that angels descend by Allah’s permission to help believers in distress.
Angels’ Participation After the Death of a Believer
❀ Participation in Washing
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) states that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
(( رَأَیْتُ الْمَلَائِکَۃَ تَغْسِلُ حَمْزَۃَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَحَنْظَلَۃَ بْنَ الرَّاہِبِ ))
Translation: “I saw angels washing Hazrat Hamza and Hazrat Hunain.”
❀ Participation in Funeral Prayer
The Prophet (ﷺ) said about Saad bin Muadh (RA):
(( ہٰذَا الَّذِیْ تَحَرَّکَ لَہُ الْعَرْشُ، وَفُتِحَتْ لَہُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَشَہِدَہُ سَبْعُوْنَ أَلْفًا مِنَ الْمَلَائِکَۃِ ))
Translation: “This is the one (Saad bin Muadh) for whom the Throne moved, the gates of the heavens were opened, and seventy thousand angels participated in his funeral.”
Glad Tidings from Angels to the Believers
The Prophet ﷺ said that Jibreel (Gabriel) came to me and said:
(( هٰذِہِ خَدِیْجَۃُ قَدْ أَتَتْکَ… فَاقْرَأْ عَلَیْہَا السَّلَامَ مِنْ رَبِّہَا وَمِنِّی، وَبَشِّرْہَا بِبَیْتٍ فِی الْجَنَّۃِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ ))
Translation: “This is Khadijah (RA) who is coming to you; convey to her the greetings from her Lord and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of pearls, where there will be neither noise nor fatigue.”
This great example shows that angels give greetings, mercy, and glad tidings of Paradise to the people of faith.
Conclusion
Angels are servants of Allah who are constantly engaged in worship, supplication, and service. For the believers, they are a source of mercy, forgiveness, and peace of heart. Blessed are those believers who perform such deeds by whose blessings angels come near them, pray for them, and are with them.
May Allah include us among those upon whom the angels’ prayers, help, and glad tidings descend.
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.
