We believe that Allah Almighty created angels from light. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Angels were created from light." [Narrated by Muslim (2996)] They are among Allah's creation whom He created in a specific form. They are neither mere souls, nor mere powers. But they are a realm of the unseen and devout servants whom Allah, the Exalted, created to worship Him and carry out His commands. They worship Him and never disdain to do so.
Among their acts of worship is glorification of Allah Almighty, prostration, fear and apprehension of their Lord. Allah, Exalted be He, says: {They never disobey whatever Allah commands and do whatever they are commanded.} [Surat at-Tahrīm: 6] He Almighty also says: {To Allah prostrates all that is in the heavens and on earth of living things, and so do the angels; and they do not show arrogance.} [Surat an-Nahl: 49] And He, Glorified be He, says: {You will see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with His praise.} [Surat az-Zumar: 75] In spite of their earnest worship, they are extremely fearful of the Almighty Lord Who says: {They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.} [Surat an-Nahl: 50]
Among their worship is that they show loyalty and love for the sake of Allah, Exalted be He. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibrīl and says: ‘Verily, Allah loves so-and-so; so love him.’ So, Jibrīl loves him and calls the inhabitants of the heavens: ‘Verily, Allah loves so-and-so; so love him.’ So, the inhabitants of the heavens love him, and then he is granted acceptance on earth." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3209), Muslim (2637), and At-Tirmidhi (3161)] They also show animosity and hatred for the sake of Allah, feel angry if Allah's prohibitions are violated, and curse those cursed by Allah Almighty. Our Lord says: {Those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers are cursed by Allah and the angels, and by all people.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 161] The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Angels do not enter a house where there are statues or images." [Narrated by Muslim (2112)]
We believe that Allah Almighty created them in a specific form only known to Him, the Creator. Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have been permitted to tell about one of Allah’s angels who bear the Throne; the distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder is a journey of seven hundred years." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd (4727), Ibn Tahmān in his Mashyakhah (21), At-Tabarāni in Al-Awsat (1709), Abu ash-Shaykh in Al-‘Azhamah (313)]
We believe that Allah Almighty created them with wings. He, Exalted be He, says: {It is He Who made the angels messengers with two, three, or four wings. He increases in creation whatever He wills.} [Surat Fātir: 1] ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw Jibrīl with six hundred wings. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (4857), Muslim (174), and At-Tirmidhi (3277)] We believe that they have hearts. Allah, the Exalted, says: {Until when their hearts are relieved of dread, they will say [to the angels]: "What did your Lord just say?" They will say: "The Truth, and He is the Most High, Most Great."} [Surat Saba’: 23]
They were permitted to come to the prophets and messengers (peace be upon them) in human form. For example, they went to Ibrāhīm and Lūt (peace be upon them) in the form of unknown guests. About this, Allah Almighty says: {Has there come to you the story of Abraham’s honored guests? When they came to him and said, 'Peace.' He said: "Upon you be peace." [saying to himself] "Unknown people!"} [Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 24-25] Allah Almighty also says: {When Our angel-messengers came to Lot, he was perturbed and felt troubled on their account, and said: "This is a distressing day."} [Surat Hūd: 77] And Jibrīl (peace be upon him) came to Mariyam (peace be upon her) in such a form that she did not recognize him at first. Allah, Glorified be He, says: {She screened herself from them, then We sent to her Our Spirit [Gabriel] and he appeared before her in the form of a perfect human being. She said: "I seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you; [do not approach me] if you fear Allah." He said: "I am only a messenger from your Lord."} [Surat Mariyam: 17-19] Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Jibrīl (peace be upon him) used to come to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the form of Dihyah." [Narrated by Ahmad (5857), Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marūzi in Ta‘zhīm Qadr As-Salah (372), and Ibn Battah in Al-Ibānah (831)]
We believe that angels do not eat or drink, for they have no desires. Hence, when they visited Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) and he served food to them, they did not eat. Informing about this, Allah Almighty says: {Then he went quickly to his household, and came with a fat [roasted] calf, and placed it before them and said: "Will you not eat?" He perceived a fear of them. They said, "Do not be afraid,” and gave him glad tidings of a knowledgeable son.} [Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 26-28] And we believe that they are characterized by modesty. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Should I not show modesty to a man to whom the angels show modesty?" [Narrated by Muslim (2401)]
And they get hurt by the same things that hurt humans. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who eats of this (offensive) plant, i.e. garlic - and sometimes he said: He who eats onion, garlic, and leek - should not approach our mosque, for the angels get hurt by the things that hurt the children of Adam." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (854), Muslim (564) and this is his wording, Abu Dāwūd (3822), At-Tirmidhi (1806), An-Nasā’i (707), and Ibn Mājah (3365)]
We believe that Allah Almighty created in them such tremendous power and strength that He alone encompasses. Allah, the Exalted, says: {Extremely powerful, highly revered with the Lord of the Throne.} [Surat at-Takwīr: 20] Allah Almighty also says: {And it is overseen by rigorous and stern angels, who never disobey whatever Allah commands and do whatever they are commanded.} [Surat at-Tahrīm: 6] Allah Almighty sent an angel to the towns of the people of Lūt, numbering seven towns, and he turned them upside down. Allah, Glorified be He, says: {When Our command came, We turned their cities upside down and rained down upon them clustered stones of baked clay.} [Surat Hūd: 82]
We believe that the angels are too numerous to be counted, except by the One Who created them. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then I was shown Al-Bayt Al-Ma‘mūr (the most frequented house). I asked Jibrīl about it and he said: 'This is Al-Bayt Al-Ma‘mūr where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave, they never return to it.'" [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3207), Muslim (164), At-Tirmidhi (3346), and An-Nasā’i (448)]
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, I see what you do not see, and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven squeaked, and it has the right to squeak. There is no spot the size of four fingers except that there is an angel placing his forehead in it, prostrating to Allah." [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (2312), Ibn Mājah (4190), Ibn Abi Shaybah (27044), Ahmad (21516), and Al-Bazzār (3924, 3925)]
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Hellfire will be brought on that Day with seventy thousand bridles, and each bridle will be dragged by seventy thousand angels." [Narrated by Muslim (2842) and At-Tirmidhi (2573)]
The polytheists claimed that the angels are the daughters of Allah Almighty. Showing their lie, Allah, the Exalted, says: {Or did We create the angels as females while they were watching?} [Surat as-Sāffāt: 150] Responding to them, our Lord also says: {Has your Lord favored you with sons and has taken for Himself angels as daughters? You are indeed making a monstrous claim.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 40]