Applicable Translations پښتو اردو عربي

Chapter on the Ranks of Angels

We believe that Allah Almighty endowed angels with varying ranks and positions. He Almighty says: {[The angels say]: "There is none among us but has a known station: We are indeed those who stand lined up in rows."} [Surat as-Sāffāt: 164-165]

The highest ranked angels are Jibrīl, Mikā’īl, and Isrāfīl. Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated Allah Almighty by His Lordship of those three angels. Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (peace be upon her): "By what did the Prophet of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to open his prayer when he prayed at night?" She said: "When he prayed at night, he would open his prayer with: 'O Allah, Lord of Jibrīl, Mikā’īl, and Isrāfīl; Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the visible; You judge between Your slaves concerning that over which they used to differ, guide me through that over which there has been difference concerning the truth, by Your permission; verily, You guide whomever You will to a straight path.'" [Narrated by Muslim (770), Abu Dāwūd (767), An-Nasā’i (1625), and Ibn Mājah (1357)]

Among the noblest of them are the bearers of the Throne and also those who took part in the battle of Badr. Mu‘ādh ibn Rifā‘ah ibn Rāfi‘ related that his father, who had participated in the battle of Badr, reported: Jibrīl came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "How do you estimate the people of Badr amongst you?" He said: "(They are) among the best Muslims." Or he said a similar statement. Thereupon, he said: "And so are the angels who participated in Badr." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3992)]

Each heaven comprises numerous angels whose number is only known to Allah Almighty, and for each of them is a known station. Some of them are particularly close to the Almighty Creator. Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said about the ascent of the believer's soul after his death: "They take it up and do not bring it past a company of angels without them asking: 'Who is this good soul?' To this, they reply: ‘So and so, the son of so and so,’ using the best of his names by which people used to call him in the worldly life. Then, they bring him to the lowest heaven and ask that the gate be opened for him, which will be done. From every heaven its archangels escort him to the next heaven." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd (3212), An-Nasā’i (2001), Ibn Mājah (1548), At-Tayālsi (789), ‘Abdur-Razzāq (6324, 6737), and Ahmad (18534), and this is his wording]