These are invisible creatures having consciousness and intelligence of their own. There is no detailed information about their constitution in the Qur'an. All thet we know that they were created by light like jinns. . "Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers! "(18/50) Angels are asexual beings that travel in the space with vertiginous speeds. Their numbers is not known. They represent the positive side of the creation. Prophets were also sent to them from among themselves.
GRACIOUSLY BEGOTTEN OFFSPRING
And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! they are (but) servants raised to honour. They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command. (21/26-27)
Angels are in continual devotion and serve God without any opposition.
SEX OF ANGELS
And they make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? (43/19)
Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names. (53/27)
Some infidels unjustifiably qualified angels as God's daughters.
VERTIGINOUS SPEED
… messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): (35/1)
The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: (70/4)
The fact that angels have been equipped with wings indicate that they are beings that move swiftly.
PROPHETS AMONG ANGELS
Allah chooses messengers from angels and from men for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things) (22/75)
… Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord … (19/19)
Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah.s will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,- Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and apostles, to Gabriel and Michael,- Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith. (2/97-98)
We learn from the above verse that there are prophets among angels also, who are called 'ruh' (soul or spirit) like Gabriel. … For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself… (58/22) The four archangels mentioned in the Qur'an may be identified as prophets. In addition to such archangels as Gabriel who had been instrumental in revealing God's messages to Muhammad, Israfil, the angel of death who will blow the last trumpet, Michael involved in the manifestation of power and the death archangel Azrael there are many prophets. Some scholars believed that there are four times as many as the number of human beings.
GUARDIAN ANGELS
… Except an apostle whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him… (72/27)
…. He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers, and He sets guardians over you.... (6/61)
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah… (13/11)
The mysteries of the universe are known only to God. Men are not forsaken by the Supreme Being. They are presided over by angels. . No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah. and if any one believes in Allah, (Allah) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things. (64/11)
ANGELS AS SCRIBES
Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it). (50/17-18)
In the case of those who say, "Our Lord is Allah., and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which ye were promised! "We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!- (41/30/31)
Angels keep record of all the doings of men. All men shall be able to read their acts when the time comes. (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee." (17/14) There are angels that illumine the hearts of men and inspire them sagacity.
ANGELS OF DEATH
Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord." (32/11)
… when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty. (6/61)
Angels of death are equipped with special powers that facilitate death. These angels are specialized to rend the soul from the body. Although Azrael is said to be the chief angel of death there is no definite information about him in the Qur'an. (Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them), "Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden, because of (the good) which ye did (in the world)." (16/32)
HELL GUARDS
Over it (the hell) are Nineteen. And We have set none but angels as Guardians of the Fire … (74/30-31)
We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)! (96/18)
O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded. These guards execute the commands received by God. Hell which is a terrible place is also the spot where souls will eventually be cleansed after having suffered and completed their term.
JINNS