5 Benefits of Believing in Angels that Can Perfect Human Worship

Dream- Angels are one of the creatures created by Allah SWT from light. Unlike humans, angels are not endowed with desires and spend their lives only in service to the Creator.

As the most obedient creatures to Allah SWT, angels never commit sins and spend their time only in worship. Muslims are required to believe in the 10 names of angels as part of believing in the second pillar of faith.

The explanation of belief in angels is found in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 285 which states.

آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

Meaning: “The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.'” (QS Al-Baqarah 285).

From this verse, Muslims know that angels are truly real and must be believed in even though we cannot see them except Allah SWT. Humans also try to take lessons from believing in angels as part of perfecting worship.

So what are the benefits of believing in angels? Here is the explanation quoted from various sources.

1. Obedience in Worship

Angels worship Allah tirelessly. Angels also never disobey Allah's commands. Humans can imitate the behavior of angels to become obedient servants and not be proud of the sins committed. The explanation of angels obedient in worship is found in Surah Al-A'raf verse 206, here is the reading.

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَهٗ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهٖ وَيُسَبِّحُوْنَهٗ وَلَهٗ يَسْجُدُوْنَ ࣖ

Meaning: “Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.” (QS Al-A'raf 206).

2. Fear of Committing Sins Because Every Deed Will Be Recorded

In the Qur'an, there are 10 angels that must be believed in. There are two angels who always accompany humans to record the good and bad deeds they do. Later, all of these deeds will receive rewards from Allah SWT.

The angels who accompany humans are Raqib and Atid. The angel Raqib is responsible for recording the good deeds of humans, while the angel Atid is responsible for recording the bad deeds of humans. Allah has conveyed this in the Qur'an in Surah Qaf verses 16-18.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهٖ نَفْسُهٗ ۖوَنَحْنُ اَقْرَبُ اِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيْدِ

اِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيٰنِ عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيْدٌ

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيْحٌ

Meaning: “And We have certainly created man and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein. [Remember] when the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].” (QS Qaf 16-18).

3. Believing that Sustenance Comes from Allah SWT

Angel Mikail is an angel who is tasked with providing sustenance to humans by the command of Allah SWT. This is as stated in the word of Allah in Surah Ar-Ra'd verse 11.

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ

Meaning: "For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron." (Quran, Ar-Ra'd 11).

4. Believing in the Day of Judgment

The Day of Judgment is the day when the world will end and humans will be resurrected to face Allah SWT. No one knows when the Day of Judgment will occur except Allah. By believing in angels, we believe that the angel Israfil will blow the trumpet upon the command of Allah. This has been conveyed by Allah in Surah An-Naml verse 87.

وَإِذَا الصُّورُ نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَذَاعَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَاهْتَزَّتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَىٰ أَصْوَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتِ الْأَرْضُ بِالْأَرْضِ وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَبَرَزَتِ الْأَرْضُ مَوْلَىٰهَا وَقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا

Meaning: "And [warn of] the Day the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be terrified except whom Allah wills. And all will come to Him humbled." (Quran, An-Naml 87).

5. Believing in the Existence of Heaven and Hell

Allah has created Paradise and Hell for His servants as a reward for what they have done in the world. Those who enter Paradise are the servants who are obedient to Allah SWT, while Hell is promised by Allah to those who are disobedient and neglect His commands.

The gates of Paradise are guarded by the angel Ridwan, and the gates of Hell are guarded by the angel Malik. The explanation about the angels guarding the gates of Paradise and Hell is mentioned in Surah Az-Zumar verse 73 and Surah Az-Zukhruf verse 77.

Surah Az-Zumar verse 73

وَتُفَوِّضُ الْأَمْرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Meaning: "And those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter]." (Quran, Az-Zumar 73).

Surah Az-Zukhruf verse 77

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَنَادُونَ لَمَكَانِ السَّعِيرِ

Meaning: "And they will call, "O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Indeed, you will remain." (Quran, Az-Zukhruf 77).

This is the wisdom of believing in angels that we must know. By knowing this wisdom, hopefully, it will bring us closer to Allah SWT so that we can perfect our worship.

(Report: Nur Rahma/ Various Sources)