Islam and the Quran

Are Angels Male or Female?

Question: Are angels male or female?

The Arabic word “malaa’ikat = مَلاَئِكَة” , which is translated as “angels”, means “messengers” (Mufradat, art. الك).

“Jinn” is a common noun used for “beings hidden from perceptions”. The word “jannah”, which is of the same root as jinn is “a garden which hides the soil from sight by its trees and plants” (Mufradat, art. جنّ).

Angels are the jinn who are charged by God with various duties.

The Almighty God decrees:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“I created the jinn and the human beings to worship Me only” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56).

The Almighty God has decreed:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ

“Once God said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam!’ They all prostrated, except Iblees. He was also one of the jinn but He had deviated from his Master’s command.” (Al-Kahf 18:50)

The two verses above show that the jinn are also tested like human beings, and they also have the choice to behave obediently or to stray. Iblees was also one of the angels charged with certain duties, because he was expected to obey the command given to angels. Iblees was the former name of the Devil. The expression “became of the ignorers” indicates that there were also other angels who became ignorers before Iblees.

The phrase “He was also one of the jinn” can only mean “he was also one of the jinn who were charged with the duties of angels”.

God has also decreed:
“Of all the beings we have created two mates, so that you might use your knowledge.” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:49)

The word “zawjayn” translated as “mates” here, is used to express the male and female in verse 53:45 in the Qur’an:

وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَىٰ

“He has created the two mates, the male and the female.” (An-Najm 53:45)

In conclusion, we understand that the angels are invisible beings who are created as male and female just like human beings, and they are also responsible for obeying the commands of God and fulfilling the duties given by Him.

6 comments

  • I think you need to look at the facts again. Angels are not jinn, and vice versa. Neither have they been created in male and female.

  • Assalamu Aleikum,

    From where did you get the idea that angel are from the Jinn, I’m not a scholar according to the Quran and Sunnah, the Angels are created from light and the Jinn from smokeless fire.

    And in the following verse we understand that Iblis “Satan” the cursed one was of the jinn and not the Angels:

    “And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord’s command.” (18:50)

    And Iblees was an angel! Where did get the Knowledge of your religion from!?

    Wassalam

    • If Iblees was not of the angels, why would God hold him responsible for not obeying the command of prostration which He gave to angels? (When Allah commanded angels to prostrate before Adam, they all prostrated except Iblees)
      So, angels are a certain type of invisible beings (jinn) for sure.

  • “And they make the angels who themselves are slaves of the Most Gracious (Allah) females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.”

    [43:19]

    Sir, what you told in here is against this sura. please correct this post

    • Salam alaikum,
      The word “al-malaaikat” in 43:19 is a common noun which denotes all the angels. This verse objects against the false beliefs of Meccan mushrik that “ALL the angels are females and they are daughters of God”. It does not show that all angels are males or genderless. When we consider the verses mentioned in the fatwa, we see that angels are also communities like us, which have males and females.

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