Question: It is said that angels are not responsible because they do not have ‘aql (reason), that they are not pious since religions are for humans and genies, that they are beings who carry out only what they are commanded, like robots. Some others claim that angels are male. Do such statements not mean disbelieving one of the six fundamentals of faith?
ANSWER
The fact that angels are neither male nor female is written in all Islamic books that deal with the tenets of belief. In earlier times some people who emulated Christians were saying that angels were female, and they were drawing winged girl pictures. From now on, will they draw pictures of winged men?

Angels have been created from nur (light). Iblis and genies have been created from fire. All of them are beings who have ‘aql (it is a comprehensive power that has been created so as to distinguish right from wrong, good from bad, useful from harmful) and will. Allahu ta’ala put both angels and Iblis to test. A Qur’anic verse says (what means):

(When We said, “Fall prostrate before Adam [before Adam for Allah], all of the angels fell prostrate, save Iblis. As for Iblis, he refused it and became arrogant. So he became one of disbelievers.) [Surat-ul-Baqara 34]

The fact that angels are sinless does not mean that they do not have aql. One who does not have ‘aql cannot be a prophet. However, it is stated in the Qur’an al-karim that there are prophets from among angels as well. Jabrail, Mikail, Israfil, and Azrail alaihimussalam are the prophets of angels. All angels are knowledgeable. Three Qur’anic verses say (what means):

(Angels said, “O our Rabb! We absolve You from all defective attributes and describe You with all perfect attributes that we have no knowledge other than what You have taught us.”) [Surat-ul-Baqara 32]

(Allah, angels, and the people of knowledge who enforce justice have testified that there is no god but He.) [Surat-u Al-i ‘Imran 18]

(This Qur’an is a word brought by an honorable messenger  [Jabrail] who is valuable in the sight of Allah, the Owner of ‘Arsh, who is mighty, whose word is heeded, and who is trustworthy.) [Surat-ut-Takwir, 19-21]

Allahu ta’âlâ has charged angels with different duties. A Qur’anic verse says (what means):

(By the angels who race [to carry the souls of the Believers to Paradise and those of the disbelievers to Hell] and who direct the affairs!) [Surat-u Nazi’at 4-5]

Allahu ta’ala swears on angels who direct the affairs in order to emphasize their superiority. Allahu ta’ala has chosen messengers from among angels. A Qur’anic verse says (what means):

(Allah chooses messengers from angels as well as from human beings.) [Surat-ul-Hajj 75]

Saying that angels are devoid of ‘aql is another way of denying their existence. Belief in angels is one of the six fundamentals of faith. A Qur’anic verse says (what means):

(He who disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, and the Day of Judgment has gone far astray.)  [Surat-un-Nisa’ 136]

Angels are genderless. When the polytheists asserted that angels were female and that they were the daughters of Allah, Allahu ta’âlâ revealed the following:

([O polytheists!] Has your Rabb allotted you sons and taken for Himself daughters from among angels? Verily, you utter a saying the consequence of which is very grievous.) [Surat-ul-Isra’ 40]

(Ask the polytheists: Do daughters belong to your Rabb and sons to them? Did We create the angels as females before their eyes? They are definitely telling a lie.) [Surat-us-Saffat 149-151]

(Those who do not believe in the Hereafter name angels with female names.) [Surat-un-Najm 27]

Angels came to the aid in the battles of Badr and Hunain. Two Qur’anic verses say (what means):

(Then [at Badr] you were saying to the Believers, “Is it not sufficient that your Rabb helps you by sending down three thousand angels.”) [Surat-u Al-i ‘Imran 124]

(You were seeking aid from your Rabb for victory. He responded to you by saying, “I am helping you with a thousand angels, following one another in succession.”) [Surat-ul-Anfal 9]

They participate in a battle and fight against the enemy. How can one describe them as being devoid of reason? It was stated that the helpers of our Master the Messenger of Allah were the angels:

(His friends and helpers are Allah, Jabrail, and the pious Believers. Furthermore, the angels are his helpers.) [Surat-ut-Tahrim 4]

Also, it was declared in hadith-i sharifs that angels are beings with ‘aql. As a matter of fact, the following three hadith-i sharifs say:

(Angels of Compassion do not enter a residence where there is a living being’s picture, a dog, or a junub person.) [Nasai]

(Let him who has eaten onion or garlic not come to our mosque. The reason is that what causes humans discomfort causes angels discomfort, too.) [Tabarani]

(Do not remain naked! Feel ashamed of the Angels of Haphaza, who leave you only during sexual intercourse or when you are in the restroom. Be respectful to them.) [Tirmidhi]

This means to say that angels can come to houses for mercy and can recognize the junub person if there is. These are not simple matters. They can be bothered by the unpleasant smells that bother humans, and it is not appropriate to remain naked near them. If they are like robots, why are they bothered by junub person or bad smells? Why should one feel ashamed of them, and why are we ordered to be respectful to them?

A Qur’anic verse says (what means):
(Do they [polytheists] think that We do not hear what they conceal in their hearts and their whispers? Yes, We do, and Our messengers [angels] near them record.) [Surat-uz-Zukhruf  80]