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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Nature and role of angels

I can explain the nature, roles and importance of angels in Islam.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Nature and role of angels

I can explain the nature, roles and importance of angels in Islam.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In Islam, angels are immortal beings made of light, who are without sin.
  2. The belief in angels is known as 'malaikah' and is supported by Surah 2:97-98, 2:285, 32:11.
  3. Four key angels in Islam are Jibreel, Mika’il, Israfil and Izrail, who have different roles & relationships to humans.

Keywords

  • Angels - beings of light delivering God’s messages and watching over humans

  • Jibril - the angel who revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad (Gabriel in English)

  • Malaikah - the Arabic word for angels

  • Mika’il - an angel providing spiritual and material help (Micheal in English)

Common misconception

Angels are male (e.g., Jibreel is male).

In Islam, angels are genderless but can appear in a male form.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Nature and role of angels, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

In addition to this lesson, students can create a table of information on each of the four key angels in Islam - Jibril, Mik'ail, Israfil and Izrail - and their roles and importance for Muslims.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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5 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:adalat,the justice of Allah, from Al-Adl (The Just)
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the justice of Allah, from Al-Adl (The Just)

Correct Answer:beneficent,Allah as all loving, generous and kind; one of Allah’s 99 Names
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Allah as all loving, generous and kind; one of Allah’s 99 Names

Correct Answer:immanent,Allah is present and active in the world
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Allah is present and active in the world

Correct Answer:Tawhid,the oneness of Allah
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the oneness of Allah

Q2.
Which group of Muslims have the six articles of faith?
Correct answer: Sunni
Sufi
Shia
Q3.
Which of these are part of the six articles of faith?
Correct answer: the belief in Allah: the belief that Allah is the one and only God
imamah: the belief that Allah chose imams to lead Islam after Muhammad
Correct answer: the belief in angels: the belief that angels exist and are God's messengers
Q4.
In Christianity, which angel revealed to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus?
Raphael
Michael
Correct answer: Gabriel
Q5.
What is the missing word in this quote from the Qur'an? "He is God the __________, God the eternal."
Correct answer: One
powerful
beneficent

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:angels,beings of light delivering God’s messages and watching over humans
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beings of light delivering God’s messages and watching over humans

Correct Answer:free will,being able to choose between different actions
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being able to choose between different actions

Correct Answer:Jibril,the angel who revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad
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the angel who revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad

Correct Answer:malaikah,the Arabic word for angels
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the Arabic word for angels

Correct Answer:Mika’il,an angel providing spiritual and material help
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an angel providing spiritual and material help

Q2.
Which of the following statements is correct?
In Islam, angels are male.
Correct answer: In Islam, angels are genderless, but can appear in a male form.
In Islam, angels are both male and female.
Q3.
Which of the below are roles that angels have in Islam?
Correct answer: they are the guardians of humans
Correct answer: they record good and bad deeds
they command the prophets
Q4.
In Islam, which angel will blow a trumpet to announce the Day of Judgement?
Jibril
Mika’il
Correct answer: Israfil
Izra’il
Q5.
In Islam, which angel will take the souls of those who have died to the afterlife?
Jibril
Mika’il
Israfil
Correct answer: Izra’il
Q6.
Which of the below is a way that a belief in angels may influence Muslims?
Correct answer: Muslims might do good deeds, even when no one is watching.
Muslims will read the Qur’an because it was revealed by angels.
Muslims will be not be perfect because they know that only angels watch them.