Angels, jinn and the unseen world
Islamic Studies · Key Stage 3 · The School
Three unseen creations
Islamic teaching holds that Allah made three kinds of being. ANGELS, created from light (Sahih Muslim 2996), who do as they are commanded (16:50). JINN, from smokeless fire, who have free will like humans. HUMANS, from earth, who also have free will. All three are real in Islamic belief.
What angels do
In Islamic teaching, angels have different tasks; they are not just winged figures. Jibril brings revelation to the prophets. Israfil will blow the trumpet on the Last Day. Malak al-Mawt takes the soul at death. Two angels record a person's deeds. Abu Dawud (4403) and Ibn Majah (2041, graded good) name three people for whom the pen is lifted: the sleeper, the child and the person who is insane. So a child is not held to account for wrong deeds. A job, not a decoration.
Jinn, and why Iblis matters
Jinn live alongside humans, unseen, and can choose to believe or disbelieve — the Quran describes some jinn listening to the Quran and believing (72:1-2). IBLIS refused to bow to Adam when commanded, and the Quran says he was one of the jinn (18:50). Scholars differ on what that means. Al-Hasan al-Basri, quoted by Ibn Kathir, said Iblis was never an angel, not even for a moment. Al-Tabari, in his Quran commentary, preferred the view that Iblis had been among the angels.
CLAIM 1: "An angel once refused a command." Scholars differ on whether Iblis had been among the angels (see above). CLAIM 2: "A jinn once refused a command." True — the Quran says Iblis was one of the jinn and disobeyed his Lord's command (18:50). CLAIM 3: "Angels and jinn are the same kind of being." False — angels were created from light (Sahih Muslim 2996) and jinn from smokeless fire. Iblis is the hard case, so say which scholar holds which view.