What they were created from and when

The substance from which Allah, the Most Exalted, created angels is light. It is narrated on the authority of `Aa'ishah  that the Messenger of Allah  said: "The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you (i.e. in the Quran, which is clay)." [Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad  did not explain what light this is that they were created from. Hence we cannot indulge in trying to say more about this matter, because it is the matter of the unseen concerning which no further clarification has been narrated, apart from this Hadeeth (narration).

We do not know when the angels were created, for Allah has not informed us about that. But we do know that they were created before Adam  the father of mankind. Allah has told us that He informed the angels that He was going to create a Khaleefah (vicegerent) on earth. Almighty Allah Says in the Noble Quran (what means):

{And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, 'Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.} [Quran 2:30]

Allah also Says (what means): {And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My soul, then fall down to him in prostration.} [Quran 15:29]

Seeing the angels

Because the angels have bodies of light which are of low density, mankind cannot see them, especially since Allah has not given our eyes the ability to see them.

No one has seen the angels in their true form apart from Prophet Muhammad . He  saw Jibreel (angel Gabriel) twice in the form in which Allah created him.

On the other hand, different texts indicate that human beings were able to see the angels in human form. An example for this is the long Hadeeth (narration), 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab  said: "One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah  there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet (). Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said: 'O Muhammad, tell me about Islam…..'"

After asking the Prophet  other questions, the visitor left and the Prophet    said to 'Umar : "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" 'Umar  said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best'. He  said: 'He was Jibreel (Gabriel); he came to teach you your religion.'" [Muslim]

 (2) Their great physical size

Allah, the Most Exalted, Says concerning the angels of Hell (what means):

"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." [Quran 66:6]

It will be sufficient in this regard to quote the narrations which speak of two noble angels.

The great size of Jibreel

The Messenger of Allah  saw Jibreel twice in the angelic form in which Allah created him. These two occasions are mentioned in the verse (which means):

"And he [i.e. Muhammad] has already seen him [i.e. Jibreel] in the clear horizon." [Quran 81:23]

And the verse (which means):

"And he certainly saw him in another descent. At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary. Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e. Paradise]." [Quran 53:13-15]

That was when he  was taken up to the highest heaven during his miraculous ascension to heaven.

It is narrated that `Aa'ishah  said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah  about these two verses. He said, "That is Jibreel; I never saw him in the form in which Allah created him except on these two occasions. I saw him descending from the heavens, with his huge size filling the horizon between the heaven and the earth." [Muslim]

`Aa'ishah  was asked about the verse (which means): "Then he [Jibreel] approached and descended." [Quran 53:8]

She  said, "That is Jibreel. He used to come to him (the Prophet ) in human form, but on this occasion he came in his real form, and he filled the horizons of the sky." [Muslim]

It is narrated that 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood  said: "Muhammad  saw Jibreel with six hundred wings."[Al-Bukhari]

He (Ibn Mas'ood)  said concerning the verse (which means):

{He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.} [Quran 53:18]

"This means green cushions, filling the horizons."[Al-Bukhari]

These cushions that filled the horizons were what Jibreel was seated upon. Ibn Mas'ood     also said, "The Prophet of Allah  saw Jibreel with his own eyes, on a cushion which filled the space between heaven and earth."

'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood     said: "The Messenger of Allah  saw Jibreel in his true form. He had six hundred wings, each of which filled the horizon, and there were multi-coloured pearls and rubies falling from his wings." [Ahmad]

Almighty Allah Says, describing Jibreel (what means):

"…Indeed, it [i.e. the Quran] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e. Jibreel]. [Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position]. Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy."[Quran 81:19-21]

What is meant by the "most honourable messenger" here is Jibreel, and the Lord of the Throne is the Lord of Glory, may He be glorified.

The great size of the bearers of the Throne:

Prophet Muhammad  said: "I have been granted permission to speak about one of the angels of Allah, one of the bearers of the Throne. The distance from his earlobes to his shoulders is the distance of a seven - hundred year journey." [Abu Daawood]

Anas Ibn Maalik  narrated that the Prophet  said: "I have been granted permission to speak to an angel, one of the bearers of the Throne. His feet are in the lowest earth and the Throne is resting on his horn. The distance from his earlobe to his shoulder is like that of a bird flying for seven hundred years. That angel says, 'Glory be to You, wherever You are. '" [At-Tabaraani]

The wings of the angels:

The angels have wings, as Allah Almighty has informed us. Some of them have two wings, some have three or four, and some have more than that.

Allah, the Most Exalted, Says in the Noble Quran (what means): "[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [Who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." [Quran 35:1]

Moreover, We have already mentioned (in part one) the narration in which the Messenger  stated that Jibreel (angel Gabriel) has six hundred wings.

The beauty of the angels:

Allah has created them in a noble and beautiful form, as Allah Says of Jibreel (what means): "… [The Quran was] Taught to him by one intense in strength [i.e. Jibreel] —One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form." [Quran 53:5-6]

Ibn `Abbaas  said: "(one of soundness) means one whose appearance is beautiful." Qataadah  said regard the same verse: "One whose form is tall and beautiful." There is no contradiction between the two views, for he (Jibreel) is both strong and of a beautiful appearance.

The idea that angels are beautiful is well-established in people's minds, just as the idea that devils are ugly is also well-established. Hence, we often hear people liken beautiful human beings to angels. Look at what the women said when they saw Prophet Yoosuf (Joseph)  in the verse (which means): "And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, “Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel!' [Quran 12:31]

Similarity in appearance and form between angels and humans:

The Messenger of Allah  said: "The Prophets were shown to me (during his ascension), and I saw Moosaa (Prophet Moses), a man of average build, looking like one of the men of (the tribe of) Shanu'ah. And I saw `Eesa Ibn Maryam (Prophet Jesus, son of Mary), and the person I have seen who most resembles him is `Urwah Ibn Mas'ood. And I saw Ibraaheem (Prophet Abraham), and the one who most resembles him is your Companion (meaning himself). And I saw Jibreel; the person I have seen who most resembles him is Dihyah." [Muslim and At-Tirmithi]

Is this a similarity between Jibreel's true form, or the form which Jibreel took when he appeared in human form? Certainly, it is the latter, because as we shall see, Jibreel often used to appear in the form of Dihyah Ibn Khaleefah . This is proven by the narrations in which the Prophet  described Jibreel in his real shape having six hundred wings.

Variations in their physical shape and status:

The angels are not all the same in their physical shape and status. Some of them have two wings, some have three, and Jibreel has six hundred wings. They vary in their status before their Lord, Most High. Allah Says (what means): "[The angels say], 'There is not among us any except that he has a known position'". [Quran 37:164]

As concerning Jibreel, Allah Says (what means): "[That] indeed, it [i.e. the Quran] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e. Jibreel]. [Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position]"[Quran 81.19-20]

This means that he (Jibreel) has a high status and important rank before Allah.

The best of the angels are those who were present at the battle of Badr. Rafaa'ah Ibn Raafi'  narrated that Jibreel came to the Prophet  and said: "What do you think of the people of Badr among you (i.e., who were present at Badr)?" He  said, "They are the best of the Muslims" or similar words. Jibreel said: "The same is true regarding the angels who were present at Badr." [Al-Bukhari]