For example, Gabriel—peace be upon him—the noblest of the angels, is entrusted with revelation. He brings it down from Allah to His messengers and prophets, supervising something from which all creatures and servants benefit. Endowed with great strength, trusted, and obeyed among the angels, he is therefore their most eminent member. Just as Muḥammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is the finest of the messengers, Allah, exalted is He, says: “He was taught by one mighty in power, sound in form; then he rose to his full stature, while he was on the highest horizon” (Al-Najm 53:5-6). That is, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—was taught the Quran by “one mighty in power,” namely Gabriel; “sound in form” means possessed of splendid appearance; and “then he rose” means he was perfected and elevated “while he was on the highest horizon.” Allah also says: “Truly it is the word of a noble messenger—Gabriel—possessed of strength, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne, obeyed there and trustworthy” (Al-Takwīr 81:20-21).

There are other angels charged with different aspects of creation’s welfare. Among them is Michael—peace be upon him—who is responsible for the rainclouds, rain, and vegetation, in which lie the life of bodies: the life of human beings and animals alike. Thus Gabriel is assigned what gives life to hearts—revelation—while Michael is assigned what sustains bodies—rain and plants.

Another is Isrāfīl—peace be upon him—one of the great bearers of the Throne. He is entrusted with blowing the trumpet, an enormous horn whose span reaches from heaven to earth. When Isrāfīl blows into it, people will hear a sound unlike anything they have ever known, a deafening, terrifying blast. They will be seized with panic and then be struck down—that is, they will die from the sheer intensity of the sound—“then it will be blown again…”