Angels' Duties

Registering the fetus' future :

  Abu Dthar, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
          I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention,saying : Allah, the Exalted, sends an angel to enter the a woman's womb 120days after an ovum is lodged in it to fashion it. He creates its hearing, sight, skin, flesh and bones. Then the angel says, 'O my Rubb! Male or Female?' Allah then dictates the angel to write down whatever He wills.' ( Sahih Muslim )
          In another version, the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said: "Allah sends an angel to breathe the life into the fetus, and dictates him four decrees: the fetus' provision, life term, accomplishments and fate; as to whether he is going to be miserable or prosperous." All of which are recorded during the fetal stage.

Guarding Man :

  Allah says: There are angels that protect man from behind and in front of him from the accidents by the leave of Allah.( Qur'an - 13:11)
  Ibn Abbas, the Interpreter of the Qur'an, explained this ayah saying that the angels referred to in this ayah are those appointed by Allah to guard man and protect from accidents that he may encounter.
  However, when an accident, which Allah has foreordained to befall man, the angelic guards abandon him at that point so that the accident takes place.(Ibn Katheer, Tafseer al-Qur'an al-Adtheem.Surat ar-Ra'd)

Delivering Divine Revelation : 

  Allah says in the Qur'an that Jibreel is the angelic Messenger between Allah and His human Messengers. Allah describes Jibreel as 'Trustworthy Spirit'. There are other angels through whom He communicates with His Messengers and other humans. 

Assisting Believers :

  There are also angels whom Allah sends down to fight along with the believers in battles against the infidels. Others are assigned to enjoin people to do good deeds, as there are devils to entice them to do evil deeds.

Recording Man's Deeds : 

  There are angels who record man's deeds, actions, and utterances. Allah says:
Whatever man utters the two recording angels, one on his tight side and the other on his left side, record it.(Qur'an- 50:17,18)  
  The angels on man's right side writes down his good deeds, while the one on his left side writes down his evil deeds.

Testing Man : 

  There are, yet angels who are sent down to earth to test people, by giving then good things to see how grateful to Allah they would be, or by teaching then evil things such as the two angels, Haroot and Maroot who tested people by teaching them sorcery. Allah says: And they did not teach a person before warning him, 'We teach sorcery as a test, therefore, do not disbelieve by learning it.'( Qur'an- 2:102)