Are Angels Also Considered Prophets?

Question:

I read somewhere that angels are considered to be prophets as well. Is this true?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

No, angels are not Prophets. Prophets and Messengers who are tasked with conveying Allah’s message to humanity are necessarily human males, according to the dominant position. [Bajuri, Tuhfat al-Murid]

However, when explaining the nature of Allah’s communication with humanity, the Qur’an says that Allah sends “messengers” to members of humanity and thus reveals what He wills. [Qur’an, 42:51] The usage of the word “messenger” in the verse is a linguistic one, and not a technical one.

This means that Allah sends angels with a message to Prophets (Allah bless them and give them peace) to deliver His message to them. Therefore, the angel is someone who carries a message to the Prophets and Messengers and not a Prophet or Messenger himself. So, referring to him as a messenger is valid in the Arabic language.

I hope that clarifies the matter. May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.