What do Muslims believe about angels and predestination?
Malaikah (angels) and their roles, including Jibril and Mika'il, and al-Qadr (predestination) and human freedom and accountability.
A focused answer on angels and predestination in Islam for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Malaikah, Jibril, Mika'il and al-Qadr.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain Muslim beliefs about angels (Malaikah) and their roles, and about al-Qadr (predestination) and how it fits with human freedom and accountability. The hard part for the exam is showing how Muslims reconcile Allah's control of all things with human responsibility.
Angels (Malaikah)
Angels are completely obedient and cannot sin, which distinguishes them from humans and from jinn (beings made from fire who do have free will, such as Iblis, the devil). For Muslims, belief in angels supports other beliefs: angels bring the holy books, record the deeds judged on the Last Day, and carry out Allah's will throughout creation.
Predestination (al-Qadr)
Al-Qadr is the belief that Allah, being omniscient and omnipotent, knows and has decreed everything that will happen; nothing occurs outside his knowledge and will. The challenge is how this fits with human responsibility. Sunni Muslims hold that, although Allah determines all things and has written them in a "preserved tablet", humans still make real choices and are accountable for them on the Day of Judgement; Allah's foreknowledge does not force the choice. Shia Muslims, with their emphasis on Adl (divine justice), stress human free will even more strongly, arguing that a perfectly just God could only judge people for what they freely chose. Either way, the practical conclusion is the same: Muslims must strive to obey Allah and do good, because they will answer for their actions.
A helpful way to hold these together in the exam is to compare al-Qadr with a teacher who knows in advance how a pupil will choose to behave: the teacher's foreknowledge does not force the pupil's choice, so the pupil is still responsible. Muslims apply the same reasoning to Allah, who is omniscient and so knows every choice, yet leaves the choosing to the person. This is why the recording angels and the Day of Judgement make sense: there would be no point recording deeds or judging people if their actions were not genuinely their own. So belief in angels and belief in predestination, two of the six articles of faith, work together rather than against each other, both pointing toward a final reckoning in which a just and merciful Allah holds people accountable for the lives they freely lived.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20172 marksName the angel who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad.Show worked answer →
A 2-mark AO1 question. Jibril (Gabriel) revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad. One mark for Jibril, the second can be gained by adding his role (the angel of revelation who brought Allah's words to the Prophet). Do not confuse him with Mika'il (provision and rain) or Izra'il (death).
AQA 20194 marksExplain two roles that angels (Malaikah) have in Islam. Refer to scripture or another source of Islamic belief in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark AO1 question. Role one: Jibril delivers Allah's revelation to the prophets, bringing the Qur'an to Muhammad over 23 years. Role two: recording angels write down each person's good and bad deeds, which are read out on the Day of Judgement, "two recording angels, one sitting on the right, one on the left" (Qur'an 50:17). Markers reward two distinct, developed roles plus a source. Naming Mika'il (provision) or Izra'il (death) is also creditable.
AQA 202212 marks"Belief in al-Qadr removes human responsibility." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to Islamic teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The AO2 evaluation, 5 bands plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for: if Allah has decreed everything in advance (al-Qadr), it seems people cannot be blamed for what they were destined to do. Arguments against: Sunni and especially Shia Muslims teach that humans still make real choices and are accountable on the Day of Judgement, so recording angels note their deeds and a just Allah only judges free actions; the Qur'an repeatedly calls people to choose good. Use terms (al-Qadr, accountability, Adl, Day of Judgement). Reach a justified conclusion explaining how Muslims hold divine decree and human responsibility together.
Related dot points
- The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and the five roots of religion (Usul ad-Din) in Shia Islam, and the place of Tawhid as the central belief.
A focused answer on the foundations of Islamic belief for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and the five roots in Shia Islam.
- The nature of Allah including Tawhid, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, fairness and justice (Adalat in Shia Islam), and immanence and transcendence.
A focused answer on the Muslim understanding of Allah for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Tawhid, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, justice, immanence and transcendence.
- Risalah (prophethood), the roles of Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammad, and the holy books including the Qur'an, Tawrat, Zabur, Injil and the scrolls of Ibrahim.
A focused answer on prophethood and revelation for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Risalah, key prophets and the holy books including the Qur'an.
- Akhirah (life after death), the Day of Judgement, resurrection, the importance of human responsibility and accountability, and Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).
A focused answer on the Muslim afterlife for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Akhirah, the Day of Judgement, resurrection, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)