The nature and importance of angels (Malaikah) and of al-Qadr (predestination), and how predestination relates to human freedom and the Day of Judgement.

What this dot point is asking

Edexcel wants you to explain the nature and importance of angels (Malaikah) for Muslims, how named angels are shown in the Qur'an, and the nature and importance of al-Qadr (predestination), including how al-Qadr and human freedom relate to the Day of Judgement, and the divergent Sunni and Shi'a understandings. Both are among the Six Beliefs.

Angels (Malaikah)

Belief in angels is one of the Six Beliefs of Islam. Angels are part of the unseen world that Allah has created.

The Qur'an names and describes several angels. Jibril (Gabriel) is the angel of revelation, who delivered the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad and brought messages to earlier prophets (Surah 2:97 to 98). Izra'il is the angel of death, who takes the soul at the appointed time (Surah 32:11). Mika'il (Michael) is the angel of provision and mercy, associated with sustenance such as rain and food. Other angels include the recording angels who write down each person's good and bad deeds, and Munkar and Nakir, who question the dead in the grave. Belief in angels matters because it explains how Allah's revelation reached the prophets and reminds Muslims that they are watched and accountable.

al-Qadr: predestination

al-Qadr expresses trust in Allah's complete power and knowledge: Allah is never taken by surprise, and the universe runs according to his will. Muslims find comfort in this, accepting hardship as part of Allah's plan and trusting that he knows best. The belief is supported in the Hadith (for example Sahih al-Bukhari) and throughout the Qur'an, which teaches that Allah's knowledge encompasses all things. However, al-Qadr raises a question: if Allah has decreed everything, are humans free and responsible? This is a key Evaluate issue.

Predestination, free will and the Day of Judgement

Muslims hold al-Qadr together with human free will and accountability. The usual teaching is that Allah's knowledge and decree do not remove human freedom: people genuinely choose their actions and are responsible for them, even though Allah knows what they will choose. The Qur'an constantly commands people to choose good and avoid evil, and the Day of Judgement (Akhirah) holds each person accountable for their deeds, which only makes sense if people are free. So Muslims say Allah knows and permits all that happens, but humans still make real choices and will answer for them.

Sunni and Shi'a Muslims understand this slightly differently. Many Sunni Muslims emphasise Allah's all-encompassing decree while still affirming responsibility. Shi'a Islam stresses Allah's justice (Adl), arguing that because Allah is perfectly just, he would never punish people for actions they were forced to do, so human free will must be real. For the exam, be able to define al-Qadr, explain how it fits with free will and judgement, note the Sunni and Shi'a emphasis, and link it to the nature of Allah (all knowing, all powerful, just) and to Akhirah. A strong Evaluate answer weighs whether Allah's decree removes human responsibility, concluding that for most Muslims it does not, because people are still free and accountable.