Among the mightiest creations of Allah, Angel Mikail (Mika’il) holds a position of immense honor and responsibility in Islam. Alongside Jibreel (Gabriel), Mikail is one of the four archangels entrusted with managing the affairs of the universe. While Jibreel delivers revelation, Mikail sustains creation. Through rain, provision, and mercy, his role connects the heavens to the Earth.
Understanding Angel Mikail isn’t just about knowing his duties. It’s about reflecting on Allah’s divine system of care, mercy, and balance. From the unseen world, Mikail works tirelessly, without pause, to deliver Allah’s mercy to every living being.
Who Is Angel Mikail?
Mikail (also spelled Mika’il) is one of the four archangels in Islam, alongside Jibreel (Gabriel), Israfil, and Azrael. He is responsible for bringing down rain, sustaining plants, and managing natural elements that provide sustenance.
Muslims believe Mikail helps ensure balance in the physical world. He delivers Allah’s mercy through nature’s blessings. Without Mikail’s role, there would be no rainfall, food growth, or environmental harmony.
Angel Mikail in the Quran
Mikail is directly mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:98):
Whoever is an enemy of Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel, and Michael, then [let them know that] Allah is certainly the enemy of the disbelievers.
مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّۭا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَىٰلَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Quran: 2:98
This verse confirms Mikail’s importance. He stands beside Jibreel, showing his high status among the angels.
Mention in Hadith
There are several authentic hadiths that mention Mikail. In one narration, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would begin his night prayer by saying:
‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported: I asked ‘A’isha, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words: O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, and Michael, and Israfil, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knowest the unseen and the seen; Thou decidest amongst Thy servants concerning their differences. Guide me with Thy permission in the divergent views (which the people) hold about Truth, for it is Thou Who guidest whom Thou wilt to the Straight Path.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، وَأَبُو مَعْنٍ الرَّقَاشِيُّ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْتَتِحُ صَلاَتَهُ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ افْتَتَحَ صَلاَتَهُ “ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ ” .
Sahih Muslim: Book 6, Hadith 239
Another narration in Sahih Muslim (2652) describes the Prophet ﷺ saying: Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
When Allah loves a servant, He calls Gabriel and says: Verily, I so and so; you should also love him, and then Gabriel begins to love him. Then he makes an announcement in the heaven saying: Allah loves so and so and you also love him, and then the inhabitants of the Heaven (the Angels) also begin to love him and then there is conferred honour upon him in the earth; and when Allah is angry with any servant He calls Gabriel and says: I am angry with such and such and you also become angry with him, and then Gabriel also becomes angry and then makes an announcement amongst the inhabitants of heaven: Verily Allah is angry with so-and so, so you also become angry with him, and thus they also become angry with him. Then he becomes the object of wrath on the earth also.
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيلَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبَّهُ – قَالَ – فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي فِي السَّمَاءِ فَيَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ . فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ – قَالَ – ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي الأَرْضِ . وَإِذَا أَبْغَضَ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيلَ فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي أُبْغِضُ فُلاَنًا فَأَبْغِضْهُ – قَالَ – فَيُبْغِضُهُ جِبْرِيلُ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ فُلاَنًا فَأَبْغِضُوهُ – قَالَ – فَيُبْغِضُونَهُ ثُمَّ تُوضَعُ لَهُ الْبَغْضَاءُ فِي الأَرْضِ ” .
Sahih Muslim: Book 45, Hadith 201
This shows how Mikail is among the angels who love and honor righteous believers.
His Role in the Universe
Angel Mikail has no free will. Like all angels, he obeys Allah’s commands perfectly. His job is to distribute sustenance, manage weather, and carry out divine mercy across the Earth.
Many scholars say Mikail also oversees the provision of rizq (sustenance) for all creatures. Through Allah’s will, he ensures that rain falls in the right places at the right time.
He also supports believers and angels during battles or trials when commanded by Allah. Though not directly involved in revelation like Jibreel, his work is equally vital.
Stories and Beliefs
While the Quran and hadith provide limited narrative detail about Mikail, his continuous role in maintaining life is understood. Early Muslim scholars describe him as being deeply concerned with mercy, never laughing after seeing Hellfire.
Conclusion
Angel Mikail in Islam plays a key role in sustaining the world through Allah’s mercy. He is mentioned in both the Quran and hadith. Though unseen, his work impacts our lives daily, from rainfall to food growth. Understanding Mikail helps Muslims appreciate the unseen order of Allah’s creation.
In Islam, angels are honored servants of Allah. They do not act on their own or possess free will. They only carry out what Allah commands them to do. Muslims must not worship, pray to, or seek help from angels. All worship and supplication should be directed to Allah alone, as taught in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Click here to learn about the other Angels
Looking for something else? Explore more Islamic topics here.
Image: Arabic calligraphy by Ahmed Adly, via Unsplash