Angels in the Qur’ān: some of their roles, representations, and relationship with the jinn
Angels in the Qur’ān: some of their roles, representations, and relationship with the jinn

Summary/Abstract: This paper focuses on the general representation of angels in the Qur’ān, and their relationship to another category of beings in the Islamic worldview, the jinn. A quick review of the works written about angelology in the Islamic world and the presence of jinn as well as an analysis of the Quranic verses will show us that the apparition of Islam was closely linked to the accentuation of the place of angels in the worldview of the believers. This created a shift in the position and role of the jinn, beings subject of popular belief in pre-Islamic Arabia, whereby angels would take on the role of exclusive messengers from the Otherworld, a function which was typical of the jinn in pre-Islamic Arabia. Jinn would remain an important feature of the imaginary within the Islamic world, albeit with a modified role.

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