Islamic theology also recognizes angels (mala'ika) as obedient servants of Allah, created from light, who carry out divine will without free will.

A. Angelic Functions

Key angels include Jibril (Gabriel), the communicator of revelation; Mikail (Michael), responsible for provision; and Israfil, the herald of Judgment Day.

B. Jinn and Shayatin

Islam introduces jinn, beings created from smokeless fire, capable of good or evil. The devil figure, Iblis or Shaytan, is a jinn who refused to bow to Adam and was cast out, becoming the tempter.

 Medieval and Renaissance Transformations

The Middle Ages saw angels and demons enter popular culture through art, literature, and folklore.

A. Artistic Depictions

Medieval art portrayed angels with wings, halos, and ethereal beauty. Demons were grotesque, monstrous, and terrifying.

B. Demonology and Witch Hunts

The fear of demons influenced the witch trials and inquisitions. Manuals like the Malleus Maleficarum codified beliefs about demons and their influence on witches.

C. Angels in Literature and Music

Angels appeared in Dante’s Divine Comedy and Milton’s Paradise Lost, where cosmic battles between good and evil are dramatized. shutdown123