Introduction
Angels are believed to be heavenly messengers created from “Nur” light, and known for of their purity and obedience to Allah (swt). They have many roles mentioned in Quran as faithful servants of Allah carrying out His commands.
As Unseen beings, angels have no specific shape and could take any form. No one has seen the angels in their true form apart from Prophet Muhammad (saw) saw Jibreel in the appearance in which Allah created him. However, their physical characteristics are explained in many Qur'anic versesandtheir features are emphasized in hadiths.
Evidences
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُوْلِيٓ أَجۡنِحَةٖ مَّثۡنَىٰ وَثُلَٰثَ وَرُبَٰعَۚ يَزِيدُ فِي ٱلۡخَلۡقِ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ سورة فاطر: 1
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. (Qur’an 35:1)
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "خلقت الملائكة من نور، وخلق الجان من مارج من نار، وخلق آدم مما وصف لكم" (رواه مسلم)
Aishah (ra) reported: The Prophet (saw) said, "Angels were created from light, jinns were created from a smokeless flame of fire, and Adam was created from that which you have been told (i.e., sounding clay like the clay of pottery)." [Muslim]
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ { مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى} قَالَ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ رواه مسلم
Al-Shaibani narrated on the authority of Zirr who narrated it on this authority of Abdullah that the (words of Allah): " The heart belied not what he saw" imply he saw Gabriel (peace be upon him) and he had six hundred wings.
Conclusion
It is believed that angels have wings, yet their exact form and function can’t be realised or speculated by humans. Our knowledge is very limited to what was narrated in the attributes of angels in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith. Hence, we cannot indulge in trying to say more about this matter, because there is nothing in either the Qur’an, or Hadith of Prophet Muhammad that indicate the role of wings in angels. It is possible wings may assist them in movement as well as be used in destruction of nations.
References
Stephen Burge, Angels in Islam: Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's al-Haba'ik fi akhbar al-mala'ik
Great answers start with great insights. Content becomes intriguing when it is voted up or down - ensuring the best answers are always at the top.
Questions are answered by people with a deep interest in the subject. People from around the world review questions, post answers and add comments.
Be part of and influence the most important global discussion that is defining our generation and generations to come