Title: Further Queries On Belief In The Unseen Question/Comments: In your response you write "It is correct that Islam requires us to believe in an 'unseen' God and the, yet inexperienced, Day of Judgment. However, it would not be correct that Islam wants us to ascribe to these beliefs without any bases. On the contrary, the Qur'an provides detailed arguments for ascribing to these beliefs." My questions are: 1. Does Islam require us to believe in angels? 2. If yes, what is the basis of this belief? Do they also fall into the category of "unseen" like atoms and force of gravity? Wassalam Aasem Pakistan Answer: Islam certainly requires us to believe in angels. This belief is not based on independent logical proof rather it is an extension of belief in God. Our belief in existence of an All-powerful God entails that we believe in what He has informed us of His other creations, angels being one of these creations. The Almighty has informed us that the angels are absolutely honest and perfectly obedient creatures. He has also told us that He entrusts some important responsibilities upon them, which they do not fail to carry out. We know from the Holy Qur'an that the most important of the tasks they have performed in the past is communicating Wahi to His selected prophets on earth. We are required only to believe in the existence of angels and their attributes of being truthful and obedient servants of God. However, we are not supplied with any information on their physical properties. Therefore, we do not need to form a belief regarding their corporal existence. We do not believe in the angels on the same basis as we believe in the Almighty. We have recognized Him through many observable facts within and outside our self. As regards the matter of angels, we have come to know about their existence through the divine revelation meant for our guidance. Therefore, the basis of our belief in them is totally different from our belief in God, which as you have stated is somewhat similar to our "belief" in the existence of the force of gravity. I hope this helps Tariq Mahmood Hashmi April 28, 2003