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Throughout history, people in many cultures and religions have spoken about angels—beings of light, guidance, and protection.
Are there angels? But what are angels, really? Are they invisible beings surrounding us, or could their meaning be something deeper?
In the Bahá’í perspective, angels are not understood as winged supernatural creatures; this imagery is actually symbolic. Rather, the term “angel” describes souls who have become radiant with spiritual qualities—reflecting the light of love, purity, wisdom, virtue, and devotion to God. “For God is love.”
This understanding transforms the idea of angels from something distant and mysterious into something closer and more hopeful.
It suggests that every human being has the capacity to grow spiritually and reflect divine attributes.
Angels in the next world are understood in the Bahá’í writings as pure souls in the spiritual world who assist humanity. These spiritual forces are not distant observers but are always ready to offer assistance and encouragement to those who sincerely ask for help.
“The hosts of the Concourse on high stand ready and waiting to assist ” Baha'i
In this sense, the spiritual world is not far away. Its assistance comes as strength, clarity, courage, inspiration, or intercession when a person turns their heart toward higher purposes.
In spiritual writings and art, wings and halos are symbolic, as shown above, pointing to inner qualities rather than physical features and representing the beauty of the soul.
Wings - represent spiritual elevation or freedom. When a soul has risen above the ego, selfishness, or material attachments and turned toward truth, love, and service, it is sometimes described symbolically as “taking flight.”
A halo - represents light—the presence of divine attributes such as purity, wisdom, compassion, devotion, and nearness to its Creator.
In a spiritual sense, both wings and halo are symbolic
in this world and the next.
In a spiritual sense, both wings and halo are symbolic
in this world and the next.
So rather than meaning literal wings or a glowing circle, these symbols can point to something deeper: The wings represent the soul rising toward higher qualities, the halo represents the shining light of love, wisdom and virtues.
Bahá’í writings explain that every human soul has been created with the capacity to reflect divine qualities such as love, justice, compassion, humility, and truthfulness. Our purpose in life is to develop these qualities and allow them to shine in our actions. Consciously developing these spiritual qualities in this life for the next. These qualities are not temporary traits; they become lasting capacities of the soul, strengthening the soul here for its eternal journey.
“O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee.... Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.” Baha'i
Paintings of winged angels struggling against an unwinged figure can be understood as symbolic representations of the inner struggle within every human being, the struggle between our higher spiritual nature and our lower self. Meaning the human ego, selfish desires, and animalistic nature that focus on physical gratification, pride, and survival.
It is the base nature that must be consciously overcome through spiritual discipline, selfless service, and detachment to allow our higher, more powerful, supernatural divine nature to grow.
In this sense, the imagery reminds us that the path of spiritual growth is not effortless; it requires conscious choices to rise toward the qualities that reflect the light of the soul.
The ages of youth and young adults are when many first become aware of this inner struggle—and discover the strength to let their higher nature lead. This struggle is not a weakness—it is the beginning of discovering their true spiritual power, and the light of their soul begins to shine more clearly.
This inner struggle becomes the moment where character, purpose, and true strength begin to take shape.
Angels, then, may not also be beings in another realm. There are people in this world whose lives shine with compassion, wisdom, humility, and service to humanity, and are called angels.
In this world and the next, there are powerful angels, and perhaps the deeper question is;
not only “Are there angels?”
but also:
What would it mean to become one?
"Cleanse your spirits, so that ye may attain to this great success. Then ye will become the angels of heaven, will enter among the Supreme Concourse and will permanently abide in the paradise of union" Baha'i
Every generation of youth and young adults helps shape the course of society through the ideas they explore, the values they choose, the conversations they awaken, and the actions they take. The future is not something distant—it is being formed, moment by moment, through what we choose to do today.
"O God, guide me, protect me, illumine the lamp of my heart and make of me
a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and Powerful." Baha'i Prayer
This is a very beautiful and deeply meaningful Bahá’í prayer—it’s short, but each phrase carries a lot of depth. This prayer isn’t just asking for help… it’s asking for transformation.
Guide my life, protect my path, awaken my inner light, and help me become someone who shines in the world.
Guide me → when I don’t know which way to go
Protect me → from what pulls me away from who I’m meant to be
Illumine my heart → so I can see clearly, love deeply, and act with purpose
Make me a brilliant star → someone who brings the light of love and wisdom into the world
Not perfect.
Not famous.
Just… radiant in the way you live.
The world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs more light.
And maybe that light… is meant to be you?
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