At the Battle of Badr a brigade of angels comes to support the Muslim forces, leading to an important victory. This event is alluded to briefly in the Q. 3:124-125, but is greatly expanded in the Sīra literature, where the angels are described vividly as a cavalry detachment fighting ferociously for Muḥammad’s forces. The imagery of angelic military support is widely understood as a sign or confirmation of God’s support for the community. However, this is not the only use of martial language for angels, with a number of verses alluding to, or being connected with military terminology, such as ṣaffan ṣaffan (“rank upon rank” in Q. 89:22); ṣabiqāt (Q. 79:4), a term used for a vanguard; and even the word “enemy” (ʿaduww) in Q. 2:98 referring to God and the angels Gabriel and Michael is also loaded with military meaning. This paper will begin by setting out use of martial language in the Qurʾān in relation to the divine world and the angelic forces it contains. The paper will then explore the idea of angelic armies in the Bible and post-biblical literature, which includes angelic armies, but also references to angels riding on horseback. For example, in Zechariah (1:7-11), the prophet has a vision of an angel on horseback, whose role is to protect the community. Angelic forces are also found elsewhere in Bible (e.g. 2 Kgs 19:35; Isa 37:36 and 2 Macc 3:24-26); with angelic warriors becoming even more common in later Jewish and Christian literature. They are defenders of persecuted Jews during the Maccabean revolt (3Macc 6:16-19, 4Macc 4:8-11), an angel helps Kenaz in his attack on the Amorites in Pseudo-Philo (27:10-11), 3Enoch describes the heavenly court as an army ready for battle (3En. 18:1, 35:1-5), and in the Testament of Adam the angelic order of dominions is tasked with determining the outcome of wars (TAdam 4:6-7). The association of angels with cavalry detachments is seen particularly strongly in Hekhalot Rabbati (15:8-16:2), with the angelic hosts sharpening their swords and preparing their horses for battle. By comparing the Qurʾānic and biblical/post-biblical texts about angels and war, a deeper understanding of the symbolism of angelic armies in the Qurʾān can be gained. This paper will throw light on how the Qurʾān’s audience understood the role of angels in defending the community and the way in which this is manifested in the Qurʾān, the hadith and the Sīra literature.