Angels, too, have their own particular duties of servitude. They are capable of disobedience, though the nature of their disobedience differs from that of human beings. They have no lower appetites and are not moved by the temptations of vice; yet they are tested within the realm of their creation. They, too, have degrees, and the possibility of advancement and spiritual perfection.
The noble verse «لَا يَسبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلقَولِ وَ هُم بِأَمرِهِۦ يَعمَلُونَ» refers to particular classes of angels.
The nature of their disobedience is very different from that of human beings. Its clearest instance appears in the account of Adam, peace be upon him: the angels tried to prevent his creation and, in a sense, responded in opposition to the view and will of the Almighty Lord!
Al-Baqarah 2:30 وَ إِذْ قالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَليفَةً قالُوا أَ تَجْعَلُ فيها مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فيها وَ يَسْفِكُ الدِّماءَ وَ نَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ نُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ ما لا تَعْلَمُونَ
“And [remember] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am placing a vicegerent on earth.’ They said, ‘Our Lord, will You place there someone who will cause corruption and shed blood, while we glorify and praise You and declare Your holiness?’ He said, ‘I know what you do not know.’”
They were even punished for this transgression!
عنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لِمَ صَارَ الطَّوَافُ سَبْعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ قَالَ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَالَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً فَرَدُّوا عَلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ قَالُوا أَ تَجْعَلُ فِيها مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيها وَ يَسْفِكُ الدِّماءَ قَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ ما لا تَعْلَمُونَ وَ كَانَ لَا يَحْجُبُهُمْ عَنْ نُورِهِ فَحَجَبَهُمْ عَنْ نُورِهِ سَبْعَةَ آلَافِ عَامٍ فَلَاذُوا بِالْعَرْشِ سَبْعَةَ آلَافِ سَنَةٍ فَرَحِمَهُمْ وَ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ جَعَلَ لَهُمُ الْبَيْتَ الْمَعْمُورَ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ الرَّابِعَةِ وَ جَعَلَهُ مَثَابَةً وَ وَضَعَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ تَحْتَ الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ فَجَعَلَهُ مَثابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَ أَمْناً فَصَارَ الطَّوَافُ سَبْعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ وَاجِباً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ لِكُلِّ أَلْفِ سَنَةٍ شَوْطاً وَاحِدا
ʿIlal al-sharāʾiʿ, vol. 2, p. 406
Abu Hamza al-Thumali relates from Imam ʿAli ibn al-Husayn, peace be upon them:
I said to the Imam, peace be upon him, “Why are there seven circuits of the circumambulation?”
The Imam, peace be upon him, replied: “Because God, Blessed and Exalted, said to the angels, ‘I am appointing a vicegerent and successor for Myself on earth.’
“The angels said to God, ‘Will You place there someone who will cause corruption and shed blood?’
“God, Exalted is He, said, ‘I know what you do not know.’
“Before this, God, Blessed and Exalted, had not deprived or barred the angels from His light. But after they made this objection, He veiled them from it and barred them. This ban lasted seven thousand years. The angels took refuge at the Throne and circumambulated it for seven thousand years. God showed them mercy and accepted their repentance. He then appointed the Frequented House in the fourth heaven for them, and made the Sacred House beneath it a sanctuary and place of worship for humankind. For this reason, His servants were commanded to circumambulate it seven times, one circuit for every thousand years.”
Al-Riḍā, peace be upon him—... فَنَدِمُوا فَلَاذُوا بِالْعَرْشِ وَ اسْتَغْفَرُوا. ...
ʿIlal al-sharāʾiʿ, vol. 2, p. 406
Imam al-Riḍā, peace be upon him: The angels regretted what they had done, took refuge at the Throne, and sought forgiveness.
Al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him— عَلِمُوا اَنَّهُم تَجَاوَزُوا مَا لَهُمْ فَلَاذُوا بِالعَرشِ اسْتِغْفَاراً.
Tafsīr Nūr al-thaqalayn, vol. 1, p. 54
Imam al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him: The angels realized that they had overstepped their bounds, so they took refuge at the Divine Throne to seek forgiveness.