The AngelsNamed in the Quran

The Angel of Death

مَلَك الْمَوْت

The angel put in charge of taking souls. The Quran calls him the Angel of Death; the popular name 'Azra'il' does not appear in the Quran, nor in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Jami' at-Tirmidhi or Sunan Abi Dawud.

QuranSee it in the Atlas
Also known as
Azra'il, Azrael, Malak al-Mawt

Role and accounts

The Angel of Death is put in charge of taking the souls of people, after which they return to their Lord (32:11). He has helpers among the angels, who take souls and never fall short (6:61).

The Quran and the authentic hadith call him only "the Angel of Death". islamweb's fatwa states that the name "Azra'il" is not established in the Quran or the Sunnah and comes from Israelite reports. A narration that uses that name is listed among the forged hadith.

Evidence

QuranAs-Sajda (The Prostration)Quran 32:11

۞ قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ ١١

Say, "The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

11. Say: "The angel of death, who is set over you, will take your souls. Then you shall be brought to your Lord."

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QuranAl-An'aam (The Cattle)Quran 6:61

وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ ٦١

And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers [i.e., angels of death] take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

61. He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you,[6] until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.

[6] (V.6:61): a) Whoever intended to do a good deed or a bad deed. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbâs رضي الله عنهما: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم narrating about his Lord عز وجل said, "Allâh ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allâh will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allâh will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times, to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allâh will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allâh will write one bad deed (in his account)." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.8, Hadîth No.498). b) Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Angels come (to you) in succession by night and day, and all of them get together at the time of Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you overnight, ascend unto Allâh Who asks them (and He knows the answer better than they): "How have you left My slaves?" They reply, "We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم added: "If anyone of you says Amîn (during the prayer at the end of the recitation of Sûrat Al-Fâtihah), and the angels in heaven say the same, and the two sayings coincide, all his past sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.4, Hadîth No. 446)

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