In Islam, Who Is the Angel of Death?
The Angel of Death in Islam is Malak al-Mawt, and he takes souls at death. Many assume his name is Azrail; however, the Quran and authentic sunnah do not confirm this. In fact, no reliable Islamic source explicitly names him. Instead, reports mentioning Azrail likely come from Jewish traditions (Israiliyyat). Therefore, we cannot say with certainty that his name is Azrail. We should follow Allah’s words and call him “the Angel of Death.”
Say, O Prophet, “Your soul will be taken by the Angel of Death, who is in charge of you. Then to your Lord you will ˹all˺ be returned.”
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Quran 32:11
Ultimately, only Allah truly knows his name; therefore, we should avoid claiming anything Allah hasn’t confirmed. This verse clearly shows that Allah gives him authority directly. Moreover, Allah commands him to separate the soul from the body when a person’s time ends.
The Angel of Deaths Important Role
Malak al-Mawt acts under Allah’s orders, carrying out one of the most crucial tasks. Without him, the natural order cannot continue. The Angel of Death never refuses; he always obeys Allah’s command immediately. No soul departs before its appointed time. Furthermore, the moment of death marks a significant, deeply spiritual transition in Islam. It begins the soul’s departure from the body, and this process varies based on the individual’s faith and actions.
Al-Bara ibn Azib reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, when the believer is ready to depart the world and is facing the Hereafter, angels from heaven descend with bright faces, as if their faces were the sun, with them are the shrouds and perfumes of Paradise, until they sit from him a distance as far as the eye can see. Then, the angel of death, upon him be peace, comes until he sits by his head and he says: O pure soul, come out to the forgiveness of Allah and His pleasure! He takes it out like a drop from a water-skin and holds it, never to leave his hand for the blink of an eye until he places it in that shroud and perfume. The scent coming from it is more pleasant than any musk you would find on the face of the earth.
He ascends and passes by no gathering of angels but that they say: What a pure spirit! They say he is this person, son of this person, calling him by the best names by which he was known in the world, until he stops at the lowest heaven and seeks entry and it will be opened for him. The company of each heaven bring him closer to the heaven following it until he stops at the seventh heaven. Allah Almighty will say: Write the record of My servant in the righteous register and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I return them, and from it I will take them out once again. His spirit will be returned to his body and two angels will come to sit by him, saying to him: Who is your Lord? He will say: My Lord is Allah. They will say: What is your religion? He will say: My religion is Islam. They will say: Who is this man sent you? He will say: He is the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. They will say: How did you know? He will say: I read the Book of Allah, had faith in it, and believed in it.
A heavenly announcement will be made: My servant has spoken the truth! Spread out carpets for him in Paradise, clothe him for Paradise, and open a gate for him to Paradise! Its comforts and fragrances will come to him and his grave will become spacious as far as his eye can see. A handsome man, with fine clothes and wonderful fragrance, will come and say: Glad tidings of what pleases you, for this was your Day you were promised! He will say: Who are you with such a handsome face? He will say: I am your righteous deeds! He will say: O Lord, begin the Hour that I may return to my family and property!”
Musnad Ahmad: Hadith 18534
This hadith provides great comfort to believers, assuring them that their final moment will be peaceful and honored if they lived righteously. In contrast, for the disbeliever or wrongdoer, the process takes a much harsher form.
The Prophet continued, “Verily, when the unbeliever is ready to depart the world and is facing the Hereafter, angels descend from heaven with darkened faces and with them sack-cloth. They will sit away from his as far as the eye can see. Then, the angel of death approaches until he sits by his head and he says: O filthy soul, come out to the displeasure of Allah and His wrath! He will be separated from his body like the tearing of skewers from wet wool and he holds it in his hand, never to leave it for the blink of an eye, until he places it in this sack-cloth. The scent coming from it is like the most foul corpse found upon the face of the earth. They will ascend with him and not pass by a gathering of angels but that they say: What a filthy spirit! They say he is this person, son of this person, calling him by the ugliest names by which he was known in the world, until he stops at the lowest heaven.
They will request it to be opened for him but it will not open.” Then, the Prophet recited the verse, “The gates of heaven will never open for them, nor will they enter Paradise, until the camel goes through the eye of the needle,” (7:40). The Prophet said, “Allah Almighty will say: Write his record in the wicked register in the lowest earth. His spirit will be thrown down,” then the Prophet recited the verse, “It is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place,” (22:31).
The Prophet said, “His spirit will return to his body and two angels will come to sit by him, saying to him: Who is your Lord? He will say: Uh, uh, I do not know! They will say: What is your religion? He will say: Uh, uh, I do not know! They will say: Who is this man sent to you? He will say: Uh, uh, I do not know! A heavenly announcement will be made: He has lied! Spread carpets for him in Hellfire and open a gate for him to Hellfire! Its heat and its flames will approach him, and he will be squeezed in his grave until his ribs press together. An ugly man, with hideous clothing and a foul stench, will approach him and say: Glad tidings of what despairs you, for this is your Day you were promised! He will say: Who are with your evil face? He will say: I am your wicked deeds! He will say: O Lord, do not begin the Hour!”
(Musnad Ahmad: Hadith 18534
This contrast shows that while the Angel of Death carries out the soul’s extraction, the process does not happen arbitrarily—it reflects the person’s life and deeds. Ultimately, though, only Allah controls the entire process of death and what follows. As Allah says:
It is Allah ˹Who˺ calls back the souls ˹of people˺ upon their death as well as ˹the souls˺ of the living during their sleep. Then He keeps those for whom He has ordained death, and releases the others until ˹their˺ appointed time. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.
ٱللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَٱلَّتِى لَمْ تَمُتْ فِى مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ ٱلَّتِى قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Quran 39:42
This reminds us that although angels play a role, the command belongs to Allah alone. Death, though inevitable, is not the end; rather, Islam teaches that it is a passage to the Hereafter. Therefore, the Angel of Death’s role fits within Allah’s perfect and deliberate plan.
Conclusion
So, to answer the question: Who is the Angel of Death in Islam? The answer is Malak al-Mawt, a powerful servant of Allah. He takes souls exactly when Allah commands him. Understanding his role helps believers accept death with peace and prepare for the Hereafter.
