| עֲזַרְאֵל عزرائيل | |
|---|---|
_-_Jean_Delville.jpg) According to Brendan Cole, this painting of Azrael is linked to a 1892 poem by Delville called "Azraël" (published in his bookLes Horizons Hantés) | |
| Angel of Death | |
| Associated religions | Islam |
| Attributes | Archangel;psychopomp; wings; cloak. |
| Associations | Jibrāʾīl,Mīkāʾīl, andIsrāfīl (in Islam) |
| Alternate spellings |
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| Appearance in text | |
Azrael (/ˈæzri.əl,-reɪ-/;Hebrew:עֲזַרְאֵל,romanized: ʿǍzarʾēl, 'God has helped';[1]Arabic:عزرائيل,romanized: ʿAzrāʾīlor ʿIzrāʾīl) is thecanonicalangel of death inIslam[2] and appears centuries earlier in theapocryphal textApocalypse of Peter.[3]
Relative to similar concepts of such beings, Azrael holds a benevolent role asGod's angel of death; he acts as apsychopomp, responsible for transporting the souls of the deceased after their death.[4] In Islam, he is said to hold a scroll concerning the fate of mortals, recording and erasing their names at their birth and death, similar to the role of themalakh ha-mavet (Angel of Death) inJudaism.[5][6]: 234
Depending on the perspective and precepts of the various religions in which he is a figure, he may also be portrayed as a resident of theThird Heaven, adivision of heaven in Judaism and Islam.[7] In Islam, he is one of the fourarchangels, and is identified with theQuranicMalak al-Mawt (ملك الموت,'angel of death'), which corresponds with the Hebrew termMalʾakh ha-Maweth (מלאך המוות) inRabbinic literature. In Hebrew, Azrael translates to "Angel of God" or "Help from God".[7]
TheHebrew Bible does not mention an angel by the name Azrael, nor does it appear in therabbinic literature of theTalmud orMidrashim. No such angel is treated as canonical in traditionalRabbinic Judaism. However, an angel by a similar name,Azriel (עזריאל), is mentioned in Kabbalistic literature such as theZohar.
Despite the absence of such a figure in Judaism, the nameAzrael is suggestive of a Hebrewtheophoricעזראל, meaning "the one whom God helps".Archeological evidence uncovered in Jewish settlements inMesopotamia confirms that it was indeed at one time used on anincantation bowl from the7th century.[8][9] However, as the text thereon only lists names, an association of this angelic name with death cannot be identified in Judaism.[10]
After the emergence of Islam, the name Azrael became popular among both Christian and Islamic literature andfolklore.[citation needed] The name spelled asEzrā’ël appears in theClassical Ethiopic version ofApocalypse of Peter (dating to the 16th century) as an angel of hell who avenges those who had been wronged during life.[11]
Before the creation of man, only Azrael succeeded in taking dust from Earth in order to bring God the materials needed to make man. For this success he was made the angel of death and given a register of all mankind.[12]Along withGabriel,Michael, andIsrafil, Azrael is one of the four majorarchangels in Islam.[13] He is responsible for taking the souls of the deceased away from the body.[14][15] Azrael does not act independently, but is only informed byGod when the time is up to take a soul.[16]
Surah 32:11 mentions the angel of death identified with Azrael.[17] Surah6:61 mentions a multitude of angels of death interpreted as assistants of Azrael.[18] When the unbelievers inhell cry out for help, an angel, also identified with Azrael, will appear on the horizon and tell them that they have to remain.[19]
The eighth Umayyad CaliphUmar ibn Abd al-Aziz once reported the commentary regarding Azrael in Quran chapterAs-Sajdah verse 11Quran 32:11, that taking many lives are very easy for the angel, that in caliph's words "it is as if the entire mankind of earth were only like a dish on a plate from the perspective ofMalak al-Mawt (angel of death)".[20]
According to one Muslim tradition, 40 days before the death of a person approaches, God drops a leaf from a tree below the heavenly throne, on which Azrael reads the name of the person he must take with him.[15]Al-Qurtubi narrated commentary from classical scholar, Ibn Zhafar al-Wa'izh, that Azrael, has a shape resembling a blue colored ram, has numerous eyes in numerous places, and according toIkrimah Mawlâ Ibn 'Abbâs [id;ar], atabiʾ scholar,[Notes 1] the size of Azrael were so huge that "if the Earth were put on his shoulder, it would be like a bean in an open field".[20] He also had 4,000 wings which consisted of two types, wings of grace and wings of punishment.[20] The wings of punishment are made from iron rods, hooks, and scissors.[20]Muqatil ibn Sulayman has recorded his commentary in his commentary work,al-Suluk, the angel possessed 70,000 limbs of foot.[21][Notes 2]
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, anUmayyad caliph, reported a narration that the angel of death is armed with a flaming whip.[20] Caliph Umar also reported a narration that the angel of death was so huge that he dwarfedBearers of the Throne, group of angels which are known as the biggest among angels.[20]
The "Islamic Book of Dead" describes him with 4 faces, and his whole body consists of eyes and tongues whose number corresponds to the number of humans inhabiting the Earth.[5][7][32]: 33–34
The angel of death features in a famous extra-Quranic creation story regarding the creation of Adam, recorded by various Muslim scholars, including Tabari, Mas'udi, Maqdisi, Kisa'i, Tha'labi, Ibn Kathir in his workQiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā (Stories of the Prophets), and Muqatil.[33] Accordingly, God ordered the archangels to collect dust from earth from which Adam is supposed to be created. Only Azrael succeeded, whereupon he was destined to become the angel concerning life and death, a reference to show the close connection between these two.[34]
Islam elaborated further narratives concerning the relation between Azrael and Death. Christian Lange mentioned that according to some scholars Azrael and Death were one entity; other exegesis scholars opined Azrael and Death were different entities, with Death as some kind of tool used by Azrael to take life.[35]: 129
One account explains death and its relation to Azrael, representingDeath and Azrael as former two separate entities, but when God created Death, God ordered the angels to look upon it and they swoon for a thousand years. After the angels regained consciousness, Death recognized that it must submit to Azrael.[36] This opinion were shared among scholars of Islam such as Sultan ibn ‘Abdirrahman Al-‘Umairi, in his bookAl-‘Uquud Adz-Dzahabiyyah ‘alaa Maqaasid Al-‘Aqiidah Al-Waasithiyyah where he adds commentary the Hadith about Death will be materialized after the judgment day in form of a Ram, which said as different entity than Angel Azrael.[37] According to one narration, Azrael is rewarded to become the angel of death for successfully carrying the dirt of the earth from which Adam would be created.[38]
The identification of "Death" and angel Azrael as one entity were explained in a Hadith about the fate of "Death" entity itself after the judgment day, where classical Hanafite scholarBadr al-Din al-Ayni has interpreted in that Hadith which compiled inSahih Bukhari collection, that Death would take on the form of a ram, then placed between paradise and hell, and finally slaughtered by God himself, causing Death cease to exist, which followed by God to declare to both people of paradise and hell that eternity has begun, and their state will never end.[39] Lange mentioned that according to some scholars, the ram in that Hadith narration is no other than the angel of death himself, while others assert, this to be death's own form in the hereafter.[35] In other account sourced fromMuqatil ibn Sulayman, Azrael and death were said as one entity as he reported the angel has number of faces and hands equal to the number of living creatures on his body, where each of those faces and hands are connected with the life of each souls in the living world.[21] Whenever a face within Azrael body vanished, then the soul which connected with it will experience death.[21]
A common belief holds that the lesser angels of death are for the common people, while saints and prophets meet the archangel of death himself.[18] Great prophets, such asMoses andMuhammad are invited politely by him, but saints are also said to meet Azrael in beautiful forms.
It is said that, whenRumi was about to die, he laid in his bed and met Azrael in human shape.[40] The belief that Azrael appears to saints before they actually die to prepare themselves for death, is also attested by the testament ofNasir Khusraw, in which he claims to have met Azrael during his sleep, informing him about his upcoming death.[41] According to theSufi teacherAl-Jili, Azrael appears to the soul in a form provided by its most powerful metaphors.
It is believed to resist the pulling of the soul by the angel of death by accusing him of acting arbitrarily. In that case, the angel of death returns to heaven to bring proof for following heavenly instructions.[38]
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The Islamic notion of Azrael, including some narratives such as the tale ofSolomon (ahadith reaching back toShahr Ibn Hawshab,)[42] was already known in the United States in the 18th century - as attested by Gregory Sharpe andJames Harris.[42]
Some Western adaptations extended the physical description of Azrael, hence the English poetLeigh Hunt depicted Azrael in 1850 as wearing a black-hooded cloak.[43]Although omitting the traditionalscythe, Hunt's portrayal nevertheless resembles theGrim Reaper.[42]Henry Wadsworth Longfellow mentions Azrael in "The Reaper and the Flowers" as an angel of death, but he is not equated withSamael, the angel of death in Jewish lore who appears as afallen and malevolent angel, instead.[44] Azrael also appears inG. K. Chesterton's poem "Lepanto" (published in 1915) as one of the Islamic spirits commanded by "Mahound" (Muhammad) to resistDon John of Austria's crusade. InThe Smurfs, the cat of the evil wizardGargamel is called Azrael. InStephen King's novel, as well as the movie adaptation ofDoctor Sleep, the cat that lives in the hospice care facility and senses a patient's impending death is named Azrael, nicknamed Azzie for short.
Philip Pullman uses a variant spelling of the name "Azrael" in the name ofLord Asriel in theHis Dark Materials trilogy (1995-2000).
InJoy Williams's 2024 novelConcerning the Future of Souls, Azrael is a core character, although his responsibilities extend beyond serving as apsychopomp for humanity alone—he also collects the souls of other sentient beings on Earth, such aswhales andapes. Williams' book includes ninety-nine story accounts of his duties and interactions with multiple souls,God,Satan and countless others.
حدثنا عمر بن حفص بن غياث ، حدثنا أبي ، حد; فيقولون : نعم هذا الموت ، وكلهم قد رآه ، ثم ينادي : يا أهل النار ، فيشرئبون وينظرون ، فيقول : هل تعرفون هذا ؟ فيقولون : نعم هذا الموت ، وكلهم قد رآه فيذبح ثم يقول : يا أهل الجنة ، خلود فلا موت ، ويا أهل النار خلود فلا موت ، ثم قرأ; Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "On the Day of Resurrection Death will be brought forward in the shape of a black and white ram. Then a call maker will call, 'O people of Paradise!' Thereupon they will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say, 'Do you know this?' They will say, 'Yes, this is Death.' By then all of them will have seen it. Then it will be announced again, 'O people of Hell !' They will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say, 'Do you know this?' They will say, 'Yes, this is Death.' And by then all of them will have seen it. Then it (that ram) will be slaughtered and the caller will say, 'O people of Paradise! Eternity for you and no death O people of Hell! Eternity for you and no death."' ثنا الأعمش ، حدثنا أبو صالح ، عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : يؤتى بالموت كهيئة كبش أملح فينادي مناد : يا أهل الجنة ، فيشرئبون ، وينظرون ، فيقول : هل تعرفون هذا ؟
He wore a cowl, from under which there shone,
Full on the guest, and on the guest alone,
A face, not of this earth, half veiled in gloom
And radiance, but with eyes like lamps of doom,
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