❀ Is the Angel of Death Named ‘Azra’il According to Qur’an and Hadith? ❀
Excerpted from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 189
Compiled by: Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri
✿ Question:
Is it correct to say that the Angel of Death is named Azra’il?
Is this name established from the Qur’an and authentic Hadith?
✿ Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The name Azra’il for the Angel of Death is neither proven from the Qur’an nor from authentic Ahadith.
❶ Mention in the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ﴾
(Surah al-Sajdah, 32:11)
Translation:
"Say: The Angel of Death who has been assigned to you will take your soul..."
✔ In this verse, the angel is only referred to as “Malak al-Mawt” (the Angel of Death).
✘ The name Azra’il does not appear anywhere in the Qur’an.
❷ Mention in Hadith
Shaykh Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani (رحمه الله) states:
“In the Book and the Sunnah, this angel is only referred to as ‘Malak al-Mawt’. The name ‘Azra’il’ is only popular among the masses and has no authentic basis. It is most likely derived from Isra’iliyat (Judeo-Christian traditions).”
(Ahkam al-Jana’iz, p. 155)
❸ Views of the Mufassirun (Qur’anic Commentators)
Imam Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله)
(Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, 2/457)
Commenting on the above verse:
“The term ‘Malak al-Mawt’ indicates a descriptive title, not a personal name.”
He also mentions:
“Though some reports mention the name ‘Azra’il’ as narrated from Qatadah and others, these are not authoritative proofs.”
Tafsir al-Ruh al-Ma‘ani (21/126):
States that Azra’il means “Servant of Allah”, but this meaning has no sound basis in Hadith or authentic narrations.
❹ Imam al-Suyuti’s Research
In al-Durr al-Manthur (5/173), Imam al-Suyuti has detailed various Ahadith and narrations.
After thorough investigation, he did not mention a single authentic Hadith that affirms the name Azra’il.
Only a solitary narration says:
“Ibrahim (AS) asked the Angel of Death his name. He replied: My name is Azra’il, and I have two eyes…”
◈ This narration is recorded by Ibn Abi al-Dunya and Abu al-Shaykh in Kitab al-‘Azamah.
◈ However, it is considered weak and originates from Isra’iliyat, not a reliable Islamic source.
❺ Imam al-Shanqiti (رحمه الله) – Adwa’ al-Bayan
He states:
“Though the name Azra’il appears in some reports, based on my research, I have not found it confirmed in any authentic Hadith or reliable Tafsir.”
(Adwa’ al-Bayan, Vol. 2)
❻ Absence in Major Tafasir
The name Azra’il is not mentioned with any credible evidence in:
◈ Tafsir al-Khazin (3/473)
◈ al-Tashil li ‘Ulum al-Tanzil (p. 130)
This further affirms that the attribution of this name has no firm basis in Islamic tradition.
✿ Summary of Findings
✔ The Qur’an and authentic Hadith do not mention the name Azra’il.
✔ Only the title “Malak al-Mawt” (Angel of Death) is used.
✘ The name Azra’il appears only in weak or fabricated reports, mostly stemming from Isra’ili sources.
✘ Mere popularity or cultural usage does not validate a name in religious matters.
✘ Thus, assigning Azra’il as a Shar‘i title is incorrect and baseless.
✿ Conclusion
The correct and safe approach is to refer to the Angel of Death only as:
❝ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ ❞
“The Angel of Death”
❖ Attributing the name “Azra’il” to him is not supported by any sound religious evidence and should not be regarded as part of Islamic belief.
﴿وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ﴾
And Allah knows best what is correct.
