Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, to Him belong the endowments and proper commendations. May Allaah increase the honor of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ^alayhi wa sallam, raise his rank, and protect his nation from what he fears for it.
Thereafter, it was said:
We believe in the Angel of Death, who is appointed to take the souls out of the living beings. Allaah tabaaraka wa ta^aalaa ordered the Angel of Death to take out the souls of every living being. This includes the human beings, jinn, angels, and others; even the insects, when they die. The Angel of Death is the one who takes out their souls. He takes the soul of every living being.
The Angel of Death has other angels with him, who assist him. This is why, in some of the verses of Qur’aan you would read that a group of angels take out the soul; and in some, it is mentioned that the Angel of Death takes out the soul. This is so, because the one who directly handles taking out the souls is the Angel of Death; but after doing that, he gives the souls to some of his assistants. This is why in some of the verses, it is mentioned that a group of angels does that and in some verses it is mentioned that the Angel of Death does that. In Al-Qur’aan, where it is mentioned that the Angel of Death himself does that, this refers to the one who directly handles taking out the souls. Where it is mentioned as the group of angels, this refers to those who have something to do with taking out the souls. This refers to ^Azraa^eel and his assistants.
The name of the Angel of Death is ^Azraa’eel, ^alayhis salaam, as it is known by consensus among the Muslims. Some misguided factions deny this issue. They say: How do you say the Angel of Death has the name of ^Azraa’eel? How did you come up with this? We respond: This is not something known by one chain or two chains or three chains only. This is something known by the Muslims by consensus. Among those who mentioned this matter a long time ago, in regard to it being known by consensus was QaaDiyy ^IyaaD, among others.
It was asked: If many people die at once, how does the Angel of Death take their souls?
Answer: The Angel of Death takes the souls of many people at once because he has many bodies, i.e. he is one soul that controls many bodies. This is according to some scholars. Others say that he has many hands. And Allaah Knows best.
A STORY OF PROPHET SULAYMAAN AND THE ANGEL OF DEATH
Once, in the session of Prophet Sulaymaan, ^alayhis salaam, the Angel of Death, ^Azraa’eel, was visiting. The Angel of Death used to visit Prophet Sulaymaan now and then. The Angel of Death was looking a lot at a certain man who was with Prophet Sulaymaan. When that man knew that the Angel of Death was looking at him, he showed great fear after the Angel of Death left. This man was fearful in thinking about death.
This man asked Prophet Sulaymaan to order the wind to carry him to the land of India. Prophet Sulaymaan did so and the man got to India very quickly. Then the Angel of Death, ^Azraa’eel, came back to Prophet Sulaymaan. Prophet Sulaymaan asked the angel why he was looking a lot at that particular person. The angel responded “I saw that man with you, in ash-Shaam, and I was ordered to soon take his soul in India. I was looking at him, wondering how he would get from Ash-Shaam to India so quickly.” Whatever Allaah Willed must be.
May Allaah allow us to the meet the Angel of Death while we are in the best state, as pious Muslims. Aameen.
