Angels of Death
Question: Who are the Angels of death?
Question: Who are the Angels of death?
Imam Nasser Mohamed ElYemeni:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ 16إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ 17مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ 18وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
It was We Who created man, and We know what suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein. 17Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. 18Not a word does he utter but there is a “RAQIB” (observer) and “ATID”. (ready to note it). 19And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): "This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!" - Qaf, Chapter #50, Verse #16-19
Raqib and Atid are two angels that are close to God. They were send by God to record/save the good, and also the bad actions and words of each and every human. So if a person mentions or remembers God by his tongue, then the angel “Raqib” (Raqib means Observer) writes it down, and if a person mentions or remembers God in himself (suggestions of the soul - his mind) without using the tongue then the angel “ Raqib” does not know. The one who does know this is the creator of mankind “God” and he is closer to us than the (our) jugular vein. So God informs the angel “Raqib” by inspiration, of how this person has just mentioned and remembered God in him self (suggestion of the soul - in his mind) and when the angel “Raqib” receives this inspiration he records it (writes it down) to be saved in a book. The angel “Raqib” is the ambassador of heaven. He writes down all the actions and words that will lead to heaven – Hence the Koran mentions him as ambassador.
11كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ 12فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ 13فِي صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ 14مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ 15بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ 16كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ
11 By no means! For it is indeed a Message of remembrance: 12 Therefore let whoso will, keep it in remembrance. 13 In Books held in honour, 14 Elevated and Purified 15 By the hands of Ambassadors 16 Honourable and Loyal/Just. - Abasa, Chapter #80, Verse #11-16
Which means that he (Angle “Raqib”) only records and saves the Good that remained of the person (actions and words) in line with the ayah:
ٌ 12فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ 13فِي صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ 14مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ 15بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ 16كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ
12 Therefore let those who will, remember. 13 In Books held in honor, 14 Elevated and Purified 15 By the hands of Ambassadors 16 Honorable and Loyal/Just. - Abasa, Chapter #80, Verse #11-16
And the ambassadors are the angles of heaven, each human has one on his right side and his name is “Raqib” and his duty as we said is to record and save all the good actions and words of the person from the day he is held responsible till his final and eternal destination.
There is another angel on the left side of each human, his name is “Atid” and he is also of the honored and close angles to God and known to be strong and firm in truth. He is the ambassador of Hell. His duty is to record and save all the evil actions and words (committed by the person) those actions that will lead him to hell. He also writes down all what the person thinks of in his mind (what the soul suggests – in the mind) by inspiration from God.
In line with the ayah:
وَإِن تُبْدُوا مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ اللَّهُ
Whether ye show what is in your minds or conceal it, Allah Calleth you to account for it.
Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #284
So the angle “Atid” also does not know what goes on in the mind of a person. So who knows it? Only God knows what goes on in the mind of a person, and so God informs him by means of inspiration and so he writes it down to be recorded and saved in the book.
Because only God knows what is hidden in the hearts of man.
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter): for verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden.
Taha, Chapter #20, Verse #7
Therefore whatever good a person speaks or does is written by the angel “Raqib” and whatever evil the person speaks or does is written by the angel “Atid”. They do not write everything a person speaks, only those actions and words that leads to heaven or that leads to hell.
All these are just their initial tasks. So do they have another duty?
Yes they have a second important duty and responsibility. This happens when the time of death comes to the person and he must leave this world. During that time the two angles “Atid” and “Raqib” have to finalize their last mission and get the soul of the person out of his body. The Angel of death is “Atid” in case of an evil person who disbelieves and who spoke and acted evil words and actions most of his life. Then the Angel “Atid” pulls the soul out of the body and the angel “Raqib” helps him. This is usually is a very painful process (in the case of an evil person), since the pullout will be accompanied with beating the soul with a stick from the front and the back and so the Angel “Atid” with the help of his companion angel “Raqib” pull out the soul of the evil person together, in addition to other evil souls who reside in the body of that human.
So God never appointed only ONE angel of death to capture the souls of all humans on earth.
I have found that the Koran speaks of many angels of death, for each person there are two appointed on his left is one, and on his right is one, so that means that the number of angles of death is double the number of humans alive and humans dead.
Then someone may ask me about the ayah that speaks of ONE angle of death:
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord."
As-Sajda, Chapter #32, Verse #11
Then I reply and explain that the angel of death mentioned here in this ayah, is the angel “Atid” who is the ambassador of Hell and he is also referred to as the bird of the human in his neck.
قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ – 18 قَالُوا طَائِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ ۚ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ19
The (people) said: "for us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye do not stop, we will certainly stone you. And a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us." 19 They said: "Your bird is with yourselves: If ye remember? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!"
Ya Seen, Chapter #36, Verse #18-19
So it is not one bird but for each person there is one and he is the angel of death “Atid”.
وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ ۖ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا 14اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
Every man's fate We have fixed a bird on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open. 14 "Read your record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."
Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #13-14
The someone might interrupt me and say that the angel of death is called “Ezrael”. Then I reply and say lets see what the Koran has to say about that name. For what is better than the word of God so we don’t stick to speculations and see the truth instead of guess work. Surely guess work does not replace truth. For if I did not want to raise the word of God who has “no equal” I would not have opened this topic about Ezrael at all but your belief in the qualities of Ezrael has become similar to your belief in one of the qualities of God. The “Most knowing”, and the “Most Able” and the “Most knowledgeable” of all things. The name Ezrael was never mentioned for I have never seen the name “Ezrael” mentioned in the Koran, but instead I have read that God has mentioned all the names of the angles of death, even though their numbers are double that of all humans alive and dead, yet we did not find the name Ezrael among those names, and it does not make any sense that it is only one angel for all humans, because this is a quality of the creator of heaven and earth who is “All Knowing” and does not sleep and is Aware of everything, so how can we give this quality to one angel of death and claim that he captures all souls during death at the same time, when there are so many people dying every second all over the world.
Therefore there are two angels and besides their mission to record all actions and words of the person, they are also appointed (these two angles “Atid” and “Raqib”) during the time of death to take the soul in line with the ayah:
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
He is the Conqueror above his worshippers, and He sends record holders (guardians) over you. Till death approaches one of you, our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #61
However the case is different for the people who spoke and did more good in this world, the people who will go to heaven. This time the angel appointed to extract his soul is the angel “Raqib” the ambassador of heaven and he receives help from the angel “Atid”. So both of them help to pull the soul of the good person out of his body by means of energizing it (energizing the soul of the believer). For the people of heaven or not equal to the people of hell and so the moments/phases of death are also different.
For if the person is going to hell then the angel “Atid” will extract the soul from the body with the help of the angel “Raqib” and the pulling of the soul is painful and more like snatching accompanied by whipping and beating with sticks on the face and on the back, hard painful beatings in line with the ayah:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves" Then would they (The angels) offer greetings, (The soul of the human then replies) "We did no evil." (Then The angels will reply), "No, but verily Allah knows all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
And as we explained the stretching of the hands of the angles to the disbelievers is through firm and strong beating which is the first phase of torture before they carry them to Hell.
So after the beating the soul is extracted from the body and they carry it to Hell yet the soul cries and screams in fear because it knows after all this beating that it will be send to Hell. .
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and were arrogant to reject of His signs!"
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #93
And before the soul is thrown in hell it will be questioned, so the angel “Atid” asks it “what evil did you do?” and the soul of the disbeliever replies “we did no evil?” And so this soul is denying everything that the angel “Atid” wrote down and recorded. So “Atid” replies to him that “you did wrong” and that “I did not misjudge you and God will be the judge between us for he knows what you did”.
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves" Then would they (The angels) offer greetings, (The soul of the human then replies) "We did no evil." (Then The angels will reply), "No, but verily Allah knows all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
So the dying person denies what “Atid” wrote even though he did not even see his record, and when “Atid” asks him about what he did wrong, he says that he did no evil. Hence God says:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves"
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
Then “Atid” replies to him and says
بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Nay, but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
So these words are spoken by the Angel “Atid” who was accused of being unfair to the soul of the disbeliever who denied he did anything wrong – hereby saying that all what “Atid” wrote and recorded is unjust. So on judgement day “Atid” drags this soul to God for questioning so God judges between them, and together with “Atid” is the angel “Raqib” who is a witness to what happened and to all the writings recorded by “Atid” because he was there when the person spoke or acted in an evil way and “Atid” was recording it, yet angel “Raqib” was not responsible of writing that down since he only writes down the good words and actions. So his(Raqib) role now is a witness, Hence he is also called “Shahid” (witness) – the witness “Raqib” - Al Shahid Raqib – and so he stands as a witness to confirm that all what angel “Atid” wrote is correct and fair and that it all did happen. Yet the evil person or the disbelieving person keeps denying what the witness “Raqib” declared and even starts swearing by God that he did no evil.
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَيْنَ شُرَكَاؤُكُمُ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ 23ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ 24انظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
22One day shall We gather them all together: We shall say to those who ascribed partners (to Us): "Where are the partners whom ye (invented and) talked about?" 23There will then be (left) no subterfuge for them but to say: "By Allah our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with Allah." 24Behold! how they lie against their own souls! But the (lie) which they invented will leave them in the lurch.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #22
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ
One day will Allah raise them all up (for Judgment): then will they swear to Him as they swear to you: And they think that they have something (to stand upon). No, indeed! they are but liars Al-Mujadila, Chapter #58, Verse #18!
At that moment God seals their mouth and their hands and legs and skin start to speak and declare that they also were witness of the evil actions and words of this person – then God releases their mouth to speak again and they ask their hands, legs and skin “ why did you stand witness against us?” then the hands, legs and skin reply “ God gave us the ability to speak for he is the one who can give this ability to anything” and this is when the Divine judgment is declared to the two angels “Atid” and “Raqib” to throw this evil soul in Hell.
Then his companion (the companion of the human = a demon) says: “my God, I was not unjust to him, but he was lost and far away from truth”, then God replies: “do not argue amongst each other today, my promise is fulfilled, my words are not exchangeable and I am not unjust with my servants”.
سُوۡرَةُ قٓ
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُ ۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ (١٦) إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ۬ (١٧) مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ۬ (١٨) وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٲلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ (١٩) وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِۚ ذَٲلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ (٢٠) وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّعَهَا سَآٮِٕقٌ۬ وَشَ?ِيدٌ۬ (٢١) لَّقَدۡ كُنتَ فِى غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ هَـٰذَا فَكَشَفۡنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ حَدِيدٌ۬ (٢٢) وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ (٢٣) أَلۡقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ ڪَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ۬ (٢٤) مَّنَّاعٍ۬ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ۬ مُّرِيبٍ (٢٥) ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلۡقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ (٢٦) ۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطۡغَيۡتُهُ ۥ وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـٰلِۭ بَعِيدٍ۬ (٢٧) قَالَ لَا تَخۡتَصِمُواْ لَدَىَّ وَقَدۡ قَدَّمۡتُ إِلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡوَعِيدِ (٢٨) مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ۬ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ (٢٩) يَوۡمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمۡتَلَأۡتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلۡ مِن مَّزِيدٍ۬ (٣٠)
Qaf
We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (16) When the two Receivers(Angels) receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left, (17) Not a word does he utter but there is a “RAQIB” (observer) and “ATID”. (ready to note it). (18) And the agony of death cometh in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which thou have been avoiding. (19) inspire will be blown into their bodies form. This is the promised Day. (20) And every soul comes, along with it a “Driver” and a “Witness”. (21) (And unto the evil-doer it is said): Thou was in heedlessness of this. Now We have removed from thee thy covering, and piercing is thy sight this day. (22) And his companion (comrade) says: This is that which I have ready “Atid”. (23) (And it is said): Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel ingrate, (24) Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter, (25) Who setteth up another god along with Allah. Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom. (26) His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error. (27) He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning. (28) The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves. (29) On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come? (30)
Qaf, Chapter #50, Verse #16-30
So the two angels “Atid” and “Raqib” also have two other names, the angel “Atid” is also called: “Sa-iq” meaning (driver) because he drives the evil soul to be judged and then he drives it to Hell. The angel “Raqib” has another name: “Shahid” meaning (witness) because he stands as a witness to declare that everything that his companion (angel “Atid/Sa-iq”) wrote is correct and true.
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ (٢٣)
And his companion (comrade) says: This is that which I have ready Atid. (23)
And the companion here is the companion of “Atid/Sa-iq” who is the angel “Raqib” also known as “Shahid” and the meaning of companion here is not the companion of the person (human/soul) because the companion of the evil person is a demon.
It is therefore that we learn that the angels of death are “Atid” and “Raqib” also known as “Sa-iq” and “Shahid” so the guardians or record holders are these two angels for each person he has two. Their duty is to record all the deeds and words of a the person/human and they stay with him during all of his life till the time of his death when they extract the soul from the body then if the person is evil the extraction is painful and like snatching and if the person is good it is more like energizing the soul out of the body. After than the soul of that person is taken to Heaven or to Hell. So these two angels are there all the time with the person even after death till they send him to his eternal destiny.
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
He is the Conqueror above his worshippers, and He sends record holders (guardians) over you. Till death approaches one of you, our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #61
And here it is clear that the angels were send first to record your words and deeds in the physical/material world then they take your soul when death comes. So they were not send during death but before that and so they are the same angels.
َلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and were arrogant to reject of His signs!"
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #93
As for the statement “Yield up your souls” this is spoken by the angels of death to the soul within the evil person’s body. Then you may wonder why they speak in plural form. Then I explain to you how an evil person has more than one soul in his body. This is because every evil person who does not recite or remember God, for him God appoints an evil soul (demon) as a companion and so they become two souls in one body. So they both share the torture and the pain.
وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.
Az-Zukhruf, Chapter #43, Verse #36
Hence the angels say: “Yield up your souls” For they speak to the soul of the evil person and the evil soul with it (demon) which is also the companion of that evil human. Therefore after the person’s body parts (hands, legs and skin) stand witness against him he starts to realize how they have a companion, an evil soul (demon) who has been deceiving him and tempting him away from the truth. This is when his companion (the companion of the human = a demon) says: “my God, I was not unjust to him, but he was lost and far away from truth”, then God replies: “do not argue amongst each other today, my promise is fulfilled, my words are not exchangeable and I am not unjust with my servants”. This is when the person says:
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ
At length, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his evil companion): "Would that between me and thee were the distance of the two Easts!" Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!
Az-Zukhruf, Chapter #43, Verse #38
And this evil companion of the person is an evil soul, so it is not the companion of “Sa-iq/Atid” (the companion of “Sa-iq/Atid” is the angel “Raqib/Shahid”) for the companion of “Atid” stands as a witness to confirm that everything that “Atid” wrote is correct.
And these two angels when they are mentioned as “Sa-iq” and “Shahid” (Driver and Witness) it is only applicable for the evil persons not the good. For the good persons during death their light will come between their hands and their faith will honor them without the need of a driver or a witness for they do not need a driver and a witness so the meaning of
وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّعَهَا سَآٮِٕقٌ۬ وَشَيدٌ۬ (٢١)
And every soul cometh, along with it a “Driver” and a “Witness”. (21)
And every soul here is not applicable for the good person who beliefs and who did a lot of good by speech and action. Every soul here refers to every soul of “all those who did evil”. For the good people will have neither fear nor grief and therefore do not need a “Driver” and a “Witness”.
Imam Nasser Mohamed ElYemeni
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ 16إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ 17مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ 18وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
It was We Who created man, and We know what suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein. 17Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. 18Not a word does he utter but there is a “RAQIB” (observer) and “ATID”. (ready to note it). 19And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): "This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!" - Qaf, Chapter #50, Verse #16-19
Raqib and Atid are two angels that are close to God. They were send by God to record/save the good, and also the bad actions and words of each and every human. So if a person mentions or remembers God by his tongue, then the angel “Raqib” (Raqib means Observer) writes it down, and if a person mentions or remembers God in himself (suggestions of the soul - his mind) without using the tongue then the angel “ Raqib” does not know. The one who does know this is the creator of mankind “God” and he is closer to us than the (our) jugular vein. So God informs the angel “Raqib” by inspiration, of how this person has just mentioned and remembered God in him self (suggestion of the soul - in his mind) and when the angel “Raqib” receives this inspiration he records it (writes it down) to be saved in a book. The angel “Raqib” is the ambassador of heaven. He writes down all the actions and words that will lead to heaven – Hence the Koran mentions him as ambassador.
11كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ 12فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ 13فِي صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ 14مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ 15بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ 16كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ
11 By no means! For it is indeed a Message of remembrance: 12 Therefore let whoso will, keep it in remembrance. 13 In Books held in honour, 14 Elevated and Purified 15 By the hands of Ambassadors 16 Honourable and Loyal/Just. - Abasa, Chapter #80, Verse #11-16
Which means that he (Angle “Raqib”) only records and saves the Good that remained of the person (actions and words) in line with the ayah:
ٌ 12فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ 13فِي صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ 14مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ 15بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ 16كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ
12 Therefore let those who will, remember. 13 In Books held in honor, 14 Elevated and Purified 15 By the hands of Ambassadors 16 Honorable and Loyal/Just. - Abasa, Chapter #80, Verse #11-16
And the ambassadors are the angles of heaven, each human has one on his right side and his name is “Raqib” and his duty as we said is to record and save all the good actions and words of the person from the day he is held responsible till his final and eternal destination.
There is another angel on the left side of each human, his name is “Atid” and he is also of the honored and close angles to God and known to be strong and firm in truth. He is the ambassador of Hell. His duty is to record and save all the evil actions and words (committed by the person) those actions that will lead him to hell. He also writes down all what the person thinks of in his mind (what the soul suggests – in the mind) by inspiration from God.
In line with the ayah:
وَإِن تُبْدُوا مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ اللَّهُ
Whether ye show what is in your minds or conceal it, Allah Calleth you to account for it.
Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #284
So the angle “Atid” also does not know what goes on in the mind of a person. So who knows it? Only God knows what goes on in the mind of a person, and so God informs him by means of inspiration and so he writes it down to be recorded and saved in the book.
Because only God knows what is hidden in the hearts of man.
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter): for verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden.
Taha, Chapter #20, Verse #7
Therefore whatever good a person speaks or does is written by the angel “Raqib” and whatever evil the person speaks or does is written by the angel “Atid”. They do not write everything a person speaks, only those actions and words that leads to heaven or that leads to hell.
All these are just their initial tasks. So do they have another duty?
Yes they have a second important duty and responsibility. This happens when the time of death comes to the person and he must leave this world. During that time the two angles “Atid” and “Raqib” have to finalize their last mission and get the soul of the person out of his body. The Angel of death is “Atid” in case of an evil person who disbelieves and who spoke and acted evil words and actions most of his life. Then the Angel “Atid” pulls the soul out of the body and the angel “Raqib” helps him. This is usually is a very painful process (in the case of an evil person), since the pullout will be accompanied with beating the soul with a stick from the front and the back and so the Angel “Atid” with the help of his companion angel “Raqib” pull out the soul of the evil person together, in addition to other evil souls who reside in the body of that human.
So God never appointed only ONE angel of death to capture the souls of all humans on earth.
I have found that the Koran speaks of many angels of death, for each person there are two appointed on his left is one, and on his right is one, so that means that the number of angles of death is double the number of humans alive and humans dead.
Then someone may ask me about the ayah that speaks of ONE angle of death:
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord."
As-Sajda, Chapter #32, Verse #11
Then I reply and explain that the angel of death mentioned here in this ayah, is the angel “Atid” who is the ambassador of Hell and he is also referred to as the bird of the human in his neck.
قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ – 18 قَالُوا طَائِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ ۚ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ19
The (people) said: "for us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye do not stop, we will certainly stone you. And a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us." 19 They said: "Your bird is with yourselves: If ye remember? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!"
Ya Seen, Chapter #36, Verse #18-19
So it is not one bird but for each person there is one and he is the angel of death “Atid”.
وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ ۖ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا 14اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
Every man's fate We have fixed a bird on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open. 14 "Read your record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."
Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #13-14
The someone might interrupt me and say that the angel of death is called “Ezrael”. Then I reply and say lets see what the Koran has to say about that name. For what is better than the word of God so we don’t stick to speculations and see the truth instead of guess work. Surely guess work does not replace truth. For if I did not want to raise the word of God who has “no equal” I would not have opened this topic about Ezrael at all but your belief in the qualities of Ezrael has become similar to your belief in one of the qualities of God. The “Most knowing”, and the “Most Able” and the “Most knowledgeable” of all things. The name Ezrael was never mentioned for I have never seen the name “Ezrael” mentioned in the Koran, but instead I have read that God has mentioned all the names of the angles of death, even though their numbers are double that of all humans alive and dead, yet we did not find the name Ezrael among those names, and it does not make any sense that it is only one angel for all humans, because this is a quality of the creator of heaven and earth who is “All Knowing” and does not sleep and is Aware of everything, so how can we give this quality to one angel of death and claim that he captures all souls during death at the same time, when there are so many people dying every second all over the world.
Therefore there are two angels and besides their mission to record all actions and words of the person, they are also appointed (these two angles “Atid” and “Raqib”) during the time of death to take the soul in line with the ayah:
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
He is the Conqueror above his worshippers, and He sends record holders (guardians) over you. Till death approaches one of you, our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #61
However the case is different for the people who spoke and did more good in this world, the people who will go to heaven. This time the angel appointed to extract his soul is the angel “Raqib” the ambassador of heaven and he receives help from the angel “Atid”. So both of them help to pull the soul of the good person out of his body by means of energizing it (energizing the soul of the believer). For the people of heaven or not equal to the people of hell and so the moments/phases of death are also different.
For if the person is going to hell then the angel “Atid” will extract the soul from the body with the help of the angel “Raqib” and the pulling of the soul is painful and more like snatching accompanied by whipping and beating with sticks on the face and on the back, hard painful beatings in line with the ayah:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves" Then would they (The angels) offer greetings, (The soul of the human then replies) "We did no evil." (Then The angels will reply), "No, but verily Allah knows all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
And as we explained the stretching of the hands of the angles to the disbelievers is through firm and strong beating which is the first phase of torture before they carry them to Hell.
So after the beating the soul is extracted from the body and they carry it to Hell yet the soul cries and screams in fear because it knows after all this beating that it will be send to Hell. .
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and were arrogant to reject of His signs!"
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #93
And before the soul is thrown in hell it will be questioned, so the angel “Atid” asks it “what evil did you do?” and the soul of the disbeliever replies “we did no evil?” And so this soul is denying everything that the angel “Atid” wrote down and recorded. So “Atid” replies to him that “you did wrong” and that “I did not misjudge you and God will be the judge between us for he knows what you did”.
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves" Then would they (The angels) offer greetings, (The soul of the human then replies) "We did no evil." (Then The angels will reply), "No, but verily Allah knows all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
So the dying person denies what “Atid” wrote even though he did not even see his record, and when “Atid” asks him about what he did wrong, he says that he did no evil. Hence God says:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ
"Those whose lives the angels take are unjust to themselves"
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
Then “Atid” replies to him and says
بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Nay, but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did;
An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #28
So these words are spoken by the Angel “Atid” who was accused of being unfair to the soul of the disbeliever who denied he did anything wrong – hereby saying that all what “Atid” wrote and recorded is unjust. So on judgement day “Atid” drags this soul to God for questioning so God judges between them, and together with “Atid” is the angel “Raqib” who is a witness to what happened and to all the writings recorded by “Atid” because he was there when the person spoke or acted in an evil way and “Atid” was recording it, yet angel “Raqib” was not responsible of writing that down since he only writes down the good words and actions. So his(Raqib) role now is a witness, Hence he is also called “Shahid” (witness) – the witness “Raqib” - Al Shahid Raqib – and so he stands as a witness to confirm that all what angel “Atid” wrote is correct and fair and that it all did happen. Yet the evil person or the disbelieving person keeps denying what the witness “Raqib” declared and even starts swearing by God that he did no evil.
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَيْنَ شُرَكَاؤُكُمُ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ 23ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ 24انظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
22One day shall We gather them all together: We shall say to those who ascribed partners (to Us): "Where are the partners whom ye (invented and) talked about?" 23There will then be (left) no subterfuge for them but to say: "By Allah our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with Allah." 24Behold! how they lie against their own souls! But the (lie) which they invented will leave them in the lurch.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #22
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ
One day will Allah raise them all up (for Judgment): then will they swear to Him as they swear to you: And they think that they have something (to stand upon). No, indeed! they are but liars Al-Mujadila, Chapter #58, Verse #18!
At that moment God seals their mouth and their hands and legs and skin start to speak and declare that they also were witness of the evil actions and words of this person – then God releases their mouth to speak again and they ask their hands, legs and skin “ why did you stand witness against us?” then the hands, legs and skin reply “ God gave us the ability to speak for he is the one who can give this ability to anything” and this is when the Divine judgment is declared to the two angels “Atid” and “Raqib” to throw this evil soul in Hell.
Then his companion (the companion of the human = a demon) says: “my God, I was not unjust to him, but he was lost and far away from truth”, then God replies: “do not argue amongst each other today, my promise is fulfilled, my words are not exchangeable and I am not unjust with my servants”.
سُوۡرَةُ قٓ
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُ ۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ (١٦) إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ۬ (١٧) مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ۬ (١٨) وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٲلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ (١٩) وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِۚ ذَٲلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ (٢٠) وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّعَهَا سَآٮِٕقٌ۬ وَشَ?ِيدٌ۬ (٢١) لَّقَدۡ كُنتَ فِى غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ هَـٰذَا فَكَشَفۡنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ حَدِيدٌ۬ (٢٢) وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ (٢٣) أَلۡقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ ڪَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ۬ (٢٤) مَّنَّاعٍ۬ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ۬ مُّرِيبٍ (٢٥) ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلۡقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ (٢٦) ۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطۡغَيۡتُهُ ۥ وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـٰلِۭ بَعِيدٍ۬ (٢٧) قَالَ لَا تَخۡتَصِمُواْ لَدَىَّ وَقَدۡ قَدَّمۡتُ إِلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡوَعِيدِ (٢٨) مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ۬ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ (٢٩) يَوۡمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمۡتَلَأۡتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلۡ مِن مَّزِيدٍ۬ (٣٠)
Qaf
We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (16) When the two Receivers(Angels) receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left, (17) Not a word does he utter but there is a “RAQIB” (observer) and “ATID”. (ready to note it). (18) And the agony of death cometh in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which thou have been avoiding. (19) inspire will be blown into their bodies form. This is the promised Day. (20) And every soul comes, along with it a “Driver” and a “Witness”. (21) (And unto the evil-doer it is said): Thou was in heedlessness of this. Now We have removed from thee thy covering, and piercing is thy sight this day. (22) And his companion (comrade) says: This is that which I have ready “Atid”. (23) (And it is said): Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel ingrate, (24) Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter, (25) Who setteth up another god along with Allah. Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom. (26) His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error. (27) He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning. (28) The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves. (29) On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come? (30)
Qaf, Chapter #50, Verse #16-30
So the two angels “Atid” and “Raqib” also have two other names, the angel “Atid” is also called: “Sa-iq” meaning (driver) because he drives the evil soul to be judged and then he drives it to Hell. The angel “Raqib” has another name: “Shahid” meaning (witness) because he stands as a witness to declare that everything that his companion (angel “Atid/Sa-iq”) wrote is correct and true.
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ ۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ (٢٣)
And his companion (comrade) says: This is that which I have ready Atid. (23)
And the companion here is the companion of “Atid/Sa-iq” who is the angel “Raqib” also known as “Shahid” and the meaning of companion here is not the companion of the person (human/soul) because the companion of the evil person is a demon.
It is therefore that we learn that the angels of death are “Atid” and “Raqib” also known as “Sa-iq” and “Shahid” so the guardians or record holders are these two angels for each person he has two. Their duty is to record all the deeds and words of a the person/human and they stay with him during all of his life till the time of his death when they extract the soul from the body then if the person is evil the extraction is painful and like snatching and if the person is good it is more like energizing the soul out of the body. After than the soul of that person is taken to Heaven or to Hell. So these two angels are there all the time with the person even after death till they send him to his eternal destiny.
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
He is the Conqueror above his worshippers, and He sends record holders (guardians) over you. Till death approaches one of you, our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #61
And here it is clear that the angels were send first to record your words and deeds in the physical/material world then they take your soul when death comes. So they were not send during death but before that and so they are the same angels.
َلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and were arrogant to reject of His signs!"
Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #93
As for the statement “Yield up your souls” this is spoken by the angels of death to the soul within the evil person’s body. Then you may wonder why they speak in plural form. Then I explain to you how an evil person has more than one soul in his body. This is because every evil person who does not recite or remember God, for him God appoints an evil soul (demon) as a companion and so they become two souls in one body. So they both share the torture and the pain.
وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.
Az-Zukhruf, Chapter #43, Verse #36
Hence the angels say: “Yield up your souls” For they speak to the soul of the evil person and the evil soul with it (demon) which is also the companion of that evil human. Therefore after the person’s body parts (hands, legs and skin) stand witness against him he starts to realize how they have a companion, an evil soul (demon) who has been deceiving him and tempting him away from the truth. This is when his companion (the companion of the human = a demon) says: “my God, I was not unjust to him, but he was lost and far away from truth”, then God replies: “do not argue amongst each other today, my promise is fulfilled, my words are not exchangeable and I am not unjust with my servants”. This is when the person says:
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ
At length, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his evil companion): "Would that between me and thee were the distance of the two Easts!" Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!
Az-Zukhruf, Chapter #43, Verse #38
And this evil companion of the person is an evil soul, so it is not the companion of “Sa-iq/Atid” (the companion of “Sa-iq/Atid” is the angel “Raqib/Shahid”) for the companion of “Atid” stands as a witness to confirm that everything that “Atid” wrote is correct.
And these two angels when they are mentioned as “Sa-iq” and “Shahid” (Driver and Witness) it is only applicable for the evil persons not the good. For the good persons during death their light will come between their hands and their faith will honor them without the need of a driver or a witness for they do not need a driver and a witness so the meaning of
وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّعَهَا سَآٮِٕقٌ۬ وَشَيدٌ۬ (٢١)
And every soul cometh, along with it a “Driver” and a “Witness”. (21)
And every soul here is not applicable for the good person who beliefs and who did a lot of good by speech and action. Every soul here refers to every soul of “all those who did evil”. For the good people will have neither fear nor grief and therefore do not need a “Driver” and a “Witness”.
Imam Nasser Mohamed ElYemeni
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