Azrael

God Has Helped

Archangel

Azrael

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azrael

Not to be confused with Azazel, a fallen angel, or Azazil, in Islamic traditions the name of Iblis before his fall.

Azrael (/ˈæzri.əl, -reɪ-/; Hebrew: עֲזַרְאֵל, romanized: ʿǍzarʾēl, 'God has helped'; Arabic: عزرائيل, romanized: ʿAzrāʾīl or ʿIzrāʾīl) is the angel of death in some Abrahamic religions, namely Islam and Christian popular culture.

Relative to similar concepts of such beings, Azrael holds a benevolent role as God's angel of death; he acts as a psychopomp, responsible for transporting the souls of the deceased after their death. 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 the Malakh ha-Maveth (Angel of Death) in Judaism.

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 the Third Heaven, a division of heaven in Judaism and Islam. In Islam, he is one of the four archangels, and is identified with the Quranic Malak ul-Maut (ملاك الموت, 'angel of death'), which corresponds with the Hebrew-language term Mal'akh ha-Maweth (מלאך המוות) in Rabbinic literature. In Hebrew, Azrael translates to "Angel of God" or "Help from God".

Etymology and place in Judaism

The Hebrew Bible does not mention an angel by the name Azrael, nor does it appear in the rabbinic literature of the Talmuds or Midrashim. No such angel is treated as canonical in traditional rabbinic Judaism. However, an angel by a similar name, Azriel (עזריאל), is mentioned in Kabbalistic literature, such as the Zohar.

Despite the absence of such a figure in Judaism, the name Azrael is suggestive of a Hebrew theophoric עזראל, meaning "the one whom God helps". Archeological evidence uncovered in Jewish settlements in Mesopotamia confirms that it was indeed at one time used on an Aramaic incantation bowl from the 7th century. However, as the text thereon only lists names, an association of this angelic name with death cannot be identified in Judaism.

After the emergence of Islam, the name Azrael became popular among both Christian and Islamic literature and folklore. The name spelled as Ezrā’ël appears in the Ethiopic version of Apocalypse of Peter (dating to the 16th century) as an angel of hell, who avenges those who had been wronged during life.

Islam

Along with Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil, Azrael is one of the four major archangels in Islam. He is responsible for taking the souls of the deceased away from the body. Azrael does not act independently, but is only informed by God when time is up to take a soul

Surah 32:11 mentions the angel of death. Regarding Azrael's missions and function, interpretation from several groups of modern Islamic scholars from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Yemen and Mauritania has issued fatwa that taken the interpretation from Ibn Kathir regarding Quran chapter Al-An'am verse 61, and a hadith transmitted by Abu Hurairah and Ibn Abbas, that the angel of death has assisting angels who helped him taking souls.

According to exegesis, these verses refer to lesser angels of death, subordinate to Azrael, who aid the archangel in his duty. Tafsir al-Baydawi mentions an entire host of angels of death, subordinate to Azrael.

The eighth Umayyad Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz once reported the commentary regarding Azrael in Quran chapter As-Sajdah verse 11 Quran 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 of Malak al-Mawt (angel of death)".

Meanwhile, Al-Qurtubi has narrated from the authority of Mujahid ibn Jabr that the world being between the hands of the Angel of Death is "similar to a vessel between the hands of a human; he takes from whatever place he wants", where Mujahid described that Azrael is able to seize many souls at the same moment because God made the earth shrunk for him until it seems as if it is a vessel between his hands.

A similar Marfu' Hadith (i.e., with an elevated chain of transmission) was reported by Zuhayr ibn Muhammad. When the unbelievers in hell cry out for help, an angel, also identified with Azrael, will appear on the horizon and tell them that they have to remain. Other Quranic verses refer to a multitude of angels of death.

Several modern contemporaries, such as Wahbah al-Zuhayli, and scholars from Islamic University of Madinah, Indonesian religious ministry, Saudi Islamic affair ministry, and Masjid al-Haram have compiled the classical exegesis from chapter Al-Anfal verse 50 Quran 8:50, that the angel of death has special tasks during the battle of Badr.

Hadiths

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. 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 to Ikrimah Mawlâ Ibn 'Abbâs [id; ar], a Tabi'un scholar, 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".

He also had 4,000 wings which consisted of two types, "wings of grace" and "wings of punishment". The "wings of punishment" are made from iron rods, hooks, and scissors. Muqatil ibn Sulayman has recorded his commentary in his commentary work, as-Suluk, the angel possessed 70,000 limbs of foot.

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, a caliph of Umayyad dynasty, has reported a narration that the angel of death (Malak al-Mawt) is armed with a flaming whip. Caliph Umar also reported a narration that the angel of death was so huge that he even dwarfed Bearers of the Throne, group of angels which are known as the biggest among angels.

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. [33]: 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 work Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā (Stories of the Prophets), and Muqatil. 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.

Relationship between Azrael and Death

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 coined Azrael and Death were different entities, with Death as some kind of tool used by Azrael to take life.[36]: 129

One account explains death and its relation to Azrael, representing Death 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.

This opinion were shared among scholars of Islam such as Sultan ibn ‘Abdirrahman Al-‘Umairi, in his book Al-‘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. 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.

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 scholar Badr al-Din al-Ayni has interpreted in that Hadith which compiled in Sahih 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.

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. In other account sourced from Muqatil 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. Whenever a face within Azrael body vanished, then the soul which connected with it will experience death.

Western reception

Some Western adaptions extended the physical description of Azrael, hence the poet Leigh Hunt depicts Azrael as wearing a black-hooded cloak. Although lacking the eminent scythe, his portrayal nevertheless resembles the Grim Reaper. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow mentions Azrael in "The Reaper and the Flowers" as an angel of death, but he is not equated with Samael, the angel of death in Jewish lore who appears as a fallen and malevolent angel, instead.

Azrael also appears in G. K. Chesterton's poem "Lepanto" as one of the Islamic spirits commanded by "Mahound" (Muhammad) to resist Don John of Austria's crusade. In The Smurfs, the cat of the evil wizard Gargamel is called Azrael.

TRIVAX - Azrael ( عزرائیل )

Lyrics

Azrael (عزرائیل)

Come forth, reaping with all might

Sanctioning the pulse of all life

Eliminate – All man and beast born

Consuming the world’s shattered soul

Obliterate – All that exists

Muting the core spirit from the womb

From blindness – open our eyes

To the forces of darkness and death

Hail Master Death!

Lay the world to rest

Come forth killing in one strike

Eating the world from its spine

Entomb – All of mankind

Severed heads upon pillars and spikes

Bring rejoice – To us prisoners

The rebels from the no universe

Force your black winds on this earth

Rid life of all of its misery!

Death!

Open our eyes

Dissolve our souls

Ez-ra-eel!

We’ve gathered here to celebrate

The total death of all dimensions

Black void shall bring rejoice

Illuminate the paths of chaos force

Ez-ra-eel

Malik al-mawt (الملك الموت)

Conquer seas with your black wings

Enter dusk through the sacred eye

Kill the world with the final strike

Hail Master Death!

Lay the world to rest

Unchain thy true will

EZ-RA-EEL! (عزرائیل)

Forsaken - Aidenn Falls

Lyrics

Aidenn falls, chaos' son rises through the gate of eternal fire

He satiates our lust and nurtures our primeval desires

Inscribing our finality through spiritual cataclysm

Consecrating our vanity; binding us to gods of materialism

We spiral through the labyrinthine madness

Truth subsides in the nepenthe of false shamans

Anesthetized and subdued

Destined to an opaque reality

The righteous path obscured

We wage our atonement for a beguiling divinity

We spiral through the labyrinthine madness

Truth subsides in the nepenthe of false shamans

He rests on the ashes of a dying world

Azrael shadows the gaze of the fading sun

Pictures Videos Music and Additional Reading

Azrael, Angel of Death — Angelarium: The Encyclopedia of Angels

Archangel Azrael is known as the angel of death. He helps people to transition from this world into the spiritual world.

A welcoming depiction of the Archangel of Death (usually associated with Azrael), by Evelyn De Morgan, 1881.

Azrael, the Angel of Death, Explained

Source: https://www.joincake.com/blog/who-is-the-angel-of-death-azrael/

When it comes to death symbolism and mythology, Azrael is one of the most recognizable figures. The Angel of Death, also known as Azrael, exists in both Judaism and Islam. But it’s primarily in the Islamic faith that Azrael acts as a death angel.

Azrael is a psychopomp: a person or creature who transports souls to the afterlife after they die. Depending on the religion or mysticism in which he appears, Azrael can be the embodiment of evil or a benevolent figure. In Jewish and Islamic traditions, Azrael is thought to be the Angel of Death. He looks over the dying, separates the soul from the body, and transports the spirit to the afterlife.

Azrael isn’t a personification of death; instead, he’s an “angel.” In Islam and Judaism, this means he must answer to the will of God. He can only act on the orders of this higher power. According to some Jewish mythology, however, Azrael is a “fallen angel.” And this means he’s the embodiment of evil and may be in rebellion of God. The Angel of Death, Azrael, exists in both Judaism and Islam, as well as Sikhism.

Historians aren’t entirely sure which religion first envisioned the Angel of Death. The name, “Azrael,” is Hebrew in origin: it traces back to Aramaic texts written as early as the seventh century. But it’s unclear whether the name related to death before the newer religion of Islam came around.

No matter which religion first described Azrael as a death angel, both gave him the job of transporting souls to the afterlife to some extent. At the same time, Azrael has a slightly different appearance and purpose depending on the religion you examine.

Islam

In the religious texts of Islam, there are four major archangels, including Azrael (alternatively Izrāʾīl or Azrāʾīl), the angel of transformation and death. The other three archangels are Jibrai, Mīkhā'īl, and Isrāfīl. In the Qu’ran, Azrael isn’t named; he’s only referred to as Malak-al-Maut, which literally translates to “Angel of Death.” But Islamic tradition holds that Azrael is this legendary Angel of Death.

In Islamic mythology, Azrael was the only angel brave enough to face the devil on Earth. God needed an angel to do so in order to gain the materials necessary to create mankind. As a reward for his service and bravery, God made Azrael the Angel of Death. Azrael received a full register of all mankind on Earth, as well as the ability to recognize the blessed (who are encircled in light) and the damned (who are encircled in darkness).

According to Islamic tradition, the Angel of Death is cosmic in size. He has 4,000 wings and a massive body made of eyes and tongues. He has as many tongues and as many eyes as there are living human beings on Earth. Additionally, Azrael stands with one foot in Heaven and the other on the bridge that divides Heaven and Hell.

As the Angel of Death in Islam, Azrael doesn’t decide who will live or who will die. In fact, he doesn’t know anyone’s fate until a tree behind God’s throne drops a leaf bearing a person’s name. Once a leaf drops, Azrael has 40 days to separate the named person’s soul from their body. Depending on whether the person was a “believer” not, Azrael either gently transports the soul to paradise in the Islamic afterlife or hurls it back down to Earth.

Judaism

A permanently-appointed “angel of death” doesn’t exist in Jewish religious texts. In the Bible exist several instances where death is personified, and where God appoints “messengers” to reap souls from Earth. However, there’s no one archangel of death.

But later on, the Angel of Death became part of popular Jewish beliefs and teachings about the Jewish afterlife. He’s identified in the Talmud as an independent, demonic figure with “evil inclination.” More commonly, the Angel of Death appears in Jewish tradition and more modern mythologies as a benevolent messenger.

Judaism is a strictly monotheistic faith (believing in only one God). The Hebrew Bible describes the way in which God alone holds the power to return “man” to “dust.” But at times, God delegates the task to a messenger or “malakh.”

In the Bible, this messenger is one of God’s many angel servants. It’s described as the “Angel of the Lord,” and a being who smites and destroys human beings. The Bible depicts this delegate as standing between Earth and Heaven, wielding a sword in his hand. However, this “delegate” who God sends to reap souls on Earth is only temporary, as mentioned above. There’s no permanent Angel of Death referenced in the Bible.

Sikhism

The religious texts of Sikhism also mention Azrael as the Angel of Death, though to a lesser extent than Islam or Judaism.

In Sikh scriptures, written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, God sends Azrael to people who are unrepentant for their sins or unfaithful. Azrael then appears in human form on Earth, where he hits the sinful person over the head with his scythe to kill them. He extracts their soul from their body and takes them to Hell for punishment in the Sikh afterlife.

Crimson Glory - Azrael

Lyrics

Never been in the hell before

Now I'm falling, falling

Heaven's behind the door

And they're calling me again

Hidden beyond the light

And the darkness finds me

Help me escape tonight

Oh, I must find Azrael...

I am the darkness

Hiding within your mind

Walking beside you

I lock the gates to hell

I toll the final bell

I am forever

I am the blinding light

Probing the endless night

There's no escaping me

Wake in your darkest dreams

Go ahead and try to scream

No one can hear you now

Stare in the raven's eye

Your time has come to die

Welcome to my world

Stand at the end of space

Reach out to touch my face

I am omega

Azrael

I hold the lion's mane

I come in crimson rain

Purging the dark sky

I am the master

Guide to your chosen fate

I am Valhalla

Azrael, angel of mercy

Yeah

Beware my eyes'll find you

And see into your heart

And if you hold the evil

I'll rip you all apart

I'll cast your soul to Satan

Die by holy fire

Rise and stand before me

Burning on the pyre. Burn.

Fly on the wings of glory

Burn in the depths of hell

Your life creates the doorway

Death holds the key

Azrael, angel of mercy

Yeah

J.J. Hrubovcak - O Come, O Come, Azrael (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)

Lyrics

O come, O come, Earth's future lies in Hell

And all will worship Azrael

Who reigns in exaltation here

And whispers siren's call in man's ear

Rejoice!!!!!!

O Azrael

Shall come to thee, deliver man to hell

O come, Thou Rod of Satan, free

Cleanse earth from man's tyranny

In dreamstate, unaware you enslave

And draw Man closer to the grave

Rejoice!!!!!!

Man's on its way to hell

and helpless under Azrael

O come, Thou hailstorm cast Thy net of fear

On spirits by Thine advent here

Assemble swirling sands to erase,

With death’s dark shadows, man's whole earthen trace!

Rejoice!!!!!!

Man's on its way to hell

and helpless under Azrael