Azrael, also known as Azraaiyl or Azra'eil, is the name of the Archangel of Death in some extra-biblical traditions. He is also referred to as the Angel of Death in Islamic theology, known as Malak al-Maut, earning that title and that duty by assisting God in the creation of Adam, by gathering the clay from the Earth itself.
Mythology[]
Judaism[]
In Judaism, Azrael is one of the angels of death and his role is being a psychopomp that sends souls to the otherworld, but Azrael is not considered part of the canon by the Jews.
Christianity[]
In Christianity, Azrael is not mentioned, but exists in an apocryphal story, where a human called Azra is ordered for Michael, with the objective to judge people, here Azra ascended to heaven and presumably became into the angel called Azrael.
Islam[]
Azrael, along with Jibrāʾīl, Mīkāʾīl, and Isrāfīl are members of the four angels of Islam, Azrael is responsible for taking the souls of people and in some versions has a role in the creation of Adam.
Azrael in the Dictionnaire Infernal[]
The Infernal Dictionary is a book of demonology written in 1818 by the French occultist Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy. The entry for Azrael is as follows:
| “ | Azrael, or Azrail, the angel of death. It is said that this angel, passing one day in visible form near Solomon, stared intently at a man sitting beside him. This man asked who was looking at him thus, and, having learned from Solomon that it was the angel of death, said: “He seems to bear me a grudge; command the wind, I beg you, to carry me off to India.” This was done immediately. Then the angel said to Solomon: “It is not surprising that I considered this man with such attention: I have orders to go and take his soul from India, and I was surprised to find him near you in Palestine…” — See Death , Soul , etc. — Muhammad cited this story to prove that no one can escape their destiny. — Azrael is different from Israfil.[1] | ” |
Gallery[]
| List of Angels | |
|---|---|
| Seraphim | Agiel • Gabriel • Yahoel • Matriel • Raphael • Seraphiel • Uriel |
| Cherubim | Azazel • Gabriel • Gadreel • Gamaliel • Kerubiel • Lucifer • Michael • Ophaniel • Paimon • Rikbiel • Sachiel |
| Thrones | Abaddon • Mitzrael • Murmur • Ophaniel • Pahaliah • Raum |
| Dominons | Balam • Camael • Marchosias • Muriel • Paimon • Vasiariah |
| Virtues | Agares • Barbatos |
| Powers | Amy • Crocell • Gaap • Vual |
| Principalities | Cambiel • Hahasiah • Imamiah • Mebahiah • Nanael • Nithael • Poyel • Vehuel |
| Archangels | Abaddon • Adriel • Agiel • Arakiel • Ariel • Azazel • Azrael • Barachiel • Baraqiel • Barbiel • Beburos • Camael • Cambiel • Cassiel • Chamuel • Dadrail • Gabriel • Gamaliel • Hamaliel • Haniel • Hofniel • Israfil • Jegudiel • Jerahmeel • Jophiel • Kadkadael • Kepharel • Kundaliel • Matriel • Metatron • Michael • Mitzrael • Phanuel • Pravuil • Raguel • Ramiel • Raphael • Raziel • Sabriel • Sachiel • Sahaquiel • Samael • Sandalphon • Sarathiel • Sariel • Selaphiel • Shamnail • Tawûsî Melek • Turail • Uriel • Uziel • Verchiel • Zachariel • Zadkiel • Zagagel • Zaphkiel • Zephaniel • Zuriel |
| Angels | Amy • Caim • Hutriel • Kushiel • Mastema |
| Watchers | Abaddon • Ananiel • Arakiel • Armaros • Asbeel • Azazel • Baraqiel • Bezaliel • Chazaqiel • Daniel • Gadreel • Jequn • Kokabiel • Penemue • Ramiel • Samyaza • Sariel • Sathariel • Shamsiel • Tamiel • Turiel • Yomiel • Zaqiel |
| Fallen Angels | Agares • Amy • Asbeel • Azazel • Balam • Belial • Caim • Crocell • Gaap • Harut • Lucifer • Marchosias • Marut • Mastema • Murmur • Paimon • Ramiel • Raum • Samael • Satan • Tamiel • Vual • Xaphan |
| Miscellaneous | Chalkydri • Naphil |