the one on the right—and we likewise affirm our belief in the Angel of Death, appointed to seize the souls of every living being—records the good deeds, while the one on the left records the misdeeds: “Not a word does he utter but there is an ever-watchful recorder at hand” (Q 50:18). Two other angels accompany him, one in front and one behind, shielding him from any harm so long as Allah has decreed that he remain alive: “For each person there are successive angels before him and behind him, guarding him by Allah’s command” (Q 13:11). These angels repel dangers from him; yet when his appointed term arrives they withdraw, and whatever Allah has written for him comes to pass.

We hold all of this to be true. With such belief, we feel a sense of shame before these noble angels and therefore avoid sinful deeds and idle words, knowing that everything we do or say is being written down.

The Exalted says: “He is the Supreme over His servants, and He sends over you guardians; then, when death comes to any of you, Our messengers take him, and they never fail in their duty” (al-Anʿām 6:61). These messengers are angels, for messengers can be angels or human beings: “Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among mankind” (al-Ḥajj 22:75). “Our messengers take him, and they never fall short” (al-Anʿām 6:61); “If you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieve, striking their faces and their backs…” (al-Anfāl 8:50). In another verse He says: “The Angel of Death, who has been charged with you, will take your souls” (al-Sajdah 32:11).

Thus, in some verses the taking of souls is attributed to the angels in the plural, while in others it is assigned to a single angel. This shows that the angels have a chief—the Angel of Death.