Which Angels Are Named in the Quran?
من هم الملائكة المذكورون بالاسم في القرآن الكريم؟
Gabriel, Michael and Malik (Harut and Marut, if we can consider them angels). And the Angel of Death, who was not mentioned by name.
(Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel should know that he revealed this ˹Quran˺ to your heart by Allah’s Will, confirming what came before it, a guide and good news for the believers.”) [Al-Baqarah 2:97]
(Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael, then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.) [Al-Baqarah 2:98]
(˹It will be better˺ if you ˹wives˺ both turn to Allah in repentance, for your hearts have certainly faltered. But if you ˹continue to˺ collaborate against him, then ˹know that˺ Allah Himself is his Guardian. And Gabriel, the righteous believers, and the angels are ˹all˺ his supporters as well.) [At-Tahreem 66:4]
Malik
(They will cry, “O Mâlik! Let your Lord finish us off.” He will answer, “You are definitely here to stay.”) [Az-Zukhruf 43:77]
(And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].") [Al-Baqarah 2:102]
Angel of Death
(Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Your soul will be taken by the Angel of Death, who is in charge of you. Then to your Lord you will ˹all˺ be returned.”) [As-Sajdah 32:11]
الملائكة هم: جبريل وميكائيل ومالك (هاروت وماروت إذا اعتبرناهم ملكين)، وملك الموت الذي لم يذكر اسمه.
(مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّـهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ) [البقرة 2: 98]
(إِن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا وَإِن تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ) [التحريم 66: 4]
(قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ) [البقرة 2: 97]
مالك
(وَنادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّاكِثُونَ) [الزخرف 43: 77]
(وَٱتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـٰرُوتَ وَمَـٰرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ) [البقرة 2: 102]
ملك الموت
(قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ) [السجدة 32: 11]
1. Jibril and Mika'il | جبريل وميكائيل
Allah says: whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, His messengers, Jibril and Mika'il, then Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers (2:98). Ibn Kathir explains that the two are named after the angels in general because the context defends Jibril: the Jews claimed Jibril was their enemy and Mika'il their ally, so Allah told them that whoever is hostile to one is hostile to the other and to Allah. Jibril brings the revelation, while Mika'il is entrusted with the rain and the plants. The Prophet's first meeting with Jibril is told in how the Prophet reacted after meeting Jibril. The verse before 2:98 says that Jibril brought the Quran down upon the Prophet's heart by Allah's permission (2:97), as explained in what revealed it to your heart means.
مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ (سورة البقرة: 98)
قال تعالى: (من كان عدوا لله وملائكته ورسله وجبريل وميكال فإن الله عدو للكافرين) (البقرة 2: 98). وبين ابن كثير أنهما خصا بالذكر بعد الملائكة لأن السياق في الانتصار لجبريل، فإن اليهود زعموا أن جبريل عدوهم وميكائيل وليهم، فأعلمهم أن من عادى واحدا منهما فقد عادى الآخر وعادى الله، وجبريل موكل بالوحي، وميكائيل موكل بالقطر والنبات.
2. Malik, Keeper of the Fire | مالك خازن النار
The people of the Fire will call out: O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us; he will say: you will surely remain (43:77).
وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّاكِثُونَ (سورة الزخرف: 77)
قال تعالى: (ونادوا يا مالك ليقض علينا ربك قال إنكم ماكثون) (الزخرف 43: 77).
3. Harut and Marut | هاروت وماروت
Harut and Marut are named in 2:102: what was sent down to the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Marut. Ibn Kathir reports that many of the early scholars held they were two angels sent down from heaven; others took the word what as a negation, and some read the word as two kings. This is why the answer above says: if we can consider them angels.
وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ (سورة البقرة: 102)
ذكر هاروت وماروت في قوله تعالى: (وما أنزل على الملكين ببابل هاروت وماروت) (البقرة 2: 102)، ونقل ابن كثير أن كثيرا من السلف ذهبوا إلى أنهما كانا ملكين من السماء أنزلا إلى الأرض، وذهب آخرون إلى أن "ما" نافية، وقرأ بعضهم "الملكين" بكسر اللام، ولهذا قال الجواب: إذا اعتبرناهم ملكين.
4. The Angel of Death | ملك الموت
Allah says: the Angel of Death, who has been put in charge of you, will take your souls (32:11). Ibn Kathir notes that the verse shows he is one particular angel, that he is called Azra'il in some reports, which is the well-known name, as Qatada and others said, and that he has helpers. The qualities of the angels are described in the physical qualities of the angels. How souls are taken at death and in sleep is explained in the minor death and the major death.
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ (سورة السجدة: 11)
قال تعالى: (قل يتوفاكم ملك الموت الذي وكل بكم ثم إلى ربكم ترجعون) (السجدة 32: 11). وذكر ابن كثير أن الظاهر من الآية أن ملك الموت شخص معين من الملائكة، وأنه قد سمي في بعض الآثار بعزرائيل وهو المشهور، قاله قتادة وغير واحد، وله أعوان.
5. Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil | رب جبرائيل وميكائيل وإسرافيل
Aishah said that when the Prophet rose at night he would open his prayer with: O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your servants in what they differ over; guide me to the truth in what they differ over, by Your permission (Sahih Muslim 770). Ibn Kathir notes that Israfil is entrusted with blowing the trumpet. More on the angels is in how many angels there are.
قالت عائشة رضي الله عنها: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام من الليل افتتح صلاته: "اللهم رب جبرائيل وميكائيل وإسرافيل، فاطر السموات والأرض، عالم الغيب والشهادة، أنت تحكم بين عبادك فيما كانوا فيه يختلفون، اهدني لما اختلف فيه من الحق بإذنك" (صحيح مسلم 770). وذكر ابن كثير أن إسرافيل موكل بالصور للنفخ.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which angels are named in the Quran?
Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael) and Malik, with Harut and Marut if they are counted as angels.
Is the Angel of Death named in the Quran?
No. He is mentioned by his title (32:11). Ibn Kathir notes that he is called Azra'il in some reports and that this is the well-known name.
Who is Malik?
The keeper of the Fire, to whom its people will call out: O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us (43:77).
What is Mika’il entrusted with?
Ibn Kathir says Mika’il is entrusted with the rain and the plants, as Jibril is with the revelation.