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Azrael

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This article is about the angel of death. For other uses, see Azriel (disambiguation).

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Artistic depiction of Azrael, the Angel of Death, by Evelyn De Morgan.

Azrael is the name of the Archangel of Death in some extrabiblical traditions. He is also the angel of death in Islamic theology and Sikism. It is an English form of the Arabic name ʿIzrāʾīl (عزرائيل) or Azra'eil (عزرایل), the name traditionally attributed to the angel of death in Islam and Sikhism, as well as some Hebrew lore.[1][2] The Qur'an never uses this name, referring instead to Malak al-Maut (which translates directly as angel of death). It is also spelled Izrail, Azrin, Izrael, Azriel, Azrail, Ezraeil, Azraille, Azryel, Ozryel, or Azraa-eel. Chambers English dictionary uses the spelling Azrael. The name literally means Whom God Helps.[1], an adaptation form of Hebrew.

Background

Azrael, is the name commonly used in reference to the angel of death in Islamic religions, some Jewish beliefs and Christian stories. Both Muslims and Jews are known to pronounce the name as "Azriel", not "Azrael"(The similar spelling and pronounciation may be the cause of some confusion or misunderstandings. It has been mentioned that "Azriel" and "Azrael" may be two different individuals.)

Depending on the outlook and precepts of various religions in which he is a figure, Azrael may be portrayed as residing in the Third Heaven.[3] In one of his forms, he has four faces and four thousand wings, and his whole body consists of eyes and tongues, the number of which corresponds to the number of people inhabiting the Earth. He will be the last to die, recording and erasing constantly in a large book the names of men at birth and death, respectively.[4]

In Judaism

In Jewish mysticism he is sometimes identified as the embodiment of evil, not necessarily or specifically evil itself.[1] However, he is commonly referred to as "Azriel" not "Azrael" in Jewish mysticism. However, the Zohar (the holy book of the branch of Judaism called Kabbalah), presents a more pleasant depiction of Azriel. The Zohar says that Azriel receives the prayers of faithful people when they reach heaven, and also commands legions of heavenly angels.

In Christianity

Some sources have speculated about a connection between Azrael and the human priest Ezra,[5] or "Azra" as it is sometimes pronounced or spelled. Azra/Ezra was a scribe and judge over his people, given a collection of laws and punishments from the Archangel Uriel in 2 Esdras, also mentioning he entered heaven "without tasting Death's taint". Depending on various views of that description, it may or may not been seen as Azra ascending to angelic form, which the would give him the suffix "el" to denote him as an angelic being, hence "Azrael" or "Ezraiel". Because Azra was a judge, and given power to enforce laws and punishment, Azrael could be seen as an "avenging angel" (Similar to how he is mentioned by the character in D.C. comics). However, 2 Esdras' authenticity has been challenged for many reasons, and is not considered canonical in most Bibles or Christian beliefs. A story from "Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish" by J. E. Hanauer tells of a soldier with a gambling addiction avoiding Azrael. Because the soldier goes to Jesus and asks for help, then later must see Jesus and repent to be allowed back in Heaven, this is seen as a Christian account of Azrael. However, it does not specify whether Azrael is an angel of death, or an angel of punishment in this story.

In Sikhism

In Sikh scriptures written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, God (Waheguru) sends Azrael only to people who are unfaithful and unrepentant for their sins. Azrael appears on Earth in human form and hits sinful people on the head with his scythe to kill them and extract their souls from their bodies. Then he takes their souls to hell, and makes sure that they get the punishment that Waheguru decrees once he judges them. This would potray him as more of an avenging angel, or angel of retribution than a simple angel of death. It is unknown which story of Azrael this view is taken from.

Riffian (Berber) men of Morocco had the custom of shaving the head but leaving a single lock of hair on either the crown, left, or right side of the head, so that the angel Azrael is able "...to pull them up to heaven on the Last Day."[6]

In Islam

Azrael, also pronounced as Azrail/Azriel, is the name given to the angel of death in Muslim literature as well. Along with Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and other angels, Azriel is believed by Muslims to be one of the archangels[7]. The Qur'an states that the angel of death takes the soul of every person and returns it to God[8]. However, the Qur'an makes it clear that only God knows when and where each person will be taken by death[9], thus making it clear that Azriel has no power of his own. Several Muslim traditions recount meetings between Azriel and the prophets, the most famous being a conversation between Azriel and Moses[10]. He watches over the dying, separates the soul from the body, and receives the spirits of the dead in Muslim belief. Rather than merely representing death personified, Azriel is usually described in Islamic sources as subordinate to the will of God "with the most profound reverence."[11] However, there is no reference within the Quran or any Islamic teachings giving the angel of death this name.

In art and literature

Azrael, as both a character or a more abstract concept has been adopted by many different artists, musicians, poets, and authors over the centuries to express or evoke a variety of different meanings or emotions in the reader – often drawing on the cultural resonance of the name for effect.

Depiction of Azrael by Mikhail Vrubel.

In literature, Azrael has been featured by a variety of authors, across a broad range of styles and countries.

  • In music, Azrael has been written about in both songs and albums by such varied acts as Toyah, Metallica, Demons & Wizards, Coil, The Nice, Crimson Glory, VNV Nation, Marduk, Masada and Udo.
  • In the Kevin Smith movie Dogma, Azrael was a character played by Jason Lee as a fallen muse and demon.
  • Azrael is the main character in Anne Rice's Servant of the Bones.
  • In Terry Pratchett's Discworld universe, Azrael is an entity of immense scope and size which is to universes what the character Death is to living beings on the Discworld. The Apocalyptic Horseman representing Death in Pratchett and Gaiman's book Good Omens also calls itself Azrael before its final exit.
  • In DC Comics, Azrael is an assassin trained by the religious cult of the Order of St. Dumas. The most famous version of the character was Jean Paul Valley, who briefly filled in as Batman during the Knightfall saga. The current Azrael is former Gotham City cop Michael Lane.
  • In Marvel Comics, Azrael is the warrior/angel of death whom Wolverine has to fight every time he suffers a lethal wound in order to save his soul, which is returned to his physical body if he is victorious.[12]
  • In Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series, Azrael is portrayed as the New York City socialite Madeleine 'Mimi' Force.
  • The Baron of Hell Azrael, is a character in Paul Doherty's novel The Plague Lord.
  • In the episode Stowaway from Fringe, a nun tells Dana Gray the story of The Ascension of Azrael, a sinner condemned to purgatory who the angels interceded to God on behalf of him, but God denied their request to allow him into heaven. Because of this, the angels descended into purgatory and brought Azrael into heaven, telling God he had suffered enough as reason. The combined innocence of the angels outweighed Azrael's sin and allowed him into heaven, similar to Tyconius's rule on The Lord's Bipartite Body, wherein Jesus Christ outweighs any and all sinners in The Church.
  • In King's Quest: Mask of Eternity, Azriel is the Lord of Death, the ruler of the Dimension of Death.
  • In Diablo II A character Tyrael is featured in Act IV that is a similar representation of Azrael as an Arch Angel that brings you back to life from the dead.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Azrael.

References

  1. ^ a b c Davidson, Gustav (1967), A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, Entry: Azrael, pp. 64, 65, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757
  2. ^ [http://www.sacred-texts.com/skh/granth/gr07.htm Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section 07 - Raag Gauree - Part 165, "Azraa-eel, the Angel of Death, shall crush them like sesame seeds in the oil-press."
  3. ^ Davidson, Gustav (1967), A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, Entry: Third Heaven, p. 288, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757
  4. ^ Hastings, James, Selbie, John A. (Editors) (2003), Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Part 3, Kessinger Publishing, 2003, ISBN 076613671X
  5. ^ Who is Azrael? The Man to the Myth, The Azrael Chronicles: A Compendium of the Books of Azrael ha'Malak, wgOfAzrael.org
  6. ^ El Maghreg: 1200 Miles' Ride Through Morocco, Hugh Edward Millington Stutfield pppp
  7. ^ Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, Brannon M. Wheeler, Azrael
  8. ^ Qur'an 32:11
  9. ^ Qur'an 31:34
  10. ^ Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, Brannon M. Wheeler, Azrael
  11. ^ Hanauer, J.E. (1907), Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish, Chapter V: The Angel of Death, at sacred-texts.com
  12. ^ Wolverine, vol.3, #58, writer Marc Guggenheim, artist Howard Chaykin, color artist, Edgar Delgado (Oct. 2007)
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