Azrael

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, 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.

## OVERVIEW:

He is the current Archangel of Death in heaven, while Samael resides in hell, and Abbadon safeguards the bottomless abyss. During the war in heaven, he defeated Abyzou and Agares, along with multiple other demons. Due to his bravery in the post-war period, he earned a place among the seven archangels.

Azrael maintains a strong connection with both Mammon and Astaroath.

## IN THEOLOGY:

The Hebrew Bible does not mention an angel by the name Azrael, and it does not appear in the rabbinic literature of the Talmuds or Midrashim. Traditional rabbinic Judaism does not treat such an angel as canonical. However, an angel with a similar name, Azriel (עזריאל), is cited in Kabbalistic literature like the Zohar.

Despite the absence of this figure in Judaism, the name Azrael suggests a Hebrew theophoric origin, meaning "the one whom God helps." Archeological evidence from Jewish settlements in Mesopotamia confirms its historical use, as seen on an Aramaic incantation bowl from the 7th century. However, as the text only lists names, there is no identifiable association of this angelic name with death in Judaism.

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

Islam further elaborated on narratives concerning the relationship between Azrael and Death. According to some scholars, Azrael and Death were considered a single entity. On the other hand, other exegetical scholars posited that Azrael and Death were distinct entities, with Death serving as a tool employed by Azrael to take life.

One account details the creation of Death and its connection to Azrael, initially portraying them as separate entities. When God created Death, the angels were ordered to observe, leading them to faint for a thousand years. Upon regaining consciousness, Death acknowledged its submission to Azrael. This perspective was shared by Islamic scholars such as Sultan ibn ‘Abdirrahman Al-‘Umairi, who, in his book Al-‘Uquud Adz-Dzahabiyyah ‘alaa Maqaasid Al-‘Aqiidah Al-Waasithiyyah, provided commentary on the Hadith stating that Death would materialize after judgment day in the form of a ram—a different entity from the angel Azrael. According to another narration, Azrael was rewarded by becoming the angel of death for successfully carrying the earth's dirt from which Adam would be created.

The identification of "Death" and the angel Azrael as a single entity is explained in a Hadith regarding the fate of the "Death" entity after judgment day. Classical Hanafite scholar Badr al-Din al-Ayni interpreted a Hadith in the Sahih Bukhari collection, suggesting that Death would take on the form of a ram, placed between paradise and hell, and eventually slaughtered by God Himself. This act causes Death to cease to exist, and God declares to the inhabitants of both paradise and hell that eternity has begun, and their states will never end. Lange noted that some scholars believe the ram in this Hadith is none other than the angel of death, while others assert it represents Death's form in the hereafter. In another account sourced from Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Azrael and Death are considered one entity, with the angel having a number of faces and hands equal to the number of living creatures on his body. Each face and hand are connected with the life of individual souls in the living world, and the disappearance of a face within Azrael's body signifies the death of the corresponding soul.

## POWERS AND ABILITIES:

**Soul Guidance**: Azrael possesses the power to guide departed souls to their destined afterlife, ensuring a peaceful transition and preventing spiritual unrest.

**Ethereal Wings:** Manifesting majestic, ethereal wings, Azrael can soar across celestial realms with grace and speed, overseeing the cosmic balance of life and death.

**Judgment Gaze**: Azrael possesses a penetrating gaze that can discern the essence of a soul, enabling just and fair judgment based on the individual's actions and intentions during their earthly existence.

**Life-Healing Touch:** In moments of divine intervention, Azrael can touch living beings, healing injuries or ailments, and bestowing a renewed sense of purpose.

**Dimensional Travel**: The archangel has the ability to traverse between dimensions, moving seamlessly between the realms of heaven, earth, and the afterlife.

**Memory Reckoning**: Azrael can unveil and evaluate the memories of souls, ensuring that the true nature of one's life is considered in the cosmic scales of judgment.

**Celestial Resonance**: Azrael can emit a celestial resonance that brings comfort to those in times of grief, soothing the souls of the bereaved and offering solace.

**Temporal Awareness**: With a heightened sense of time, Azrael can perceive the threads of fate and foresee critical moments, aiding in the divine orchestration of events.

**Harmony Manipulation**: Azrael can manipulate celestial energies to restore balance and harmony within the cosmic order, ensuring that life and death coexist in equilibrium.

**Divine Scythe**: Symbolizing the transition between life and death, Azrael wields a celestial scythe that serves both defensively and offensively, cutting through negative energies and safeguarding the divine realms.

**Archangwl Physiology**: Azrael possess all the basic powers of an archangel.