Angels are in charge of taking the souls when the prescribed time of the
slave is over. Allah says, 'Say, 'The angel of death, who is set over you, will
take your souls.' Then to your Lord you will return.' [(32): 11]
Imam Ahmad recorded a long Hadeeth from Baraa ibn Azib, which mentions that the
angel of death has helpers. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said,
'When a believing slave is reaching the end of his term in the life of this
world and the beginning of his term in the Hereafter; a group of angels, whose
faces are white and radiant as the sun, will descend unto him from heaven. They
will carry with them a white shroud from Paradise, and fragrance for enshrouding
from Paradise. They will sit as far from him as the sight goes. Then, the angel
of death will come until he sits right next to his head, saying, 'O good and
pure soul! Depart (your body) to Allah's forgiveness and pleasure.' So the soul
flows (out of its body), just as the drop flows out from the tip of the jug, and
the angel of death captures it. When he captures the soul, they (the group of
angels) will not leave it with him for more than an instance…' Imam Ibn Katheer
(rahimahullah) quotes Mujahid under the Tafseer of the verse 32:11, 'The earth
is brought together for him (i.e., the angel of death) and it is like a platter
from which he takes whatever he wants.'
The angels take the souls of the believers with kindness and gentleness (See,
Soorah Fussilat (41): 30-31). Whereas they take the souls of the disbelievers
and sinners in a harsh and severe manner, with no gentleness or kindness, and
giving them the tiding of Hell. (See, Soorah al-An'am (6): 93)
There is no evidence to prove that the name of the Angel of Death is
Azraa'eel
Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen (rahimahullah) said in Fatawa Ibn Uthaimeen (3/161),
'The Angel of Death' is well known by the name Azraa'eel, but this is not
correct. Rather, this was narrated from Jewish sources. So we should not believe
in this name, and we should call the one who is appointed over death 'the angel
of death (Malakul-Mawt),' as Allah called him in the verse, 'Say, The angel of
death, who is set over you, will take your souls. Then you shall be brought to
your Lord.' [Soorah as-Sajdah (32): 11]’
