Named Angels in the Quran and Hadith
The angels named directly in the Qur'an, those named in well-attested hadith, and the personal names that have become current in Islamic devotional literature. With scriptural attestation for each.
12 entries
- On this page
- 12 entries
- Examples
- Jibril, Mikail, Harut, Marut
- Every entry has
- Arabic spelling, meaning, and the letter-by-letter Ilm ul Huroof reading
What is on this page? The angels named directly in the Qur'an, those named in well-attested hadith, and the personal names that have become current in Islamic devotional literature. With scriptural attestation for each. Every name links to its full page.
The Islamic tradition holds that the angels (malāʾika) are countless and most are anonymous. Known to us only by function, not by name. The Qur'an names a small number directly: Jibril and Mikail (2:98), Harut and Marut (2:102), Malik the keeper of Hell (43:77). Function-names appear too. Raqib and Atid as the recording angels on either shoulder of every human (50:18), and the un-named "angel of death" (malak al-mawt, 32:11). Beyond the Qur'an, the prophetic hadith identifies a few more by personal name: Israfil who will sound the trumpet of resurrection, the questioning angels Munkar and Nakir, and the keeper of Paradise, Ridwan.
The name Azrael ('Azrāʾīl) for the angel of death is post-Qur'anic. It does not appear in the Qur'an or in the canonical hadith collections, but has become widely current in Islamic devotional literature. We list it here because Muslim families do encounter it. The angel's function, taking souls at their appointed time, is clearly Qur'anic (32:11, 6:61).
Below: the angels named in the Qur'an, those named in well-attested hadith, and the post-Qur'anic devotional names. Where a canonical AsrNaam page exists for the name as it is given to children (e.g. Jibril, Mikail, Malik, Ridwan), the card is linked. Otherwise the entry is informational only. These are angelic names by attribution rather than Muslim baby-naming practice.
Angels Named in the Qur'an (8)
- جبريلJibrilJibreel
- ميكائيلMikailMikael. The archangel, Quranic spelling
- هاروتHarutTested angel sent to Babylon. Quran 2:102.
- ماروتMarutTested angel sent to Babylon. Quran 2:102 (with Harut).
- رقيبRaqibRecording angel of right shoulder. Quran 50:18 (function-name).
- عتيدAtidRecording angel of left shoulder. Quran 50:18 (function-name).
- مالكMalikKeeper of Hell. Quran 43:77 (named).
- رضوانRidwanKeeper of Paradise. Hadith. Not named in Quran but well-attested in Sunni hadith.
Angels Named in Hadith / Devotional Tradition (4)
- إسرافيلIsrafilAngel of the Trumpet. Sahih Muslim, Hadith. The trumpet of resurrection.
- ملك الموتAzrael (Malak al-Mawt)Angel of Death. Quran 32:11 by function ("the angel of death"); the personal name Azrael is post-Qur'anic Islamic tradition.
- منكرMunkarAngel who questions in the grave. Multiple hadith. Tirmidhi.
- نكيرNakirAngel who questions in the grave (with Munkar). Multiple hadith. Tirmidhi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many angels are named in the Quran?
The Qur'an names only a small number of angels directly. Jibril (Gabriel) and Mikail (Michael) appear together in 2:98. Harut and Marut, two angels tested in Babylon, appear in 2:102. Malik, the keeper of Hell, is named in 43:77. The recording angels Raqib ('Atid's pair, right-shoulder) and Atid (left-shoulder) appear by function in 50:18. The "angel of death" appears by function only in 32:11; the personal name Azrael (Azrāʾīl) is post-Qur'anic Islamic tradition.
Is it permissible to name a child after an angel?
Classical Islamic legal opinion varies. Naming a son Jibril or Mikail is widely practiced in many Muslim communities, particularly in West Africa, the Balkans, and Turkic regions. Some scholars discourage angel names on the basis that the angels are non-human creatures with specific functions; others permit it as honourable. Each name page on AsrNaam notes the scholarly range.
Are Munkar and Nakir Quranic?
No. Munkar and Nakir, the two angels who question the soul in the grave, are named in the prophetic hadith literature (Tirmidhi and others) but not in the Qur'an. Their function, the post-burial interrogation, is, however, an Islamic doctrine grounded in widely-accepted hadith.