Why Are the Angels of Death Called “Messengers” (Resûl) in the Qur’an?
📜 Why Are the Angels of Death Called “Messengers” (Resûl) in the Qur’an?
In the Qur’an, referring to the angels of death as “resûl” (messengers) invites us to view death not as a mere biological end, but as a divine summons, an official notification, and a purposeful mission. This expression clearly reflects God’s absolute control over death, His system of justice, and the way He communicates with His servants. According to the Qur’an, death is not the end; it is the declaration of a return to God. The angels of death are thus the divine envoys of this transition, serving as official messengers who deliver this ultimate summons.
📌 What Does “Resûl” Mean?
The Arabic word resûl means “a sent one, a messenger who delivers a message.” In the Qur’an, this concept has multiple layers:
📖 Prophets – those who convey God’s revelation to humankind.
📖 Angelic Envoys – angels who fulfill divine commands such as delivering mercy, punishment, or taking souls at death.
📖 All Divine Messengers – beings assigned to communicate God’s will to creation.
Thus, the angels of death being called resûl signifies their role as more than mere “soul-takers”; they are bearers of divine messages and representatives of God’s order.
📖 The Angels of Death as Official Messengers in the Qur’an
🔹 Surah Al-An‘ām 6:61
“When death comes to one of you, Our messengers take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.”
This verse underscores the reality of death as part of a divine organization:
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📌 Every death is preordained.
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📌 The angels of death act on God’s behalf.
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📌 They are flawless and timely in their mission.
Hence, death is not random or mechanical; it is a meticulously orchestrated process within God’s perfect system.
🕊️ Death as a Divine Summons
📢 Death is a call from God
In the Qur’anic perspective, death is not merely a biological cessation but a divine invitation:
“O My servant! Your worldly mission has ended; now is the time to meet your Lord.”
This summons is conveyed by the messenger angels, who act as official envoys at the threshold of the afterlife.
⚙️ Death: A Planned and Conscious Process
The angels, sent as messengers (resûl), do not arbitrarily take lives:
“No soul can ever die except by God’s leave, at a predetermined term.” (Āl-i ʿImrān 3:145)
Every death is subject to divine permission, timing, and a precise mechanism, highlighting how deeply programmed and intentional the process is.
🔄 The Concept of “Wafāt” – The Surrender of the Soul
In the Qur’an, the term wafāt (تَوَفّى) is often used for death, even more than mawt (death). Wafāt literally means “to take in full, to receive completely.”
Examples:
📖 Surah Az-Zumar 39:42
“God takes the souls at the time of their death, and those who do not die [He takes] during their sleep...”
📖 Surah Al-An‘ām 6:60
“It is He who takes your souls by night...”
📖 Surah Al-An‘ām 6:61
“Our messengers take his soul in full...”
Thus, wafāt is the surrender of consciousness to God, a duty carried out by the messenger angels.
💬 The Angels Do More Than Execute; They Also Convey a Message
The Qur’an even quotes the words of these angels:
📖 Surah An-Nahl 16:32
“The angels take the souls of those who were pure, saying: ‘Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you used to do.’”
This is not a mere act of taking life but also an act of greeting, an invitation, and a divine announcement. Here, the angels clearly fulfill the role of official messengers.
🌌 The Manifestation of Divine Power and Justice
✦ God’s Sovereignty Over Every Stage
If even death occurs through divine envoys, this illustrates how God’s absolute authority permeates every moment and process:
“Every soul shall taste death. Then you will be returned to Us.” (Al-ʿAnkabūt 29:57)
✦ The Beginning of Accountability
Death marks the entrance into the system of the afterlife. Its occurrence through a messenger highlights the seriousness of this transition and the commitment to divine justice.
🔍 The Program of Creation: Human Nature and the Angels of Death
Human beings are created with a divine “program” in which bodily functions like sleep and death are encoded.
Just as a person cannot resist sleep, they also cannot resist death. Sleep is described in the Qur’an as a temporary wafāt, and death as its permanent counterpart.
The angels of death are the official executors of this final stage in the program. From the moment of creation, humans are destined for death; it is the final line in their “script,” and the angel is the one who reads and executes it.
🏁 Conclusion: Death Is an Official Notification
By describing the angels of death as resûl, the Qur’an communicates the following truths:
🕊️ Every death happens with God’s knowledge and permission.
📜 Death is a divine summons, an official notification.
👁️🗨️ The angels are not mere executors but bearers of God’s message and representatives of His justice.
🤲 Wafāt is the full surrender of the soul to God, a task performed by the messenger angels.
⚖️ Death is the beginning of the journey back to God; it is declared through divine language and a perfect system.
“Death is an official proclamation; the angels of death are the divine envoys who deliver this proclamation. This is why they are called resûl.”
⚠️ Note
The views, reflections, and interpretations in this text are the result of human effort. Please weigh every statement carefully against the full guidance of the Qur’an. Truth belongs to God alone; any error is ours.
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