Moment of Death: Who Takes Away Souls?

TEHRAN (IQNA) – According to religious narrations, one’s soul leaves his or her body at the moment of death.

But who takes away the soul? Is it God, Angel Izrail or other angels?

In one verse, the Holy Quran attributes taking souls away to God:

“God will receive their souls when they die.” (Verse 42 of Surah Az-Zumar)

In another verse, it is attributed to the angel of death, Angel Izrail:

“(Muhammad), say, ‘The angel of death, who is appointed over everyone of you, will cause you to die and to your Lord you will all return.’” (Verse 11 of Surah As-Sajdah)

In another verse, it is attributed to other angels:

“He is the Conqueror over His worshipers. He sends forth guardians who watch over you until death comes to one of you, when Our messengers take him, and they are not neglectful.” (Verse 61 of Surah Al-Anaam)

These three verses are not contradictory because the angel of death and other angels are tasked by God to take away souls. So the one who actually receives souls is God.

According to a Hadith from Imam Sadiq (AS), the angel of death has helpers from among angels who take away souls in different parts of the world and give them to him and he gives them to God.

So attributing the act of taking away souls to God, to the angel of death and to other angels is not wrong.

It is like writing something that can be attributed to the pen, to the hand, and to the person.