Israfil (Arabic: إِسْـرَافِـيْـل, ʾIsrāfīl) or Israfel[1] is the angel who blows the trumpet to signal Qiyamah (the Day of Judgment) in Islam.[2] Though unnamed in the Quran, he is one of the four archangels in Islamic tradition, along with Michael, Gabriel, and Azrael.[1] The "Book of Dead" described Israfil as the oldest of all archangels.[3] He is commonly thought of as the counterpart of the Judeo-Christian archangel Raphael.[4][5]
Israfil writes with the pen (qalam) the destiny of humans and all commands of God to the (other) archangels. With another wing, Israfil carries the pen, with another Israfil covers his face unable to look at God.[6]
Israfil is mentioned in a hadith as the angel nearest to God, mediating the commands of God to the other archangels.[7] Although the name Israfil does not appear in the Quran, a figure blowing a trumpet is repeatedly alluded to, and is assumed to be this figure:
And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except him whom Allah will ; then it shall be blown again, then they shall stand up awaiting.
Kitab aḥwāl al-qiyāma, states:
Know that Israfil is the master of the horn [al-qarn]. God created the preserved tablet [al-lawḥ al-maḥfuz] of white pearl. Its length is seven times the distance between the heaven and the earth and it is connected to the Throne. All that exists until the day of resurrection is written on it. Israfil has four wings--one in the East, one in the West, one covering his legs and one shielding his head and face in fear of God. His head is inclined toward the Throne .... No angel is nearer to the throne than Israfil. Seven veils are between him and the Throne, each veil five hundred years distance from the next; seventy veils are between Jibril and Israfil. While he is standing the trumpet [ṣur] is placed on his right · thigh and the head of the trumpet on his mouth. He awaits the command of God, and when God commands he will blow. And when the period of the world is completed, the trumpet will be brought near the face of Israfil and he will fold his four wings and blow the trumpet.[8][9]
Due to his beautiful voice, he is also the Muezzin of those in Heaven.[10]
Kitab aḥwāl al-qiyāma states he has four wings, however, another tradition mention that he has twelve.[11]
A few reports assume that Israfil had visited Muhammad before Gabriel did.[12]
According Saudi scholar Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid, Quranic exegesis (tafsir) states that Israfil will blow the trumpet two times.[13] The first blow will kill all creatures and creations except Israfil himself.[14] Later, Israfil will blow the trumpet for the second time, then all creatures will be revived and wait for judgment.[13]
Aside from his task to blow the Armageddon trumpet, Israfil is mentioned in non-canonical hadith as one of archangels who bear the Throne of God on their back (Hamalat al-Arsh).[15] Meanwhile, According to a Tabi'un tradition which sourced from a Tabi'un named Abdurrahman ibn Sabith, the task of Israfil were transmitting tasks from God to another archangels such as Gabriel, Mikail, and Azrael.[16]
Israfil also said to have been sent along with the other three Islamic archangels to collect dust from the four corners of the earth,[9] though only Azrael succeeded in this mission.[17] It was from this dust that Adam, the first man and Prophet was formed.[18]
According to another traditions, Israfil believed to have helped Muhammad overcome his adversaries significantly during the Battle of Badr, where according to scholars and clerics of Islam, the various hadiths, both authentics and inauthentics, that Gabriel,[19] Israfil, and Michael,[20] [Notes 1] along with another thousands of best angels from third level of sky, all came to the battle of Badr by impersonating appearance of Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, a Companions of the Prophet and bodyguard of the prophet.[Notes 2][24] This are deemed as Zubayr personal honor according to Islamic belief.[25][26][Notes 3]
Inayat Khan ascribes to Israfil the role of an inspirer who explains revelation.[28]
Israfil has been associated with a number of other angelic names not pertaining to Islam, including Uriel,[4] and Raphael.[5]
Quoting Ibnul Mubarak from a book of az-Zuhd; ad Durr al-Manshur, chain narration from Ibnul Mubarak to Ibn SHihab (1/92)
Tafsir Al-Qurthubi, 7/20 (Maktabah Syamilah); At-Tadzkirah bi Ahwaalil Mauta wa Umuuril Akhirah, 1/488 (Maktabah Syamilah).; Fathul Baari 11/368 (Maktabah Syamilah); see Al-Imaan bimaa Ba'dal Maut, p. 112. ; Syarh Al-Ibanah: Al-Imaan bin Nafkhi Ash-Shuur, 5/33.; Syarh Al-'Aqidah Al-Washithiyyah, 1/59-60 (Maktabah Asy-Syamilah). while in another book: وذلك أن الله سبحانه وتعالى يأمر اسرافيل وهو أحد الملائكة الموكلين بحمل العرش أن ينفخ في الصور (Syarh Al-'Aqidah As-Safariyaniyyah, 1/467).
Hadith narration from Abu Syaikh al-Ashbahani dalam al-Adzamah, no. 294
[ يا آدم بر حجك ] " ما يروى عن آدم -عليه السلام- أنه لما حج قالت له الملائكة: «يا آدم بر حجك»: غير ثابت. " [من فوائد جلسة مع طلبة العلم /16/ذو الحجة/1432 ] __________________ " ... فهل يحسن بنا وقد أنضينا قرائحنا في تعلم هذه السنة المطهرة، وبذلنا في العمل بها جهد المستطيع، وركبنا المخاطر في الدعوة إليها؛ هل يحسن بنا بعد هذا كله أن نسكت لهؤلاء عن هذه الدعوى الباطلة، ونوليهم منا ما تولوا ونبلعهم ريقهم، وهل يحسن بنا أن لا يكون لنا في الدفاع عنها ما كان منا في الدعوة إليها؟ إنا إذن لمقصرون!..."
4488 - Narrated Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ya'kub, through Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Saadi , on the authority of Muhammad bin Khalid bin Athmah, on the authority of Musa bin Yaqub , who reported Abu Huwayrith , that Muhammad bin Jabir bin Mut'im, told him
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