() is typically known as one of the names of the Angel of Death , and is an English form of the Arabic name ''Izrail'', the name traditionally attributed to the angel of death in Islam , although the name ''Malaikat Maut'' (which is a direct translation of ''angel of death'') is usually used in in the Qur'an . It is also spelled ''Azrail'', ''Ashriel'', ''Azaril'', and ''Azriel''. The name literally means ''whom God helps''.
He is generally depicted as an Archangel under the command of God and usually not in a fashion similar to those associated with darker incarnations of Death Personified . Depending on the outlook and precepts of various Religion s in which he is a figure, Azrael is portrayed as residing in the third Heaven . He has four faces and four thousand wings, and his whole body consists of eyes and tongues, the number of which corresponds to the number of people inhabiting the earth. He will be the last to die, recording and erasing constantly in a large book the names of men at birth and death, respectively. Hastings, ''Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics'' IV, 617
In Muslim tradition, Azrael is forever writing in a large book and forever erasing what he writes; what he writes is the name of a man at birth, and what he erases is that said name at death. Also, in Islamic legend, God is said to have sent out four angels, Michael, Gabriel, Israfel, and Azrael, on a mission to retrieve seven handfuls of earth for the creation of Adam. The Earth asked the Michael, Gabriel, and Israfel "not to take the soil in the name of Allah", hence they returned to God empty-handed. When asked by God (Allah) they told what Earth said to them. However, Azrael who was 4th and last one sent to attempt this mission, had succeeded in wrestling soil away from the earth. When he brought the soil to God, he was asked that had earth not asked him not to take the soil in the name of thy Lord. He told God that Earth did but he was also under His (God's) Command. God in return asked Azrael that does he not respect Him (God) in the way other three archangels do. For not listening to Earth's request in the name of Allah, he was appointed as the angel of death with the task of separating human souls from their bodies, as a punishment. Even though Azrael is under punishment, God has called for all humanity to respect and believe in him.
- makes a brief but memorable appearance in Terry Pratchett 's novel '' Reaper Man ''. While there are many deaths for different worlds (who are themselves divided into deaths for different creatures) in the Discworld novels, Azrael, as the Death of Universes, is their ruler. All other Deaths are aspects of him.
- In the sci-fi flight simulator Freespace 2 , a Shivan capital ship is classified as the Azrael.
- In Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's trilogy ''The Rose of the Prophet'', Asrial is the name of a young guardian angel - an immortal serving the good god Promenthas.
- Jason Lee played the character Azrael, a forsaken muse with a hidden agenda, in Kevin Smith's movie '' Dogma '' (though the film gives the Loki -like character the name Azrael, and the Azrael-like character the name Loki).
- There is also a novel ''Azrael'' by the German author Wolfgang Hohlbein. Azrael is a Codename for a special drug to enhance human skills for military purposes.
- In Yoshiki Tanaka 's novel '' The Heroic Legend Of Arslan '', Azrael (or Azrail) is the name of a hawk. The name is translated to Japanese as 'Kokushitenshi' (告死天使) which means 'Angel Who Announces Death'.
- In the computer game Disciples 2 Azrael is the Guardian of the Empire Capital. It is very powerful and uses the attack Holy Wrath.
- In the science-fiction setting of the Warhammer 40,000 strategy war game, the Dark Angels Chapter Master is known as Commander Azrael, Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels.
- In the fictional Batman universe, Azrael is another masked and costumed Superhero , a mostly-faithful ally to Batman himself and his allies. Real name Jean Paul Valley, he stood in for Bruce Wayne as Batman during the Knightfall saga.
- A 'Prince Azrael' was also a wizarding cat who appeared briefly in Spyro The Dragon
- is also an anagram for the Name Raziel which was used in the Legacy of Kain's Soul Reaver , though this is not intentional, as Raziel is the name of another archangel.
- In the video game Chaos Legion , is the forbidden spirit of chaos, one of the final bosses in the game.
- In the Dragon King series by Stephen Lawhead , Azrael is the ruler of the underworld, frequently invoked in interjections.
- In the computer game Diablo II, one of the Desert Warrior mercenaries that can be purchased in Act II is named Azrael.
- In the webcomic Casey and Andy, Azrael attempted to take control of hell, failed, and was killed by a divine lightning bolt.
- In the Mists of Everness series, Azrael appears as an evil sorcerer, formerly Merlin, who has forsaken his previous name through acts of evil.
- The 1999 self-titled album by Demons & Wizards features a three song epic about a gnome named Azrael, "who is unhappy with the universe he created and begins to disassemble it." (http://www.demonsandwizards.za.net/ns_demonsandwizards.htm).
- The 1986 's album ''Horse Rotorvator'' by Coil , which contains only songs devoted to death, features ''The golden section'' describing visions of death in different cultural traditions, also Azrael. The lyrics can be read here .
- Azrael is an artist in Seattle's highly localized Oldominion crew.
- ''Asrael'' is a symphony by Czech composer Josef Suk from 1906.
- ''Azrael'' is a song on the 1986 album ''Crimson Glory'' by progressive metal band Crimson Glory about the angel of mercy, Azrael.
- ''Azrael'' is a song from on the 1998 album ''No Limits'' by heavy metal band U.D.O.
- The album ''Darkangel'' by VNV Nation contains the tracks Darkangel(Gabriel), and Darkangel(Azrael).
- There is a Death Metal band from Buffalo, New York called Sons of Azrael
- ''Azrael'' is also a Power Metal band from Granada, Spain.
- "Under Azrael's wings" is a song by British Stoner/Doom Metal band "Cathedral"
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