thumb|The Angel Israfil, by Muhammad ibn Muhammad Shakir Ruzmah-'i Nathani thumb|right|Israfil in Islamic calligraphy Israfil (, Isrāfīl; or Israfel or Rāfā'īl)Lewis, James R., Evelyn Dorothy Oliver, and S. Sisung Kelle, eds.
1996.
Angels A to Z. Visible Ink Press. .
p. 224.
is the angel who blows the trumpet to signal Qiyamah (the Day of Judgment); he is thus often considered the angel of music.Burnham, Sophy.
2011.
A Book of Angels: Reflections on Angels Past and Present, and True Stories of How They Touch Our Lives.
Penguin. .
Though unnamed in the Quran, he is one of the four archangels in Islamic tradition, along with Mīkā'īl, Jibrā'īl, and Azrā'īl.
The "Book of Dead" described Israfil as the oldest of all archangels.Shaikh Muhammad ibn Habib translated by Aisha Abd- ar Rahman at-Tarjumana Islamic Book of Dead Hadith Concerning the Fire and the Garden Diwan Press  1977 isbn 0 950444618 pp.
33-34
It is believed that Israfil will blow the trumpet from a holy rock in Jerusalem to announce the Day of Resurrection.
He is commonly thought of as the counterpart of the Judeo-Christian archangel Raphael."
Gabriel."
Jewish Encyclopedia.
In religious tradition
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:
In Islamic tradition, he is said to have been sent along with the other three Islamic archangels to collect dust from the four corners of the earth,Davidson, Gustav.
1967.
"Israfel."
Pp.
151–52 in A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels.
New York: Free Press. . .
though only Azrael succeeded in this mission.Weil, Gustav.
1863.
"Adam."
Pp.
19 in The Bible, the Koran, and the Talmud or Biblical Legends of the Mussulmans.
via Internet Sacred Text Archive.
It was from this dust that Adam, the first man and Prophet was formed.Noegel, Scott B., and Brannon M. Wheeler.
2010.
The A to Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism.
Scarecrow Press. .
p.
13.
Israfil has been associated with a number of other angelic names not pertaining to Islam, including Uriel, Sariel,"Death, Angel of", Jewish Encyclopedia  and Raphael."
Israfil" (revised).
Encyclopædia Britannica. [1998]
2020.
Certain sources indicate that Israfil was created at the beginning of time, has four wings, and is so tall that he can span the distance from the earth to the pillars of Heaven.
A beautiful angel who is a master of music, Israfil sings praises to God in a thousand different languages, the breath of which is used to inject life into hosts of angels who add to the songs themselves.
Due to his beautiful voice, he is also the Muezzin of those in Heaven.Tottoli, Roberto.
2018.
"Isrāfīl."
Encyclopaedia of Islam 3, edited by K. Fleet, G. Krämer, D. Matringe, J. Nawas, and E. Rowson.
Retrieved 9 January 2020. .
According to Sunni traditions reported by Imam Al-Suyuti, the 'Ghawth or Qutb, is someone who has a heart that resembles that of archangel Israfil, signifying the loftiness of this angel.
The next in rank are the saints who are known as the Umdah or Awtad, amongst whom the highest ones have their hearts resembling that of angel Michael, and the rest of the lower ranking saints having the heart of Gabriel, and that of the previous prophets before Muhammad.
The earth is believed to always have one of the Qutb.See Jalaluddeen Al-Suyuti's compilation on the proofs of Qutb, Awtad and Abdals.
Israfil is mentioned in a hadith as the angel nearest to God, mediating the commands of God to the other archangels.Burge, Stephen.
2015.
Angels in Islam: Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's al-Haba'ik fi akhbar al-mala'ik.
Routledge. .
p.
92.
A few reports assume that Israfil had visited Muhammad before Gabriel did.Kraemer, Joel L. 1993.
Israel Oriental Studies, Band 13.
Brill. .
p. 219.
See also
Angels in Islam
Seraphiel
Seraph
Eschatology
Resurrection
Notes
References
