Name of the Angel of Death

It is
widely assumed that the name of the Angel of Death is Azra’il,
but there is nothing in the Quran or saheeh sunnah
(authentic teachings) of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) to indicate that this is his name. Rather
this is narrated in some reports which may be from among the Israiliyyat
(reports from Jewish sources). 

Based
on this, we cannot be certain whether this is his name or not. So we cannot
affirm that the name of the Angel of Death is Azra’il, nor can we deny it.
Rather we should refer this matter to Allah and call him as Allah calls him,
the ‘Angel of Death”. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say:
The angel of death, who is set over you, will take your souls. Then you
shall be brought to your Lord.” [32:11] 

The
name of the Angel of Death is not given in the Quran or in the saheeh
ahadeeth (reports). His name
is mentioned in some reports as Azra’il,
but Allah knows best. 

Al-Sindi
said: There is no marfoo’ hadeeth [one that can be traced back to the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] which mentions his
name. 

Al-Manawi
said in Fayd al-Qadeer, after stating that the Angel of Death is known by
the name Azra’il: I have never seen any report giving his name as such.

Shaykh al-Albani said in his comment on the words of al-Tahhawi, “We believe
in the Angel of Death who is appointed to take the souls of all creatures”: 

This
(“the Angel of Death”) is what he is called in the Quran. With regard to the
name Azra’lel which is widely known among the people, there is no basis for
this, rather it comes from the Israiliyyat. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“The
Angel of Death” is well known by the name Azra’il, but this is not correct,
rather this was narrated from Jewish sources. So we should not believe in
this name, and we should call the one who is appointed over death “the Angel
of Death,” as Allah called him in the verse (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Say:
The angel of death, who is set over you, will take your souls. Then you
shall be brought to your Lord.” [32:11] 

Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen. 

And
Allah knows best.