Israfil

Allah commands you to seek knowledge

“My Lord, increase me in knowledge” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114). DeenUp turns that command into a daily habit — a swipeable feed of bite-sized, scholar-approved Islamic lessons, quick quizzes, and daily streaks.

Download DeenUp on the App Store

What is Israfil?

Israfil is the name given in Islamic tradition to the angel entrusted with sounding the Trumpet, known in Arabic as As-Sur, that marks the transition between this worldly life and the resurrection. While the name itself is understood as an angelic title rather than a term with a well-established Arabic root, its association with the Trumpet has made Israfil one of the most recognized angels in Islamic eschatology.

Theologically, Israfil's role is deeply tied to Islamic belief in the Hereafter, one of the six pillars of faith. The Qur'an speaks repeatedly of the Trumpet being blown as the mechanism through which the current creation will end and the resurrection will begin, and Hadith literature identifies Israfil as the angel who carries out this task at Allah's command, poised and ready to blow the Trumpet the instant he is commanded to do so.

Historically, scholars of Qur'anic exegesis and Hadith compiled descriptions of Israfil found in various narrations, including depictions of him holding the Trumpet to his lips in constant readiness, awaiting Allah's permission. While such narrations vary in their level of authenticity, the core belief in an angel tasked with the Trumpet is firmly rooted in explicit Qur'anic references to As-Sur alongside the naming of Israfil in the Hadith describing the Prophet's ﷺ night prayer supplication.

Spiritually, contemplating Israfil and the Trumpet serves as a powerful reminder of the temporary nature of worldly life. Knowing that a single command will end all of creation instills humility and urgency in the believer, encouraging repentance, sincerity, and preparation for the Day when every soul will stand before Allah.

In contemporary reflection, Israfil is most often discussed in the context of Islamic eschatology, particularly during reminders about the Day of Judgment, encouraging Muslims to live with awareness that this life is finite and that ultimate accountability awaits.

Examples of Israfil

• Entrusted with the Trumpet: Islamic tradition holds that Israfil is the angel tasked with blowing As-Sur, the Trumpet, at Allah's command.
• The first blast bringing destruction: The first blowing of the Trumpet is described as causing all of creation in the heavens and earth to perish.
• The second blast bringing resurrection: A second blowing of the Trumpet is described as raising all of humanity from death for the Day of Judgment.
• Named in the Prophet's supplication: The Prophet ﷺ named Israfil alongside Jibril and Mikail in his opening night prayer supplication, affirming belief in his role among the angels.

References in Qur'an & Hadith

"And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on." — Surah Az-Zumar 39:68

The Prophet ﷺ would open his night prayer saying: "O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mikail, and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth..." — Sahih Muslim 770