Israfil

Israfil is the angel charged with blowing into the Trumpet (as-Sur) to announce the end of the world and then the Resurrection. Although his name is not in the Quran, the angel of the Trumpet is evoked there about ten times, and scholars agree in identifying him as Israfil. He is among the greatest angels, alongside Jibril and Mika'il. Since his creation, he has held the Trumpet to his lips, his gaze fixed on the Throne, awaiting the command to blow.

HIS FUNCTION — Israfil is the angel of the denouement of all things. At God's command, he will blow into the Trumpet (as-Sur) — and this breath will mark the end of the world, then the Resurrection. The Quran evokes this moment about ten times: 'When the Trumpet is blown, everyone in the heavens and earth will be struck unconscious, except those Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and they will rise, looking on' (39:68).

THE BLASTS — According to the verses, there are at least two blasts: the first strikes dead all creatures, the second resurrects them. The Quran describes it: 'On the Day when the first blast is heard, followed by a second' (79:6-7). After this second blast, 'from their graves they will rush toward their Lord' (36:51).

HIS PERPETUAL WAIT — A moving hadith describes his state: since God entrusted him with this task, Israfil has held the Trumpet to his lips and never turned his gaze from the Throne, for fear of receiving the command the very instant he blinks. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'How could I take pleasure in this world when the one charged with the Trumpet has already placed it to his mouth, cocked his ear, and awaits the command to blow?' (Tirmidhi, Ahmad — authenticated). On hearing this, the Companions were seized; the Prophet ﷺ told them to respond: 'Allah suffices us, and what an excellent Guardian!'

HIS RANK — Israfil is one of the three greatest angels, with Jibril and Mika'il. The Prophet ﷺ named them together in his night invocation: 'O Allah! Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil...' (Muslim). Scholars explain the order: Jibril first (charged with the Revelation, the heart of the religion), Israfil last (who will blow the Trumpet at the end of the world), and Mika'il between the two (charged with the sustenance of this world).

The name 'Israfil' is NOT Quranic: it comes from hadiths. The Quran evokes the angel of the Trumpet (without naming him) about ten times; Imam al-Qurtubi reports the scholarly consensus that this angel is Israfil. The hadith of waiting by the Trumpet is authentic (Tirmidhi, Ahmad). Note: the exact number of blasts (two or three) is the subject of different scholarly views — the Quran clearly mentions two blasts; some hadiths evoke three. We signal this nuance rather than adjudicate.

Israfil, motionless, Trumpet to his lips, gaze fixed on the Throne since the beginning — this is the image of perfect vigilance and total readiness for God's command. The greatest upheaval of the universe rests on a single breath, which will come only at the moment God wills. This reminds the believer of the fragility of this world and the ever-possible imminence of the Hour: it is better to be prepared.

Lorsqu'il sera soufflé dans la Corne, tous les êtres qui peuplent les cieux et la terre seront foudroyés, à l'exception de ceux qu'Allah voudra épargner. Au second soufflement, les morts se lèveront...

39:68

Il sera alors soufflé dans la Corne, et voilà que, de leurs tombes, ils se précipiteront vers leur Seigneur

36:51