Hadith.368 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about the different Qur'anic verses that mention Allah سبحانه وتعالى taking souls at the time of death, about the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "Allah سبحانه وتعالى takes the souls at the time of their death," (Surah Az-Zumar 39:42)
And about the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted:
"Say, 'The Angel of Death, who is put in charge of you, will take you,'" (Surah As-Sajdah 32:11)
And about the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted:
"Those whom the angels take while they are in a state of purity," (Surah An-Nahl
16:32)
And "Those whom the angels take while they are wronging themselves," (Surah An-Nahl
16:28)
And about the words of Allah
سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "Our messengers angels take them," (Surah Al-An’am
6:61)
And about His words:
"And if you could see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved." (Surah Al-Anfal
8:50)
The questioner further inquired about how this process works, given that countless souls may die simultaneously across the world
Imam Al-Sadiq replied: "Indeed, Allah
سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, has appointed for the Angel of Death assistants among the angels who seize souls. They function similarly to a chief of police who has deputies among the people whom he sends out to fulfil tasks on his behalf. Thus, the angels take the souls, and the Angel of Death receives them from the angels along with what he himself seizes. Ultimately Allah
سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, takes them from Angel of Death”.
