Islamic Interpretation
Seeing the angel Azrael, the noble taker of souls and separator between this world and the hereafter, in a dream carries powerful meanings tied to destiny, fear, endurance, and final outcomes, and it may indicate martyrdom for one who sincerely desires it or a decisive turning point in life, while seeing him displeased with the dreamer warns of death without repentance or heedlessness toward one’s faith; if Azrael appears hovering above the dreamer or struggling with him, it signals recovery from a severe illness and escape from imminent danger, and encountering him in any form may also signify a long life, confrontation with unavoidable realities, or overwhelming fear that awakens the heart; imagining oneself as Azrael points to rising in authority and rank, possibly ruling harshly over others, carrying out judgments or executions, or becoming a cause through which momentous events unfold, while kissing or embracing Azrael signifies inheriting wealth or receiving a legacy; seeing Azrael likewise represents separation, the death of the sick, financial loss, ruin, fire, distressing news, confiscation of property, recession, loss of employment, imprisonment, broken oaths, abandonment of knowledge, neglect of worship, obstruction of charity and obligatory almsgiving, denial of others’ rights, withdrawal from people, rising prices, poor harvests, tyranny of rulers, association with glassmaking, or complete financial collapse, yet for one who longs to meet his Lord, the vision of Azrael signifies fulfillment of wishes, discharge of vows, release from captivity, glad tidings, relief, and joyful news; if a stranger or an ordinary-looking person approaches on the road and whispers secretly into one’s ear, it represents the angel of death in disguise, and tradition holds that every soul encounters Azrael three times in life, with the final meeting marking the separation of the soul from the body and its passage from the transient world into eternal existence.