From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kiraman Katibin (Arabic: كراماً كاتبين‎), or "honourable recorders", are two angels in Islam who record a person's good and bad deeds. These angels sit on a person's right and left shoulders respectively. If there is one type of deed that dominates more than the other, then that type decides if one is sent to the Jannah (heaven) or the Jahannam (hell).

The Qur'an says in Surah 50: "Behold, two (guardian angels), one sitting on the right and one on the left."

Their only job is to write down and record every action, thought, or feeling we have each day. One figuratively sits on our right shoulder and records all our good deeds and the angel on the left shoulder and records all our bad deeds.

The Book in which the angels are writing is our cumulative record of deeds. After our death, on the Day of Judgement we will each be confronted with this record, and the two angels will be present with you to tell God of what the person did.

God has given us time to repent before these two scribes record our deeds. Muhammad once said, "The (scribe) on the left hand raises his pen (i.e., delays writing) for six hours (this may refer to six hours of 60 minutes as measured by astronomers, or it may refer to short periods of time during the day or night, according to Lisan al-'Arab) before he records the sinful deed of a Muslim. If [the Muslim] regrets it and seeks God's forgiveness, the deed is not recorded, otherwise it is recorded as one deed." 1. A further respite is granted after the deed has been recorded; up until the moment before death approaches, you are able to repent and ask for forgiveness.

Muhammad once stated:

"After the death of the Muslim, they soar to the heaven and seek permission to live there, but Almighty God turns down their request saying, 'My Heavens are full of Angels who are constantly engaged in Glorifying Me'. Then they will Reply, 'Your creation has filled the earth, constantly glorifying You.' Thereafter, Almighty God will command them to stand at the graveside of the Muslims and the servants of Almighty God to recite "Glory be to God" and prayers, and the reward of which is then bestowed upon the deceased person".

People often refer to the salutation at the end of the prayer to be addressed to these two angels. However this is mistaken. The translation of Assalam u alaykum warahmatullah is as follows 'May the peace and mercy of Allah be with you'. This means the peace is being sent to all the world on the right of the one who is praying and peace to be sent to all the world on the left of the one who is praying. Nowhere in Islam do muslims offer salaam to angels.

The equivalent Christian concept is the guardian angel, though these are seen as more pro-active, striving to protect their charge. The shoulder angels of animated cartoons and modern popular culture are similar. Qareen appear to be the opposite demons in Islam.

References