Mu'aqqibat
Mu’aqqibat are a class of guardian angels mentioned in the Qur’an. The term means “those who follow after,” and they are sometimes described as angels who watch over people to protect them from harm caused by evil jinn and devils. They are also called hafathah, the guarding angels.
In Islamic belief, a guardian angel watches over a person through life, sleep, death, and even the resurrection. The singular form is mu’aqqib, meaning “a follower.”
Traditionally, each person is said to have four Hafaza angels—two watching by day and two by night. Some traditions also say that every person has ten guardian angels in total. Early scholars such as Ali ibn Ka’b and Ibn Abbas are reported to have understood these as angels.
The name mu’aqqibat comes from a root meaning “heel,” conveying the idea that these angels follow closely behind every person.
The Qur’an mentions angels who guard a person by God’s command. In Surah Ar-Ra’d (Q13:10–11), it says there are angels in succession before and behind him who protect him. Another verse in Surah Al-An’am notes that God sets guardians over you.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:16 (CET).