Who are the Kiraman Katibin?

The Kiraman Katibin ("the noble writers") are the two angels assigned to every person, one on the right and one on the left, who record everything we do and say until we die. Their record is the "book of deeds" each of us will be handed on the Day of Judgement. It's not meant to scare you, but to remind you that nothing good you do is ever lost.

Where the name comes from

The name is taken straight from the Quran. Allah says there are guardians over you, "noble and recording, they know whatever you do" (Quran 82:10-12). Another passage describes two receivers, one sitting on the right and one on the left, and adds that not a single word leaves your mouth without being noted.

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ "Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]." Quran 50:18

Believing in angels is one of the six articles of faith, so this is part of the core belief of every Muslim. See Do Muslims believe in angels?

What exactly do they write?

Most scholars say the angel on the right writes good deeds and the one on the left writes bad deeds. They record actions, words and even good intentions. The Prophet ﷺ explained that if you intend a good deed and don't manage to do it, it is still written as one good deed; if you do it, it is written as ten up to seven hundred times or more. If you intend a bad deed and leave it, it is written as a good deed, and if you do it, only one bad deed is written (Sahih al-Bukhari 6491).

So the system is generous, not strict. Allah's mercy is built into the record itself.

Are they the same as guardian angels?

Not quite. Muslims believe several kinds of angels are around us. The Kiraman Katibin record. Others, called the mu'aqqibat, protect a person by Allah's command (Quran 13:11). And groups of angels take turns with us day and night, meeting at the Fajr and Asr prayers, then reporting to Allah that they left us praying (Sahih al-Bukhari 555). Some Muslims greet the angels on their right and left with the salam at the end of every prayer, which is a lovely reminder that we are never alone.

Should this make me anxious?

No. The record is wiped clean by repentance, and a new Muslim starts with a fresh page: Islam erases what came before it. Mistakes, forgetfulness and passing thoughts you don't act on are not held against you. The point is to live with awareness: say kind words, keep your promises, and remember that small good deeds like a smile or removing litter from the path all get written. See What happens if I die right after taking my shahada?

Key points

The Kiraman Katibin are two noble angels who record each person's deeds (Quran 82:10-12).
The right-hand angel writes good deeds, the left-hand angel writes bad deeds, according to most scholars.
Good intentions are written as rewards; unacted bad intentions are not counted against you.
Sincere repentance erases sins from the record, so there is always hope.

Tip: Before you post, comment or reply in an argument, ask yourself: "Would I be happy for this to be written in my book?" It's a simple filter that changes how you speak online and off.

Who are the Kiraman Katibin?

Where the name comes from

What exactly do they write?

Are they the same as guardian angels?

Should this make me anxious?

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