Riḍwan

For the 12th century Seljuq ruler, see Fakhr al-Mulk Radwan.

Riḍwān (or Rızvan , Arabic: رضوان), is an angel in Islam, who guards the gates of heaven. The word Ridwan meaning pleasure of Allah, is mentioned in the Quran in Surah maidah verse 16. "Riḍwān", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 16 October 2019^[1][2] He namely appears in later reports and Mi'raj narration.^[3] Ridwan also plays an important role as the guardian of heaven in the Qisas Al-Anbiya, here he must prevent Iblis from entering the keep of Adam, but was tricked by a serpent, who concealed Iblis in his mouth, carrying him past the guardian.^[4] His name probably developed from the Quranic term riḍwan. However, in the Quranic usage, it does not refer to an angel.^[5]

Persian miniature painted by Al-Hakim Nishapuri depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve, observed by the angel Riḍwan over the doors of the Garden, the Serpent, the Peacock, and Iblis.

See also

• List of angels in theology
• Gadreel
• Maalik
• Răzvan
• Rizvan
• Ridvan

References

1. "Riḍwān". doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_6291.
2. Erste Online-Erscheinung: 2012 Erste Druckedition: ISBN 9789004161214, 1960-2007.
3. Stephen Burge, Angels in Islam: Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's al-Haba'ik fi Akhbar al-malik Routledge 2015 ISBN 978-1-136-50473-0 chapter 6
4. Amira El-Zein. Islam, Arabs, and Intelligent World of the Jinn. Syracuse University Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0-815-65070-6. Pp. 98-9.
5. Stephen Burge. Angels in Islam: Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's al-Haba'ik fi Akhbar al-malik. Routledge, 2015. ISBN 978-1-136-50473-0.