المعنى الاصطلاحي

The noble angels whom Allah, the Exalted, has entrusted with writing down and recording the good and bad deeds of people.

الشرح المختصر

"Kātiboon" (recording angels): Allah, the Almighty, created the angels and entrusted them with a number of duties and jobs to carry out. These jobs include writing down the deeds of people and carefully recording them in their scrolls. Every person has two angels: one writes down the good deeds, and the other the bad deeds. Allah, the Almighty, says: {Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].} [Sūrah Qāf: 18] The apparent meaning of this verse indicates that the angels write down everything that people experience, whether it is good, bad, or otherwise; whether it be words, actions, or beliefs; and whether it be temporary thoughts, firm intentions, or approval of an existing situation. So they do not let go of anything committed by people without recording it in all cases and under all conditions. Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has given them the ability to know the conditions of the people, so they write down everything, even the actions of the heart (thoughts), let alone the physical actions and the statements of the tongue.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Kātiboon" (sing. kātib): scribes.