Short answer
Yes, in a sense. The Quran says each person has angels "before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah" (13:11), besides the two angels who record deeds. They guard you from what Allah has not decreed for you. They are not the spirits of the dead, and you do not pray to them.
Belief in these angels is part of the article of faith in the angels. The Hanafi texts teach that when you say the salam at the end of prayer you intend the angels on your right and left along with the people present.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Several verses speak of angels watching over people. "For each one are successive angels before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah" (13:11). "There is no soul but that it has over it a protector" (86:4). "He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him" (6:61).
Commentators explain that these angels take turns, a group by night and a group by day, guarding a person from harms that Allah has not written for him. When something is decreed, they step aside. The Prophet ﷺ said angels come to you in turns by night and by day and meet at the Fajr and Asr prayers; then those who stayed with you rise and Allah asks how they left His servants. They say: we left them praying and came to them praying.
There are also the two noble recorders, "seated on the right and on the left" (50:17), who write every word and deed. See Do angels record everything you do?
How this differs from popular ideas:
- These angels are not a personal spirit you name, talk to or ask for help. Dua is for Allah alone.
- People do not become angels when they die.
- Their protection works only within Allah's decree.
Read Angels in Islam.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:11
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٌۭ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ سُوٓءًۭا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١﴾
For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.
Each person has protecting angels.
Quran, Surah At-Taariq 86:4
إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌۭ ﴿٤﴾
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
Every soul has a guardian over it.
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:61
وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].
Allah sends guardian angels over people.
Sahih al-Bukhari 555
Sahih... يتعاقبون فيكم ملائكة بالليل وملائكة بالنهار ...
"Angels come to you in turns, angels by night and angels by day."
Angels stay with people in shifts.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer. States that with the salam one intends the people and the guardian angels on each side.
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Commentary on Surah al-Ra'd, verse 11. Explains the angels who guard a person by turns.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.