Islamic tradition holds that there are two spirits, Kiraman and Katibin, residing to either side (or on either shoulder) of humans which record their good and bad deeds.
"Behold, two spirits appointed to learn his actions and record them, one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a Word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready to note it." 50:17 - Quran
These beings do not have influence over the choices one makes and only record one's deeds. Whichever account is weightier in the end determines whether one goes to
Jannah (heaven) or the Jahannam (hell).
There is another similar tradition to that of the shoulder angel/devil spirits, the Qareen: the Qareen, according to Islamic literature, is a personal companion and there are two with each individual, one from the angels and another from the Jinn. The Word qarīn literally means 'constant companion'. The angel pushes the individual to do good and obey God while that from the Jinn does the opposite.
It may be that both concepts were fused over time to create the "common" figures of the angel and devil prodding a person to good or bad actions appearing even in Cartoons.
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