What is the meaning of: "There is no soul but that it has a protector over it," and is it meant to refer to Allah or the angels, and is it permissible to attribute protection to the angels?

Al-Hafiz (the guardian) in His, the Almighty’s, saying: "Every soul has a guardian over it" (Quran 86:4) refers to the angels. This is the opinion of Ibn Abbas and the majority of exegetes. Allah the Almighty has called them in other verses "Mu'aqqibat" (successive angels), "Hafizin" (guardians), and "Hafazah" (protectors). Ibn Kathir mentioned that they are four: two who record deeds, and two who guard the human from the front and the back. Their function is to protect the human from evils and afflictions by Allah’s command, but when destiny and divine decree come, they withdraw from him.