(Attracting the Angels Series – Part Four)
In the blessed hadeeth, many actions have been mentioned which cause one to earn the du‘aa, companionship or assistance of the angels. Some of these actions are mentioned below:
Spending in Avenues of Righteousness:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no day in which the servants commence the morning except that two angels descend (from the heavens). One of them (makes du‘aa and) says, ‘O Allah! Give a good replacement to the one who spends wealth (in Your path i.e. replace the wealth which he spent)!’ and the other (curses and) says, ‘O Allah! Give ruin to the one who withholds wealth (i.e. cause his wealth or the barakah to be lost)!’” (Saheeh Bukhaari #1442)
It should be borne in mind that spending is of two types – obligatory and nafl. Examples of obligatory spending are spending on one’s wife and children, or aged parents who require financial support, etc. while nafl spending refers to optional charity e.g. assisting a random beggar on the roadside. Often, people give nafl charity, but neglect to spend on those people whom it is obligatory upon them to assist. In this manner, one earns the curse of the angels. Thus, one must be particular in this regard by ensuring that he has fulfilled his fardh obligation.
Remaining Seated Before or After the Fardh Salaah:
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, when the servant remains seated in his place of salaah after (completing) the salaah (engaged in zikr or du‘aa), then the angels make du‘aa for him, and their du‘aa for him is, ‘O Allah! Forgive him! O Allah! Shower Your mercy upon him!’, and if he remains seated awaiting the salaah, then the angels make du‘aa for him, and their du‘aa for him is, ‘O Allah! Forgive him! O Allah! Shower Your mercy upon him!’” (Musnad Ahmad #1219)
Visiting the Sick:
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim in the morning, seventy thousand angels invoke Allah Ta‘ala’s mercy for him until the evening, and when he visits a sick Muslim in the evening, seventy thousand angels invoke Allah Ta‘ala’s mercy for him until the morning, and he will receive a garden in Paradise.” (Sunan Tirmizi #969)
Feeding People:
Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, the angels continue to make du‘aa for one of you so long as his table cloth is spread out (to feed people).” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa’id #7982)
Seeking the Knowledge of Deen:
Sayyiduna Safwaan bin ‘Assaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that he came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the masjid and addressed him saying, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Indeed, I have come seeking the knowledge of Deen!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded saying, “Welcome to the one who is seeking the knowledge of Deen! Indeed, the one seeking the knowledge of Deen is such that the angels surround him with their wings. Thereafter, they go above one another (forming a line towards the sky) until they reach the lowest heaven, out of their love for that which he is seeking.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa’id #555)
In another hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, the angels certainly spread out their wings out of happiness with the one seeking the knowledge of Deen, and indeed the ‘aalim is such that all the creation in the heavens and the earth, and (even) the fish in the ocean, certainly make du‘aa for his forgiveness.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #3641)
Teaching the Knowledge of Deen:
Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah Baahili (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, Allah Ta‘ala and His angels, and all the inhabitants of the heavens and earths, until even the ant in its hole and the fish, all send salawaat (salutations) upon the one who teaches good (i.e. the knowledge of Deen) to people (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala showers His special mercy upon him, and the entire creation make du‘aa for him).” (Sunan Tirmizi #2685)
Reciting Bismillah before Wudhu:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “O Abu Hurairah! When you perform wudhu, then (first) recite (the du‘aa) “Bismillah walhamdulillah”. (Through reciting this du‘aa,) the angels which protect you (are commanded to) continuously record good deeds for you until you break that wudhu.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #1129)