(Attracting the Angels Series – Part Two)

In a time of load-shedding, every person is looking for ways to keep the lights on. However, just as we need physical light in our homes, we also require celestial light (noor) in our homes. When the home is filled with celestial light, it becomes a place of peace and prosperity, harmony and happiness.

Furthermore, just as bees flock to honey, there are special angels of Allah Ta‘ala which are attracted by the recitation of the Quraan Majeed and flock to the home wherein it is recited.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “The home in which the Quraan Majeed is recited becomes comfortable for its members, its goodness increases, the angels descend upon them and the shayaateen leave the home. However, the home in which the Quraan Majeed is not recited, then life therein becomes constrained and the home is void of goodness. The angels leave the home and the shayaateen take up residence in it.” (Musannaf Ibni Abi Shaibah #30650 and Sunan Daarmi #3352)

The following is an amazing incident reported regarding the angels being attracted to the recitation of the Quraan Majeed and flocking towards the one reciting it:

The Ansaari Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Sayyiduna Usaid bin Hudhair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was once reciting Surah Baqarah in Tahajjud Salaah. During his recitation, his horse, which was tied nearby, began to move about. Noticing this, Sayyiduna Usaid bin Hudhair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became silent, at which his horse also calmed down and ceased moving about.

Thereafter, as he recommenced his recitation, his horse also resumed moving about, and again when Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became silent, the horse once again also calmed down and stopped moving about. When Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) resumed his recitation for the third time, the horse began to move about again. The son of Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Sayyiduna Yahya (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was lying within reach of the horse and Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) feared that the horse would trample him as it moved about. He therefore pulled his son out of harm’s way and glanced up at the sky.

As he glanced up, he saw a cloud-like shape in which was radiance resembling lanterns, ascending towards the sky. As he watched, it ascended higher and higher until it eventually faded out of sight.

The next morning, Sayyiduna Usaid bin Hudhair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and informed him of his experience the previous night. On hearing his account, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) exclaimed, “If only you had continued to recite, O son of Hudhair! If only you had continued to recite, O son of Hudhair!” On hearing this, Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explained the reason for terminating his recitation saying, “O Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I feared that my horse would trample Yahya as he was close to it. Then, when I lifted my head to the sky, I suddenly saw a cloud-like shape in which was radiance resembling lanterns. It ascended into the sky until I could no longer see it.”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Do you know what that was?” When Sayyiduna Usaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the negative, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained, “Those were angels who had approached to listen to your recitation. Had you continued reciting, the people would have seen the angels in the morning.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #5018 & Fat-hul Baari vol. 9, pg. 77)

The time when one completes a full recitation of the Quraan Majeed is indeed a special time. It is a time when du‘aas are readily accepted, and it is also a time when one earns the special du‘aa of the angels.

Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, “When the completion of the Quraan Majeed coincides with the beginning portion of the night, then the angels make du‘aa for the reciter until the morning, and when his completion of the Quraan Majeed coincides with the end of the night (i.e. when morning enters), then the angels make du‘aa for him until the evening.”

Sayyiduna Sa‘d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter mentioned, “At times, one of us would have a little left to recite (to complete the khatam), however we would delay it until the evening commenced or the morning commenced (so that the angels would make du‘aa for us for a longer period, as they will thereafter cease their du‘aa when day ends or night ends).” (Sunan Daarimi #3526)

Nevertheless, from the above, we learn that if we wish to gain the special company and du‘aas of the angels, and we wish for our homes to be frequented by the angels rather than the evil shayaateen, then we should hold on firmly to the recitation of the Quraan Majeed. We should make it a point to recite some fixed amount daily, according to what we can manage, so that our homes will continue to be visited by the angels.