(Attracting the Angels Series – Part Three)
In this world, people congregate for various reasons and purposes. At times, they get together for a business meeting, or they get together to unwind and have a good time, or they get together to catch up with long-lost acquaintances and reminisce over the ‘good old days.’ Though gathering for such purposes is permissible, however these gatherings are devoid of the remembrance of Allah Ta‘ala in most cases. In regard to such gatherings, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no group of people who wake up from a gathering in which they did not remember Allah Ta‘ala, except that they wake up from that which resembles the corpse of a donkey, and it (the gathering) will be a means of remorse for them (on the Day of Qiyaamah).” (Sunan Abu Dawood #4855)
In other words, on the Day of Qiyaamah, the people of the gathering will either regret the valuable time they wasted in such gatherings, rather than investing that time in earning their Jannah, or they will regret the sins that are commonly committed in such gatherings, such as gheebah (backbiting), gossiping, etc.
On the other hand, when people congregate for the purpose of remembering Allah Ta‘ala, be it through reciting the Quraan Majeed, engaging in zikr, reciting durood shareef, etc. then such a gathering is so blessed that the angels flock to it in multitudes, and the participants of the gathering are enveloped by the special mercy of Allah Ta‘ala.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah and Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) report that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no group of people who sit, engaged in the remembrance of Allah Ta‘ala, except that the angels throng around them, the special mercy of Allah Ta‘ala envelops them, sakeenah (a special form of tranquillity) descends upon them, and Allah Ta‘ala mentions them before those who are by Him (i.e. the assembly of the angels).” (Saheeh Muslim #6855)
In another hadeeth we are taught that there are special angels that roam about in the earth searching for the gatherings of zikr.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, Allah Ta‘ala has special angels who roam (throughout the earth), searching for the gatherings of zikr (i.e. these angels are besides the angels who are appointed to protect the believers and other angels appointed for specific tasks, and the sole task of these additional angels is to seek the gatherings of the remembrance of Allah Ta‘ala). When they find a gathering in which the zikr of Allah Ta‘ala is taking place, then they sit with the people of the gathering, and some of them surround others with their wings, until they fill the sky from the gathering until the lowest heaven (due to their large number). Thereafter, when the people of the gathering disperse (at the termination of the gathering), the angels rise and ascend to the heaven. Allah Ta‘ala then asks them, whilst He has more knowledge (of the gathering) compared to them, ‘From where have you come?’ The angels reply, ‘We have come from a group of Your servants on earth who were engaged in Your tasbeeh (glorifying You through reciting subhaanallah), in Your takbeer (mentioning Your greatness through reciting Allahu Akbar), in reciting Laa ilaaha illallaah, in Your tahmeed (praising You through reciting Alhamdulillah), in reciting Your book (the Quraan Majeed), in sending durood upon Your Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and in begging You for their needs relating to the Hereafter and the world.’”
Thereafter, upon Allah Ta‘ala asking them, the angels also inform Allah Ta‘ala that the people of the gathering are seeking entry into Jannah and salvation from Jahannam. Thereupon, Allah Ta‘ala announces, “I have forgiven them, I have bestowed them with that which they asked for, and I have granted them protection from that which they sought protection against.”
The angels then say, “O our Rabb! Among them is so-and-so, a great sinner who happened to be passing by at the end of the gathering, and then sat with them (the narration of Bazzaar mentions that he had only arrived at the end).” To this, Allah Ta‘ala says, “I have forgiven him as well, for the people in this gathering are such that on account of their blessing, no person who sits with them will be unfortunate (and deprived of My mercy).” (Saheeh Muslim #7839 and Bazzaar – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #16728)
In this hadeeth, various forms of zikr were mentioned, including the recitation of durood. As far as durood is concerned, from the numerous virtues of durood is that the angels make du‘aa for the one engaged in reciting durood.
Sayyiduna ‘Aamir bin Rabee‘ah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, “I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) delivering a khutbah wherein he said, ‘Whoever sends salutations (i.e. recites durood) upon me, the angels continue to make du‘aa for him so long as he continues to send salutations upon me. Hence, whoever wishes, he may decrease it (his durood) or increase it (i.e. it is left to one to choose whether one wants more du‘aa from the angels through reciting more durood, or one wants less du‘aa of the angels through reciting less durood).” (Musnad Ahmad #15680)
In fact, in another hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that in lieu of reciting one durood, a person will receive seventy mercies and blessings from Allah Ta‘ala and seventy du‘aas from the angels!
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin ‘Aas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports, “Whoever sends salutations upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once, Allah Ta‘ala and His angels will send seventy mercies and blessings upon him (in return of his one durood). Hence, whoever wishes (to decrease his durood) should decrease it, and whoever wishes (to increase his durood), should increase it (i.e. it is left to him to decide whether he wants to earn more mercies and blessings through increasing his durood, or he wants to earn less mercies and blessings through decreasing his durood).” (Musnad Ahmad #6605)
In order for us to attract these angels, earn their du‘aas and benefit from the special mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, we should all engage in daily home ta’leem. In the ta’leem, we should recite from Fazaail-e-Aa’maal, Fazaail-e-Sadaqaat and Seeratul Mustafaa (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), engage in zikr for some time, recite some portion of the Quraan Majeed and make du‘aa collectively. Insha-Allah, through doing so, we will have gatherings of zikr in our homes, causing our homes to be frequented by the angels, and causing us to gain the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Ta‘ala.