Mishkat al-Masabih 2267

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: ‘God has angels who travel the roads seeking people who remember Him. When they find people remembering God, they call out, “Come to what you seek,” and surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven. Their Lord, who knows them best, asks, “What are My servants saying?” They say, “They glorify You, magnify You, praise You, and exalt You.” He asks, “Have they seen Me?” They reply, “No, by God, they have not seen You.” He asks, “What if they had seen Me?” They say, “Had they seen You, they would worship You more intensely, exalt You more, and glorify You more.” He asks, “What do they ask of Me?” They say, “They ask You for Paradise.” He asks, “Have they seen it?” They reply, “No, by God, our Lord.” He asks, “What if they had seen it?” They say, “Had they seen it, they would be more eager for it, seek it more intensely, and desire it more.” He asks, “What do they seek refuge from?” They say, “From the Fire.” He asks, “Have they seen it?” They reply, “No, by God, our Lord.” He asks, “What if they had seen it?” They say, “Had they seen it, they would flee from it more and fear it more.” He says, “I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.” One angel says, “Among them is so-and-so, who is not one of them; he only came for some need.” He replies, “They are the people whose companion is not wretched.” Al-Bukhari transmitted it. Muslim’s version says: God has traveling angels who seek out gatherings of remembrance. When they find a gathering in which God is remembered, they sit with them and surround one another with their wings until they fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When the people disperse, the angels ascend to heaven. God asks them, though He knows best, “Where have you come from?” They reply, “From some of Your servants on earth who glorify You, magnify You, declare Your oneness, exalt You, praise You, and ask of You.” He asks, “What do they ask of Me?” They reply, “They ask You for Your Paradise.” He asks, “Have they seen My Paradise?” They reply, “No, our Lord.” He asks, “What if they had seen My Paradise?” They say, “They seek Your protection.” He asks, “From what do they seek My protection?” They say, “From Your Fire.” He asks, “Have they seen My Fire?” They reply, “No.” He asks, “What if they had seen My Fire?” They say, “They ask Your forgiveness.” He says, “I have forgiven them, granted them what they asked, and protected them from what they sought protection from.” They say, “Our Lord, among them is a sinful servant who only passed by and sat with them.” He replies, “I have forgiven him too. They are a people whose companion is not wretched.”