Hadith 14, 40 Hadith Qudsi

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said:

Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has angels who travel about and are devoted to good. They seek out gatherings of remembrance. When they find a gathering in which Allah is remembered, they sit with those present, and some surround others with their wings until they fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When they depart, they ascend to heaven. He said: Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, asks them, though He knows best about them, ‘Where have you come from?’ They say, ‘We have come from some servants of Yours on earth who glorify You, proclaim Your greatness, declare Your oneness, praise You, and ask of You.’ He asks, ‘What do they ask of Me?’ They say, ‘They ask You for Your Paradise.’ He asks, ‘Have they seen My Paradise?’ They say, ‘No, Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be 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, Lord.’ He asks, ‘Have they seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘No.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they had seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘They ask Your forgiveness.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven them, given them what they asked for, and granted them refuge from that against which they sought refuge.’ They say, ‘Lord, among them is so-and-so, a servant who commits many sins; he merely passed by and sat with them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him too. They are the people whose companion will not be wretched.’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Bukhari, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i).