Hadith #279

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via Abu Mu'awiya, from al-A'mash, from Abu Salih — or from Abu Sa'id [al-A'mash was uncertain about which Companion] — that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Indeed Allah has angels who roam the earth [sayyahuna] in addition to the regular scribes [kutabun — the recording angels]. When they find a group engaged in the remembrance of Allah, they call out: "Come to what you seek!" They come and encompass them up to the lowest heaven. Allah says: "In what state did you leave My servants?" They say: "We left them praising You, glorifying You, and remembering You." He says: "Have they seen Me?" They say: "No." He says: "So how would it be if they saw Me?" They say: "If they saw You, they would praise, glorify, and remember You even more." He says: "What are they asking for?" They say: "Paradise." He says: "Have they seen it?" They say: "No." He says: "So how would it be if they saw it?" They say: "If they saw it, they would be even more eager and desirous of it." He says: "And what do they seek refuge from?" They say: "From the Fire." He says: "Have they seen it?" They say: "No." He says: "So how would it be if they saw it?" They say: "If they saw it, they would flee from it with even greater urgency and fear it even more." He says: "I call you to witness that I have forgiven them." They say: "But among them is so-and-so the sinner — he did not come for them [the gathering]; he came only for a worldly need." He says: "They are a people — whoever sits with them will not be made wretched."' [This hadith is also narrated via Muhammad ibn Ja'far, from Shu'ba, from Sulayman, from Dhakwan, from Abu Hurayra — without marfu' attribution — with similar meaning. And via 'Affan, from Wuhaib, from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih, from his father, from Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: Allah has wandering angels [sayyara] who seek out gatherings of remembrance — then the hadith continues.]