The Gatherings of Angels

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (q.s.) wrote, in his al-Wabil asw-Swayyib min al-Kalim ath-Thayyib, that the gatherings of dzikr are gatherings of angels, who assemble on earth only where Allah (s.w.t.) is remembered.  As stated in a hadits from Imam Sulayman ibn Mahran al-Asadi al-A’amash (r.a.), transmitted by Shaykh Abu Swalih Hamdun ibn ‘Umarah al-Qaswswar (r.a.) on the authority of Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.), and recorded in the Shaykhayn, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Verily, Allah has angels in addition to those recording people’s deeds, ranging the paths of the earth, seeking out the people of adzkar.  And when they find the people of dzikrullah, they call to each other, ‘Make haste!  Here is what we seek.’  They envelop them with their wings and fill the sky.” 

Allah (s.w.t.) will Ask, “What are My servants saying?” 

And the angels will answer, “They are glorifying, magnifying and praising You.” 

Allah (s.w.t.) then Asks, “And have they seen Me?” 

“No, by Allah, they have not,” they will reply. 

“And if they could see Me, how would they be?” 

“If they could see You, they would worship, praise, and glorify You ever more abundantly.” 

“And what do they ask of Me?” 

The angels will answer, “They ask of Your Heaven.” 

“And have they seen it?” 

“No, by Allah, they have not.” 

“And if they could see it, how would they be?” 

“They would strive and long for it ever more fervently.” 

“And from what do they ask My Protection?” 

“They ask Your Protection from the Fire.” 

“And have they seen it?” 

“No, by Allah, they have not.” 

“And how would they be if they could see it” 

“If they could see it, they would flee from it ever more earnestly.” 

Then Allah (s.w.t.) Says, “I Call you to witness that I have Forgiven them.” 

Then one of the angels will say, “But among them is one who is not really of them, being in need of something.” 

Allah (s.w.t.) will Declare, “Whoever sits in the gatherings of these folk shall not be damned.”