English
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah has angels who roam the roads seeking people engaged in remembrance. When they find a group remembering Allah, they call out, 'Come to what you seek!' They then surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven. Their Lord—Who knows them better—asks, 'What are My servants saying?' They reply, 'They glorify, magnify, praise, and exalt You.' He says, 'Have they seen Me?' They say, 'No, by Allah, they have not seen You.' He says, 'How would it be if they saw Me?' They say, 'If they saw You, they would worship You more fervently, glorify You more, and praise You more.' He asks, 'What do they ask for?' They say, 'They ask for Paradise.' He says, 'Have they seen it?' They say, 'No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not.' He says, 'How would it be if they saw it?' They say, 'If they saw it, they would desire it more intensely and strive harder for it.' He asks, 'From what do they seek refuge?' They say, 'From the Fire.' He says, 'Have they seen it?' They say, 'No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not.' He says, 'How would it be if they saw it?' They say, 'If they saw it, they would flee from it more desperately and fear it more.' He then says, 'I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.' An angel among them says, 'So-and-so is not truly among them; he only came for a need.' Allah says, 'They are the people of the gathering—none who sits with them is wretched.'" [Narrated by Bukhari]
In Muslim’s version: "Allah has mobile, distinguished angels who seek out gatherings of remembrance. When they find one, they join them and spread their wings over them until they fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When they disperse, they ascend. Allah—Who knows best—asks, 'From where have you come?' They say, 'We came from servants of Yours on earth who glorify, magnify, declare Your Oneness, praise, and supplicate to You.' He asks, 'What do they ask of Me?' They say, 'They ask for Your Paradise.' He says, 'Have they seen My Paradise?' They say, 'No, O Lord.' He says, 'How would it be if they saw it?' They say, 'They seek Your protection.' He asks, 'From what?' They say, 'From Your Fire, O Lord.' He says, 'Have they seen My Fire?' They say, 'No.' He says, 'How would it be if they saw it?' They say, 'They seek Your forgiveness.' He says, 'I have forgiven them, granted them what they asked, and protected them from what they feared.' They say, 'O Lord, among them is so-and-so, a sinful servant who merely passed by and sat with them.' He says, 'I have forgiven him too. They are a people whose companion is not wretched.'"
Commentary and footnotes (2)
Note 1
(1) His statement: "Those who remember Allah abundantly..." Imam Muhammad said in Al-Muwatta: "The remembrance of Allah is good in every state."
Note 1
(۱)قوله : الذاكرون الله كثيرا إلخ : قال محمد في موطئه : ذكر الله حسن على كل حال.