Acts that brings you the prayers of angels

Angels are a unique creation of Allah SWT and have special status and duties assigned.

They are created from light, as ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about.’” [Muslim].

Do you want the angels to pray for you?

Here are acts that you and I can do every single day that will bring you the prayers of angels

Be a firm believer

Allah says in Surah Ghafir

الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ

رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

 وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ 

Those ˹angels˺ who carry the Throne and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, have faith in Him, and seek forgiveness for the believers, ˹praying:˺ “Our Lord! You encompass everything in ˹Your˺ mercy and knowledge. So forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and protect them from the torment of the Hellfire.

Our Lord! Admit them into the Gardens of Eternity which You have promised them, along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and descendants. You ˹alone˺ are truly the Almighty, All-Wise.

And protect them from ˹the consequences of their˺ evil deeds. For whoever You protect from the evil of their deeds on that Day will have been shown Your mercy. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.”

Sura Ghafir 7-9

Abdullah bin ‘Amir (RA) narrated that Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA)  picked up a piece of straw from the ground and said, “Would that I were this piece of straw! Would that I had never been created! Would that my mother never gave birth to me! Would that I didn’t exist! Would that I were a non-existent, forgotten thing!” Umar (RA) did not say these words out of ungratefulness; rather, he said them because of his prodigious fear of Allah (SWT) and of His punishment. This was a man about whom the Prophet (PBUH) said would enter Jannah.

Waiting for salah in jamaat in masjid

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الْجَمِيعِ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، وَصَلاَتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ وَأَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ، لاَ يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ، لَمْ يَخْطُ خُطْوَةً إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً، وَحَطَّ عَنْهُ خَطِيئَةً، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، وَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا كَانَتْ تَحْبِسُهُ، وَتُصَلِّي ـ يَعْنِي عَلَيْهِ ـ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي فِيهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one’s house or in a business center, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah’s forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: ‘O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 477

Sitting in place of salah after salah

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تُصَلِّي عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“The angels send Salah upon any one of you so long as he is in the place where he prays, and so long as he does not invalidate his ablution, (saying): ‘O Allah, forgive him, O Allah, have mercy on him.'”

Souce: Sunan an-Nasa’i 733

Grade   : Sahih (Darussalam)

Praying in front row in the masjid

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ طَلْحَةَ بْنَ مُصَرِّفٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْسَجَةَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الأُوَلِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Bara’ bin ‘Azib said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: ‘Allah and the angels send blessings upon the first row.’”

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah

Grade   : Hasan (Darussalam)

Bishr ibnul-Hasan, the trustworthy scholar of Hadith, came to be known as as-Saffee because he observed praying in the first saff (row) for fifty years.

Seeking knowledge

وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏ “‏من سلك طريقًا يبتغي فيه علمًا سهل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما صنع، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات والأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارًا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم‏.‏ فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion.”

Source: Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah said, “Allah, glory to Him, places some of the attributes of perfection in Adam, which made him superior to other creatures. When Allah wanted to display Adam’s value and status to His angels, He showed them the best that was in Adam, and that was Adam’s knowledge, which is evidence that knowledge is the best and most honorable thing that is in the human, and that his superiority and status is by his knowledge.”

In Sura Mujadala Allah says,

 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا يَفْسَحِ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ انشُزُوا فَانشُزُوا يَرْفَعِ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

“O you who have believed, when you are told, “Space yourselves” in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you.1 And when you are told, “Arise,”2 then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Aware of what you do.”

Sura Mujadala 11

Imam Bukhari, the Imam al-Muhadditheen, said, “I used to earn five hundred dirhams a month, and I spent them all seeking knowledge. What is with Allah endures.”. Today hardly an Islamic lecture is given that a hadith from the compilation of Imam Bukhari is not mentioned. And he will be getting a share of the reward, Insha Allah. May Allah accept all his endeavors.

Those who teach goodness to others

وعن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏”‏فضل العالم على العابد كفضلي على أدناكم‏”‏ ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏”‏إن الله وملائكته وأهل السماوات والأرض حتى النملة في جحرها وحتى الحوت ليصلون على معلمي الناس الخير‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن‏.‏ ‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).” He went on to say, “Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favor of those who teach people knowledge.”

Source: At-Tirmidhi

Sahur

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ السُّحُورُ أَكْلَةٌ بَرَكَةٌ فَلَا تَدَعُوهُ وَلَوْ أَنْ يَجْرَعَ أَحَدُكُمْ جَرْعَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الْمُتَسَحِّرِينَ

11003 مسند أحمد بَاقِي مُسْنَدِ الْمُكْثِرِينَ السحور أكلة بركة فلا تدعوه

4785 المحدث السيوطي خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في الجامع الصغير

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The pre-fasting meal is a blessed meal, so do not abandon it even if you take only a sip of water. Verily, Allah and his angels send blessings upon those who take the pre-fasting meal.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 11003

Grade: Sahih according to Al-Suyuti

Visiting the sick

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَنْ أَتَى أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ عَائِدًا مَشَى فِي خِرَافَةِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ غَمَرَتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ فَإِنْ كَانَ غُدْوَةً صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَسَاءً صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ ‏”‏ ‏.

It was narrated that ‘Ali said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: ‘Whoever comes to his Muslim brother and visits him (when he is sick), he is walking among the harvest of Paradise until he sits down, and when he sits down he is covered with mercy. If it is morning, seventy thousand angels will send blessing upon him until evening, and if it is evening, seventy thousand angels will send blessing upon him until morning.’”

Source: Sunan ibn Majah

Grade   : Hasan (Darussalam)

Muslim praying for another Muslim in his absence

وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول‏:‏ ‏ “‏دعوة المرء المسلم لأخيه بظهر الغيب مستجابة، عند رأسه ملك موكل كلما دعا لأخيه بخير قال الملك الموكل به‏:‏ آمين، ولك بمثل‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abud-Darda’ (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The supplication of a Muslim for his (Muslim) brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Everytime he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: ‘Ameen! May it be for you, too’.”

Source: Sahih Muslim

Reference: Riyad as-Salihin 1495

Spending in the way of Allah SWT

وَحَدَّثَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ بِلاَلٍ – حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي مُزَرِّدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصْبِحُ الْعِبَادُ فِيهِ إِلاَّ مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلاَنِ فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا ‏.‏ وَيَقُولُ الآخَرُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) as saying: There is never a day wherein servants (of God) get up at morn, but are not visited by two angels. One of them says: 0 Allah, give him more who spends (for the sake of Allah), and the other says: 0 Allah, bring destruction to one who withholds.

Source: Sahih Muslim 1010

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو، الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ بِنَاقَةٍ مَخْطُومَةٍ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لَكَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ سَبْعُمِائَةِ نَاقِةٍ كُلُّهَا مَخْطُومَةٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari who said A man brought a muzzled she-camel and said: “It is (offered) in the way of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: For this you will have seven hundred she-camels on the Day of Judgment all of which will be muzzled.

Source: Sahih Muslim 1892 a

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah said, “Whoever refuses to humble himself before Allah or to spend his money in the way of His pleasure or to tire his spirit and his body in His obedience, it is inevitable that he will be made humble to something else and he will spend his money toward it, and he will tire his spirit and body in its obedience as a punishment for him.”

We ask Allah SWT to make us among those for whom the angels seek forgiveness.

And Allah knows best.

Related Links:

1. Deeds that angels will seek forgiveness for you Sheikh Salih Al Munajjid (in Arabic)
2. Al-Malaa’ikah (Angels)
3. Characteristics of Believers: Tafseer of Sura Al Mu’minun by Imam Zia
4. The creation prays for the seeker of knowledge Sheikh Mokhtar Magrouhi
5. The angels are here for you Hamza Yusuf
6. Angels pray for you when you do this Omar Suleiman