are they seeking refuge?’ They reply, ‘They seek refuge from the Fire.’ He says, ‘Have they seen it?’ They say, ‘By Allah, no, they have not seen it.’ He says, ‘How would it be were they to see it?!’ They say, ‘If they had seen it, they would flee from it even more and be even more fearful of it.’ He says, ‘I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.’ One of the angels then says, ‘Among them is So-and-so who is not really one of them; he only came for some need.’ He says, ‘They are such a company that whoever sits with them will never be doomed.’ Agreed upon.

In another wording recorded by Muslim from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has roving angels (1) who seek out the gatherings of remembrance. When they find a circle in which Allah is mentioned, they sit with them and enfold one another with their wings until they fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When the assembly disperses, they ascend and rise to the heavens. Allah, Mighty and Majestic—though He knows best—asks them, ‘From where have you come?’ They reply, ‘We have come from some of Your servants on earth who were declaring Your transcendence, magnifying You, proclaiming Your oneness, praising You, and asking of You.’ He says, ‘What do they ask of Me?’ They say, ‘They ask You for Your Paradise.’ He says, ‘Have they seen My Paradise?’ They say, ‘No, by You, our Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they had seen My Paradise?!’ They say, ‘They also seek Your protection.’ He says, ‘From what do they seek My protection?’ 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 had seen My Fire?!’ They say, ‘And they ask Your forgiveness.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven them, granted them what they asked for, and given them safety from what they feared.’ They say, ‘Lord, among them is So-and-so, a servant laden with sins who merely passed by and sat with them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him as well; they are a people whose companion will not be wretched because of them.’”

1456 – He (Abū Hurayrah) and Abū Saʿīd, may Allah be pleased with them both, reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No group of people sits together remembering Allah, Mighty and Majestic, except that the angels surround them, mercy envelops them (2), and there descends…"