the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said:

“Allah has angels who roam the earth. When they pass by people remembering Allah, they call to one another, ‘Come to what you seek!’”

He related the hadith, which includes the words:

“We found them glorifying You and praising You.”

However, such gatherings should take place occasionally, at certain times and places. They should not be made a fixed, regularly observed practice, except for what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prescribed for regular congregational observance, such as the five daily prayers in congregation, Friday prayers, the Eid prayers, and the like.

As for a person maintaining regular devotions consisting of prayer, Quran recitation, remembrance, or supplication at the two ends of the day, during the early hours of the night, or at other times, this is the practice of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and of Allah’s righteous servants, past and present. Whatever is prescribed to be performed collectively, such as the obligatory prayers, should be performed in that manner. Likewise, regular devotions prescribed to be maintained individually should be performed individually.

The Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—would occasionally gather and ask one of their number to recite while the others listened. ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb would say, “Abū Mūsā, remind us of our Lord,” whereupon he would recite while they listened. Some of the Companions would say, “Sit with us, so that we may renew our faith for a while.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, led his Companions in voluntary prayer in congregation on several occasions. He also came out to the Companions who belonged to the people of the Suffah, among whom someone was reciting, and sat with them to listen.