Descent of Angels Upon Believers (Sura 41:30)

بسم الله الرحمـن الرحيم

والصلوة والسلام على رسوله الكريم

وعلى آله واهل بيته اجمعين

The fact that the Angels of God descend upon and converse with ordinary Believers and not merely the Prophets is relayed throughout the Holy Qur’an and Sunna. For example, the Holy Qur’an mentions the descent of Angels upon the Virgin Mary (peace be upon her), although she was technically not a Messenger of God (Sura 3:42; 3:45; 19:17). Allah Most High says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّـهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course - the Angels will descend upon them, [saying], “Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.”

(Sura 41:30)

نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ

We [Angels] are your friends in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish]

(Sura 41:31)

Some exegetes assert that this descent of the Angels upon the Believer described in this Verse is restricted to the time of his or her death. However, the wording of the Verse is general and indicates otherwise. So that Believer who firmly believes his Lord is Allah, and remains steadfast upon that belief in word and action, but from time to time when he becomes fearful or grievous, the Angels descend upon him to reassure him and give him glad tidings of salvation.

Reference: Tafsir Samarqandi, v.3 p.183; Tafsir al-Wasit, v.8 p.702

So the fact that it is possible that the Angels descend upon a pious Believer, inspire him and converse with him, is proven from the Holy Qur’an. From the Sunna, we know that the Prophet’s eminent companion and poet, Hassan b. Thabit^RA, was inspired in his poetry through the Angel Gabriel in repudiating the polytheists:

عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ قُرَيْظَةَ لِحَسَّانَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ ‏ "‏ اهْجُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، فَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ مَعَكَ ‏"‏‏

Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib^RA said: “On the day of Quraiza’s (siege), Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to Hassan bin Thabit, ‘Abuse them (with your poems), and Gabriel is with you.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

According to another Hadith:

إِنَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ لَمَّةً بِابْنِ آدَمَ وَلِلْمَلَكِ لَمَّةً فَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَكْذِيبٌ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الْمَلَكِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالْخَيْرِ وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِالْحَقِّ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ الأُخْرَى فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ثُمَّ قَرَأ ‏:‏ ‏(‏الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ‏)

“Indeed the Shaitan has an effect on the son of Adam, and the Angel also has an effect. As for the Shaitan, it is by threatening evil repercussions and rejecting the truth. As for the effect of the Angel, it is by his promise of a good end and believing in the truth. Whoever finds that, let him know that it is from Allah, and let him praise Allah for it. Whoever finds the other then let him seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan (the outcast) then recite: Shaitan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahisha (2:268)” (Tirmidhi)