Remembrance of Allah — Page 118
118 call each other, saying, ‘Come to the object of your pur- suit. ’ He added, ‘Then the angels encircle them with their wings up to the sky of the world. ’ He added, ‘[After those people have celebrated the praises of Allah, and the angels return], their Lord, asks them [the angels] though He knows better than them, “What do My servants say?” The angels reply, “They extol Your Holiness, they proclaim Your greatness, they praise You, and they glorify You. ” Allah then says, “Have they seen Me?” The angels reply, “No! By Allah, they have not seen You. ” Allah says, “How would it have been if they had seen Me?” The angels reply, “If they had seen You, they would have worshipped You more, glorified You more, and praised You more often. ” Allah says [to the angels], “What do they ask Me for?” The angels reply, “They ask You for Paradise. ” Allah says [to the angels], “Have they seen it?” The angels say, “No! By Allah, O Lord! They have not seen it. ” Allah says, “How would it have been if they had seen it?” The angels say, “If they had seen it, they would have desired it more, sought it with greater zeal and developed a greater yearning for it. ” Allah says, “From what do they seek refuge?” The angels reply, “They seek refuge from the Fire. ” Allah says, “Have they seen it?” The angels say, “No, By Allah, O Lord! They have not seen it. ” Allah says, “How would it have been if they had seen it?” The angels say, “If they had seen it, they would have fled from it hastily and would have had extreme fear of it. ” Then Allah says, “I make you witnesses of how I have forgiven them. ”’ The Holy Prophet s as said, ‘One of the angels would