Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 802 [Read full issue]
Angels
Imam Ahmad relates from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No one leaves his home but finds two banners waiting at his door: one of them in the hand of an angel and the other in the hand of a devil. If he intends to do what pleases Allah the angel will follow him with his standard, and he remains under the banner of the angel until he returns to his house, but if he sets out for what displeases Allah the devil with his banner follows him about, and he remains under the devil's banner until he returns to his house."
Muslim and Ahmad relate on the authority of Abdullah ibn Masud that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is none among you but has been assigned two companions: a jinn and an angel." Somebody asked: "Even you O' Messenger of Allah!" "Yes, even me," answered the Prophet, "but Allah helped me, therefore it can direct me only to good."
Both the angels and the devil play only a persuasive role, which on the whole has no practical effect on the human will as such, with the result that man remains free to choose whichever way he may want to move without any outside intervention or interference. In other words, he and he alone is responsible for all his actions. Nevertheless in some ahadith great emphasis is laid on good relations between believers and angels and the need to make these bonds still closer and stronger for noble and good ends. Concern about improving one's relations with angels leaves no room for the devil's machinations. The emphasis and the oft-repeated advice about fostering good relations with angels shows that it cannot be accomplished but through a voluntary effort by man: hence the need to warn him against the hazards of neglecting them in the course of his life.
Compiled From:
"Freedom and Responsibility in Quranic Perspective" - Hasan Al-Anani, pp. 83-86