THE MOTIVATOR

THE ANGELS PAY RESPECT 

We know that angels are the most obedient creatures and do not disobey Allah. However, angels have great respect for people who study religious knowledge. 

In the hadith from Abu Ad-Darda' radhiyallahu 'anhu it is stated, Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, 

وَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ ال ْعِلْمِ

 "Indeed, angels spread their wings as a sign of approval for the seeker of knowledge." (HR. Abu Daud, no. 3641; Ibnu Majah, no. 223. Shaykh Al Albani said that this hadith is authentic).

 According to the scholars, the meaning of this hadith is that the angels humble themselves before the seeker of knowledge and respect him. There are also scholars who say that what is meant is that angels pray for students of knowledge because spreading their wings is the same as spreading their hands to pray.

 Because bird wings are like hands to us. 

See the discussion of Abul 'Abbas Al-Qurthubi in Al-Mufhim Ashkala min Talkhis Buku Muslim. Ibnul Qayyim also explains in Miftah Dar As-Sa'adah (1: 63) that angels lay down their wings as a form of humbling themselves to the students of knowledge and as a form of respect and glorification because the students of knowledge have carried the legacy of the prophet.

 From this we can conclude what the glory and position of a scholar of (religious) knowledge is before the angels. Here it also teaches us to respect everyone who studies religious knowledge, such as memorizers of the Koran, students of Nabawi hadith, and those who study other religious knowledge.