Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Allah the Almighty has some Angels looking for those who celebrate the praises of Allah the Almighty on the roads and paths. When they find people celebrating the praises of Allah the Almighty, they call each other, saying, ‘Come and see what you were looking for.’

The Angles then, encircle them with their wings raised to the sky of the world. (When those people have celebrated the praises of Allah the Almighty, the Angels go back and) their Lord asks them though He knows better than them, ‘What do My servants say?’

The Angels reply, ‘They say ‘Subhān Allah (Glory be to Allah), Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) and Alhamdu-lillāh (Allah be praised)’.

Allah the Almighty then says, ‘Have they seen Me?’

And the Angels reply, ‘No! By Allah the Almighty, they have not seen You.’

Allah the Almighty asks, ‘How would it be if they had seen Me?’

The Angels reply, ‘Had they seen You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your glory more deeply and declare Your excellence and praises more often.’

Allah the Almighty then says (to the Angels), ‘What do they ask from Me?’

The Angels reply, ‘They ask You for Paradise.’

Allah the Almighty says, ‘Have they seen it?’

The Angels reply, ‘No, by Allah the Almighty, O Lord! They have not seen it’.

Then Allah the Almighty asks, ‘How would it have been had they seen it?’

The Angels reply, ‘Had they seen it they would have a greater desire for it and would seek it with greater zeal, desiring it all the more.’

Allah the Almighty then asks, ‘From what do they seek refuge?’

The Angels reply, ‘They seek refuge from the Fire.’

Again Allah the Almighty asks, ‘Have they seen it?’

The Angels reply, ‘No, by Allah the Almighty, O Lord! They have not seen it.’

Allah the Almighty says, ‘How would it have been had they seen it?’

The Angels reply, ‘Had they seen it they would have fled from it with extreme fright and would have been terrified of it.’

Then Allah the Almighty says, ‘I make you witness that I have forgiven them.’ “

The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم added: “One of the Angels will say, ‘There was so-and-so among them, but he had just come over as a matter of fact.’

But Allah the Almighty will say, ‘These are the people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.’ “

Sahih Al-Bukhari