When the angels left Madinah...

There are moments in history that shake you

Stories that echo louder the more you reflect on them

This is one of those stories

It’s not just about a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

It’s about us -

about what happens when we ignore sincere warnings

when we push away the very blessings that protect us

Abdullah ibn Salam ر wasn’t just any man

He was once a respected Jewish scholar

known for his sincerity and knowledge

When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah

he recognised the truth instantly and embraced Islam with full heart

The Prophet ﷺ gave him glad tidings:

“You have two rewards -

one for your faith before Islam

and another for your acceptance of Islam

But the story I want to share with you takes place years later

during the caliphate of Uthman ر

Rebellions were stirring

People were restless

Swords were being unsheathed

Abdullah ibn Salam’s son stood up and warned the people with words that would soon prove true

“Do not unsheathe your swords against him, for if you do, you will not put them back in their sheathes. Your leader today stands with a shield, but if you kill him, he will stand with a sword. Woe unto you. Indeed, Al-Madinah is surrounded by angels - and if you kill him, those angels will leave us.”

They mocked him

They sneered

“What is this to you, O son of the Jew?”

So he stepped back

And then… it happened

The rebellion turned bloody

The Caliph was killed

And just as he had warned -

the angels left Madinah

Think about it:

a city protected by angels -

but when people disobeyed

when arrogance and injustice took over

that shield of protection disappeared

Doesn’t that sound uncomfortably familiar?

We all crave protection

peace

and barakah in our lives

But how often do we push away the very things that bring them?

• Angels gather where the Qur’an is recited

• They surround gatherings of dhikr

• They pray for those who give charity

But…

angels also leave when sins become normalised

They turn away when arrogance

injustice

or rebellion takes root

The truth is:

barakah doesn’t “randomly” vanish

We drive it away

Now bring this home:

Think about your own space

Is it a place where angels would want to stay?

• When your house is filled with Qur’an, it becomes a place of light

• When backbiting fills the air, angels step away

• When salah is consistent, angels record it with honour

• When sins are normalised, the angels leave

We may not see them

but their presence -

or absence -

changes everything

This week

try this:

Choose one action that will make your home a place of angels

• Play Qur’an in the background

• Guard your tongue from gossip

• Pray your salah on time

• Make du’a after fajr and maghrib

It doesn’t have to be grand -

even a small act invites immense company

Because losing the angels’ company?

That’s a far greater loss than we realise

Hit reply and tell me: what’s one small action you’ll take this week to make your home a place where angels would want to stay or if you need help with ideas

btw I share more like this on Threads and Instagram. Come say Salaam.

until the next letter,

— hidvyaa