You said before that the angels sometimes made themselves visible to the messengers of Allāh,  سبحانه وتعالىٰ‎ Can you give me some examples?

Ibrāhīm - عليه السلام (Abraham)

Angels approached Ibrāhīm to let him know that, despite his old age, his wife was to have a son.[1]  Until they actually identified themselves, he did not know who they really were, and even offered them a meal.  Allāh tells us,

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ - إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ - فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ - فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ -  فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ - فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ - -قَالُوا كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ

Has there reached you the story of the honoured guests of Abraham? When they entered upon him and said, "(We greet you with) peace." He answered, "(And upon you) peace;" (you are) a people unknown.” Then he went to his family and came with a fat (roasted) calf and placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"

And he felt from them apprehension[2]. They said "Fear not" and gave him good tidings of a learned boy. And his wife approached with a cry (of alarm) and struck her face and said, “[I am] a barren old woman!" They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed He is the Wise, the Knowing.”

Sūrah adh Dhāriyāt, 51:24-30

Zakarīya - عليه السلام (Zechariah) 

Malā’ika came to inform Zakarīya of the imminent birth of Yahya عليه السلام (John). Allāh tells us,

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ - فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ - قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِيَ الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِي عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ

At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.” So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word [3] from Allāh and (who will be) honourable, abstaining (from women), and a prophet from among the righteous.” He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He (the angel) said, “Such is Allāh; He does what he wills.”Sūrah Āli ‘Imrān, 3:38-40

Maryam, um Ēsa (Mary, the mother of Jesus) 

The angel Jibrīl عليه السلام came to Maryam عليها السلام in the form of a man. He came to announce to her the birth of Ēsa عليه السلام.  At first, she was scared. She was unaware that the ‘man’ before her was Jibrīl and, consequently asked him to leave her be. However, he reassured her, 

وَاذكُر فِي الكِتابِ مَريَمَ إِذِ انتَبَذَت مِن أَهلِها مَكانًا شَرقِيًّا فَاتَّخَذَت مِن دونِهِم حِجابًا فَأَرسَلنا إِلَيها روحَنا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَها بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا قالَت إِنّي أَعوذُ بِالرَّحمٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا قالَ إِنَّما أَنا رَسولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلامًا زَكِيًّا قالَت أَنّىٰ يَكونُ لي غُلامٌ وَلَم يَمسَسني بَشَرٌ وَلَم أَكُ بَغِيًّا قالَ كَذٰلِكِ قالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ ۖ وَلِنَجعَلَهُ آيَةً لِلنّاسِ وَرَحمَةً مِنّا ۚ وَكانَ أَمرًا مَقضِيًّا

And mention, (O Muhammad), in the book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen.  Then We sent to her Our Angel (i.e. Gabriel), and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, (so leave me), if you should be fearing of Allāh.

He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you (news of) a pure boy (i.e. a son).” She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?”  He said, “Thus (it will be); your Lord says, “It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a Mercy from Us.  And it is a matter (already) decreed.”

(Sūrah Maryam; 19:16-21)  

Angels also came to Lūt عليه السلام (Lot) to warn him that Allāh was to destroy his city. They instructed him to leave the city immediately.

Did the malā’ika make themselves known to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم? Yes. It was Jibrīl who recited the first words of the Qur’ān to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in Hira Cave on the Mountain of Light (pictured) in his home city of Makkah. Thereafter, he continued to receive the Qur’ānic revelations through Jibrīl. Also, on one occasion, Jibrīl appeared before the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم whilst he sat with some of the sahābah in the mosque.

 At that time, did he appear as an angel with wings? 

No. He came as a man, dressed in pure white clothes, with extraordinarily black hair and bearing no signs of travel. None of the sahābah recognised him. This unknown visitor sat in front of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and started asking him questions. It was only after the questioning was over and the visitor had left, that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم identified the man to those around as Jibrīl. He commented to Omar رضي الله عنه

 “O Omar! Do you know who the questioner was?” I (Omar narrating) replied, “Allāh and His Messenger know better.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “He was Jibrīl, He has come to you all to teach you your religion.”

(Sahih Muslim) 

Did the malā’ika help Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and the new community of Muslims?

Yes. By Allāh’s command, they constantly aided him and his followers. One of the most notable examples was during the Battle of Badr. Here, the Muslim army was outnumbered by the kuffār (disbelievers), three to one. However, Allāh fortified their ranks with an army of one thousand malā’ika.

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ

(Remember) when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.”

Sūrah al Anfaal, 8:9

Did those malā’ika actually fight? 

Yes, they did. They actually fought! Both the Muslims and the kuffār experienced the presence of malā’ika fighting in the thick of battle. For example, one of the sahābah heard the voice of an angel chasing a Makkan infidel on horseback. The angel was even heard calling out the name of his horse as he charged. The story was narrated by Ibn Abbās رضي الله عنه. He said, 

While on that day a Muslim was chasing a disbeliever and he heard over him the swishing of a whip and the voice of the rider saying: “Go ahead, Hayzūm!” He glanced at the polytheist who had now fallen on his back. When he looked at him carefully, he found that there was a scar on his nose and his face was torn as if it had been lashed with a whip and had turned completely green.”  An ansāri [4] came to the Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم and related this event to him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, “you have told the truth. This was the help from the third heaven.”

Muslim

In another incident, a kāfir, who was taken prisoner, swore that he was captured by a handsome looking stranger. He said,

O Messenger of Allāh, By Allāh this man did not capture me. I was captured by a man who was bald and had the most handsome face, and who was riding a piebald horse. I cannot see him here among the people. The ansāri said: “I captured him, O Messenger of Allāh.”  The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “Be quiet. Allāh Almighty strengthened you with the help of a noble angel.”

Muslim

The angels at Badr sound very brave.

Yes. They were brave and committed warriors, obeying the command of their Lord and striking fear into the hearts of the Makkan kuffār.

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

(Remember) when your Lord inspired to the angels, “I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike (them) upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.[5]”

Sūrah al Anfāl, 8:12

 It gives a new meaning to the expression ‘special forces.’

Well, they certainly were ‘special.’ Jibrīl, himself, praised those angels who supported the Muslims at Badr. 

Narrated Rifā رضي الله عنه: (who was one of the Badr warriors) Jibrīl came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said, "How do you look upon the warriors of Badr among yourselves?" The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "As the best of the Muslims." [or he used some similar expression]. Jibrīl said, "And so are the Angels who participated in the Badr."

Muslim

So, it seems Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم always had the angels on his side? 

Yes. Always. It is for this reason that Allāh advises the two wives of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that they should not cooperate against him,

إِن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

If you two (wives) repent to Allāh, (it is best), for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him – then indeed Allāh is his Protector and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are (his) assistants.

Sūrah Tahrīm, 66:4

 Furthermore, they were always wishing blessings upon him,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ

Indeed Allāh confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels (ask Him to do so).

Sūrah al Ahzāb, 33:56

It is clear that the angels were very much present in the lives of the prophets. Do they have any bearing on our lives today?

Let us wrap up our talk about angels with examples of their presence in our own houses and our own lives.

If we remain obedient servants of Allāh, we can expect their words of comfort (in the Herafter)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allāh" and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, (saying), "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.”

Sūrah al Fussilat, 41:30

If we attend to prayers diligently and promptly, we can expect their supplications for us

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one's house or in a business centre, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allāh upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque, he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allāh's forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: 'O Allāh! Be Merciful to him, O Allāh! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.”

Bukhāri

Abu Hurairah narrates that Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the imām (leader of the prayer) comes out they (angels) fold their papers and listen to the khutba (sermon)."

Bukhāri

If we remember Allāh, we can expect them in our gatherings

Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa`id al-Khudri رضي الله عنهما reported: The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allāh, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allāh’s) mercy envelops them, Sakhīnah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allāh makes a mention of them before those who are near Him.”
Muslim

If we are pious, we can expect their favourable reports

Abu Hurairah narrates that Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and 'Asr prayers [dawn and mid-afternoon]. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allāh asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them, they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying."

Bukhāri

But if negligent, we can expect their curses

Abu Huraira reported that Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “When a woman spends the night away from the bed of her husband, the angels curse her until morning.” (This hadīth has been narrated through the same chain of transmitters (with a slight variation):"He said: Until she comes back.")

Muslim

Abu Huraira reported: Abu'l-Qāsim (i.e., Allāh's Messenger, صلى الله عليه وسلم), said: “He who pointed a weapon towards his brother the angels invoke curse upon him even if he is his real brother so long as he does not abandon it (the pointing of weapon towards one's brother Muslim).”

Muslim

We can acquire forgiveness of our sins

Abu Hurairah narrates that Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Say ‘Āmīn’ when the Imām says it and if the Āmīn of any one of you coincides with that of the angels then all his past sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab said, "Allāh's Apostle used to Say "Āmīn."

Bukhāri

We can expect their supplications for us if we spend in the Way of Allāh سبحانه وتعالىٰ

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asalam said, "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allāh! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allāh! Destroy every miser.'"

Bukhāri

If we are careful, we can expect them in our houses:

 Abu Talha رضي الله عنه narrates, I heard Allāh's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)."

Bukhāri

Islām around the world

Centro Mohammed IV Mosque, Coquimbo, Chile, South America