Narrated Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas: I saw Allah's Apostle on the day of the battle of Uhud accompanied by two men fighting on his behalf. They were dressed in white and were fighting as bravely as possible. I had never seen them before, nor did I see them later on.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
➊ In the narration of Sahih Muslim, it is explicitly mentioned that it was Jibril (alayhis salam) and Mikail (alayhis salam).
(Sahih Muslim, al-Fada'il, Hadith: 6004 (2306))
➋ From this, it is understood that during the Battle of Uhud, angels descended and actively participated in the battle.
➌ This hadith demonstrates the virtue of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (radi Allahu anhu). He saw the angels and even recognized them.
➍ In any case, restricting the descent of angels only to the Battle of Badr is questionable, as some commentators have stated. And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 4054
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
Thus, the appearance of the angels in white garments is evidence that wearing white clothing is beloved to Allah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 5826
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Those two men were Jibril (Gabriel) and Mika'il (Michael), as is explicitly mentioned in a hadith.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Fada'il, Hadith: 6004 (2306))
(2)
The angels appearing in white clothing is evidence that white clothing is greatly beloved to Allah, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself encouraged wearing white. Thus, in a hadith, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Wear white clothing, for indeed it is the best of your clothes, and shroud your dead in it."
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Libas, Hadith: 4061)
From this, it is understood that wearing white clothing and shrouding the deceased in a white shroud is recommended (mustahabb).
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 5826
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: This hadith establishes that the angels did not participate only in the Battle of Badr, but also took part in the Battle of Uhud for your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) protection and defense, and to encourage the Muslims. They fought in the manner of ordinary humans; otherwise, in terms of their real power and strength, a single angel would have sufficed for the destruction and ruin of the disbelievers.
Furthermore, it is also understood from this that Allah Ta’ala, for the honor and dignity of His righteous and pious servants besides the Prophets, allows them to witness the angels. The specification of their names occurred upon your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) informing; for without your information, it would not have been possible for Sa’d (radi Allahu anhu) to name them as Jibril and Mika’il.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 6005