Are Angels Praying with us? Is Marijuana Lawful in Islam?

Answered by Ustadh Tariq Abdul Rasheed
Question: As Sallam alaikum
1) When we pray salat alone or in jamaat do the angels pray with us? 
2) Are the rulings against the prohibition of marijuana a more political ruling for a particular day in age or are there specific narrations and teachings of the prophet that warn against its use?
Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, and blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, his family, companions and those who follow their noble way.
Wa alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barkatuh,
Angels are present and interacting with us as has been reported in sound narrations and in the Quran. Particularly around and during the prayer various narrations have been reported regarding the presence of Angels. Such as:
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: The angels invoke blessings on everyone among you so long as he is in a place of worship with these words: O Allah! pardon him, O Allah, have mercy upon him, (and they continue to do so) as long as, he ablution (of the worshipper) is not broken, and one among you is in prayer and so long as he is detained for the prayer. [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: The servant is constantly in prayer so long as he is in a place of worship waiting for the prayer (to be observed in congregation), and the angels invoke (blessings upon him in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! show mercy to him, (and they continue to do so) till he returns (from the mosque having completed the prayer) or his ablution breaks. I said: How is the ablution broken? He said: By breaking of the wind noiselessly or with noise. [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Anyone amongst you who sat in a
place of worship waiting for the prayer is in prayer and his ablution is not broken, the angels invoke blessing upon him (in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! have mercy upon him. [Sahih Muslim]
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If anyone of you stands for prayer, he should not spit in front of him because in prayer he is speaking in private to Allah and he should not spit on his right as there is an angel, but he can spit either on his left or under his left foot and bury it (i.e. expectoration). [Sahih Muslim]
Mulla Ali al Qari (and others) mentions, [the angel to the right] writes down good works which are a sign of mercy. [Mulla Ali Qari: Sharh Mishkat]
Bara bin Azib said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘Allah and the angels send blessings upon the first row.’” [Ibn Majah]
It appears from these narrations that the angels are performing a number of functions. Amongst them; sending blessings on the praying person, recording the prayer of the person and asking for their pardon and beseeching mercy for them.
Allah (Most High) knows best about whether or not the angels pray as well. However, they are present, which is clear.
Allah (Most High) Wants Good for His Servants
What Allah (Most Wise) has legislated of proscription and prohibitions is utter good for His (Most High) servants. There is nothing that Allah (The Exalted) has declared as permissible except that it is good. There is nothing He (The Exalted) has declared to be impermissible except that it prevents harm and evil.
Allah (The Exalted) says, “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil” [al Araf: 157]
Amongst those things that Allah (The Exalted) has prohibited are Intoxicant and Narcotics. This is because Allah (The Most High) has honored the human being with intellect and it is to be preserved and protected. It is the intellect which is the basis of moral responsibility and the means of interaction between the human and the Divine. Therefore, whatever inhibits the means of this sacred interaction has been made unlawful.
All (Most High says, “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” [Maidah: 90]
Allah’s Messenger is reported to have said, “Every intoxicant is unlawful” [Sunan an-Nasai]. There are many narrations with meaning.
As you see, there is no concern with politics or political ideology; rather, the concern is what the ruling of Allah (The Exalted) regarding the matter.
The Religion is Ease
Allah (Most High) says, “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship”[Baqarah: 185]
He (The Exalted), “And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.”[Hajj: 78]
There are many healthy and productive ways to deal with depression, stress and anxiety. Foremost amongst them are to ensure that one is acting in accordance with the Sacred Law. You can be sure that the first step to attain to Allah’s (The Exalted) pleasure is by obedience to Him and avoiding what is prohibited. Therefore, will not find a way out of such difficulties through prohibited means rather the means is through obedience.
Another way to deal with depression and anxiety is through constant heartfelt supplication and calling on Allah (Most High). Such as what has been recorded in Sahih al Bukhari:

‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

“O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by men.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ

أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ بَصَرِي، وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي

‘O Allaah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You name Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my perception, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.’ [Ibn Hibban]
Additionally, tending to your physical health and ensuring that you eat well and exercise if you are able. Lastly, you can consult a reliable mental health professional.
May Allah (Most High) assist you and make things easy for you and He alone knows best.
Your brother in faith,
Tariq Abdul Rasheed
Checked and Approved by Faraz Rabbani