All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Angels may appear in human form to some people if Allah wills, but it is not prescribed for a Muslim to make seeing angels or speaking with them a goal that he asks Allah for. The Prophet ﷺ did not guide his followers to seek this, nor is it known that the Companions or the early righteous generations used to ask Allah for such a vision. It is better for a Muslim to ask Allah for guidance, steadfastness, Paradise, and salvation from the Fire, for these are the matters encouraged by Islamic teachings.
Some people may see angels if the angels appear in human form.
Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“On the Day of Uhud, I saw two men on the right and left of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, wearing white garments and fighting on his behalf with the fiercest fighting. I had never seen them before or after.”
[Reported by Muslim]
Scholars mentioned that those two men were angels.
It is also established that some of the Companions saw Jibril, peace be upon him, when he appeared in the form of a man.
Thus, the possibility of seeing angels in human form is established.
Seeing angels may be among the extraordinary honors that Allah grants to some of His servants, but it is not a religious objective that a Muslim is instructed to pursue.
If such a karamah occurs to a righteous servant, it is a favor from Allah. However, a Muslim has not been commanded to seek extraordinary events or unusual experiences.
His main concern should be fulfilling what Allah has commanded him regarding faith, obedience, and steadfastness.
According to the fatwa, it is not known that the Prophet ﷺ taught his Ummah to ask for this, nor that the Companions and the early generations after them used to ask Allah to let them see or speak with angels.
Therefore, it is better to follow what is authentically established from them and not turn something that the religion did not encourage into a devotional objective.
There also does not appear to be any necessary religious benefit for which a Muslim needs to see an angel.
Faith in the angels is attained through what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have told us about them; it does not depend on seeing them.
When an angel appears to someone other than a prophet in this world, it may take a human form.
Allah Almighty says about Jibril, peace be upon him, when he came to Maryam:
“Then he appeared before her in the form of a perfectly formed man.”
[Maryam: 17]
Allah Almighty also says:
“And if We had made him an angel, We would have made him appear as a man, and We would have caused them the same confusion that they themselves create.”
[Al-An‘am: 9]
So if a person were to see an angel appearing in the form of a man, he might not be able to know merely by looking at him that he is an angel.
Therefore, there is no necessary benefit in seeking such a vision.
Yes, and this is one of the reasons why seeking such experiences is not praiseworthy.
A person may see something or feel something and then assume that it is an angel, even though he has no evidence for that conclusion.
This can open the door to illusion and deception. Scholars have even mentioned that devils may appear to some people in forms that make them think they are angels or righteous people, causing them to fall into temptation.
Therefore, religion should not be built, nor should religious decisions be made, on personal unseen experiences that are not regulated by revelation.
The greatest honor Allah can grant His servant is to guide him to faith, steadfastness, and obedience.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“The highest form of karamah is to remain steadfast.”
Remaining constant in prayer, repenting, having good character, avoiding sins, and increasing in faith are more beneficial to a servant than seeking to see angels or other extraordinary events.
It is better to supplicate with what the Prophet ﷺ frequently asked for and what the Qur’an and Sunnah encourage, such as:
Asking for guidance and firmness upon the religion, forgiveness of sins, Paradise, salvation from the Fire, righteousness of the heart and deeds, and a good ending.
These are requests that benefit a person in this world and the Hereafter, and revelation has clearly guided us toward them.
Some people may see angels if the angels appear in human form and Allah wills it, but it is not prescribed for a Muslim to make seeing angels or speaking with them a goal that he asks Allah for.
This is not authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, or the early generations, nor does any religious necessity depend on it.
It is better for a Muslim to ask Allah for what truly benefits him: guidance, steadfastness, firmness in obedience, Paradise, and salvation from the Fire.
As for extraordinary honors and supernatural events, if they occur without being sought, they are a favor from Allah and should not become an objective that a person pursues.
And Allah knows best.