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Halaqah linguistically means "circle" in Arabic. Often a halaqah, is a relgious gathering- a study circle if you please. In these gatherings, people generally sit in a circle and it is said the angels also sit in circles surrounding the gathering until they reach our Creator to tell Him that His servants are remembering Him in a gathering.
This is significant for a number of reasons, two being mentioned in sound narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him).
In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: "Those that remember Me in their heart, I remember them in My heart; and those that remember Me in a gathering (i.e. that make mention of Me), I remember them (i.e. make mention of them) in a gathering better than theirs."
Also, on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Allah Almighty has angels who travel the highways and by-ways seeking out the people of dhikr. When they find people remembering Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, they call out to one another, 'Come to what you hunger for!' and they enfold them with their wings stretching up to the lowest heaven. Their Lord - who knows best - asks them, 'What are My slaves saying?' They say, 'They are glorifying You, proclaiming Your greatness, praising You and magnifying You.'
He says, 'Have they seen Me?' They say, 'No, by Allah, they have not seen You.' He says, 'How would it be if they were to see Me?' They say, 'If they were to see You, they would worship You even more intensely and magnify You even more intensely and glorify You even more intensely.'
He says, 'What are they asking for?' They say, 'They are asking You for the Garden.' He says, 'Have they seen it?' They say, 'No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not seen it.'" He says, 'How would it be if they were to see it?' They say, 'If they were to see it, they would yearn for it even more strongly and seek it even more assiduously and would have an even greater desire for it.'
He says, 'What are they seeking refuge from?' 'They are seeking refuge from the Fire.' He says, 'Have they seen it?' He says, 'How would it be if they were to see it?' They say, 'If they were to see it, they would flee from it even harder and have an even greater fear of it.'
He says, 'I testify to you that I have forgiven them.' One of angels says, 'Among them is so-and-so who is not one of them. He came to get something he needed.' He says, 'They are sitting and the one sitting with them will not be disappointed.'" [Agreed upon]
Insha'Allah whatever gatherings we hold together will be of benefit to us all. Insha'Allah we will be amongst those given the shade of Allah on a day hotter than no other, and will be those who met and parted for His sake sharing His knowledge amongst each other.
"Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade but His. They are:
(1) A just ruler
(2) A young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (alone) sincerely from childhood.
(3) A man whose heart is attached to the mosque (ie, who offers the five fardh salats in jama'at in the mosque).]
(4) Two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake, and they meet and part in Allah's cause only.
(5) A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illegal sexual intercourse with her, and says: 'I am afraid of Allah'
(6) A person who practises charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (ie, nobody knows how much he has given in charity).
(7) A person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears."
