Abu Dharr said, "I asked, 'Messenger of Allah, what if a man loves a people but cannot join them?' He replied, 'Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.' I said, 'I love Allah and His Messenger.' He said, 'Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.'"
Visitation - Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 351
Abu Dharr said, "I asked, 'Messenger of Allah, what if a man loves a people but cannot join them?' He replied, 'Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.' I said, 'I love Allah and His Messenger.' He said, 'Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.'"
Commentary on the Hadith
This noble hadith from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad contains profound wisdom regarding spiritual companionship and divine proximity. The Prophet's repeated response emphasizes that spiritual connection transcends physical presence.
The Companions' love for Allah and His Messenger was not mere emotion but manifested through obedience, emulation of character, and adherence to divine commandments. When Abu Dharr affirmed his love for Allah and His Messenger, he was assured of being in their company in the spiritual realm.
This teaching offers consolation to believers who cannot physically join righteous communities, assuring them that sincere love and intention connect them to the beloved in the sight of Allah. The repetition of the response underscores its certainty and importance.
Scholars explain that this companionship manifests in this world through shared faith and in the Hereafter through proximity in Paradise. The hadith thus provides both immediate spiritual comfort and eternal hope.