The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Who-ever loves to meet Allah, Allah (too) loves to meet him and who-ever hates to meet Allah, Allah (too) hates to meet him". `Aisha, or some of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "But we dislike death." He said: It is not like this, but it is meant that when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of Allah's pleasure with him and His blessings upon him, and so at that time nothing is dearer to him than what is in front of him. He therefore loves the meeting with Allah, and Allah (too) loves the meeting with him. But when the time of the death of a disbeliever approaches, he receives the evil news of Allah's torment and His Requital, whereupon nothing is more hateful to him than what is before him. Therefore, he hates the meeting with Allah, and Allah too, hates the meeting with him."
Hadith Commentary: The Meeting with Allah
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (6507) in the Book "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)" addresses the fundamental relationship between a servant and their Lord at the most critical moment - the approach of death. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) establishes a direct correlation between human disposition and divine response.
The Nature of Love and Hate in Divine Encounter
The hadith distinguishes between natural human aversion to death's experience and the spiritual longing for divine proximity. When 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) expressed natural dislike for death, the Prophet clarified this wasn't about physical death but the spiritual state preceding it.
For the believer, death becomes transformed from a fearful unknown into a joyful reunion. The good news of Allah's pleasure removes all fear, making the meeting with the Creator the most desired outcome. This reciprocal love reflects the divine promise: "As you are to Me, so I am to you."
The Believer's Approaching Death
When the believer's death approaches, angels descend with glad tidings of divine pleasure and eternal blessings. At this moment, the veil between this world and the next lifts slightly, allowing the soul to glimpse the eternal gardens and divine proximity awaiting it.
The believer's entire perspective shifts - worldly attachments fade as the beauty of what lies ahead becomes overwhelmingly attractive. This transformation explains why martyrs smile in death and righteous souls depart with contentment.
The Disbeliever's Final Moments
In contrast, the disbeliever receives warning of divine punishment and requital for their rejection of truth. The horrors of the afterlife become terrifyingly real, making death the most dreaded experience.
Their lifelong avoidance of Allah becomes their greatest regret as they face the consequences of their choices. This divine "hatred" is not arbitrary but represents the natural consequence of their own disposition and actions throughout life.
Practical Implications for Spiritual Life
This hadith serves as a spiritual mirror - our feelings about meeting Allah reflect our current spiritual state. The scholar Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that love for meeting Allah develops through: constant remembrance of Allah, performance of righteous deeds, and cultivating longing for divine proximity.
The ultimate test of faith is not merely professing belief but developing such love for Allah that meeting Him becomes our heart's deepest desire. This transforms our entire approach to life, death, and the hereafter.