Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him; and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him."

Hadith Reference

Sahih al-Bukhari 6508 | Book: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)

Commentary on the Meaning

This profound hadith establishes a fundamental principle of divine reciprocity. The love or hatred for meeting Allah reflects the state of one's heart and deeds. A believer who eagerly anticipates meeting his Lord demonstrates genuine faith, righteous actions, and proper preparation for the Hereafter.

The "love to meet Allah" manifests through diligent worship, avoiding sins, and constant remembrance of the Hereafter. Such a person performs obligations perfectly, engages in voluntary acts of worship, and maintains consciousness of Allah's presence.

Conversely, "hating to meet Allah" indicates spiritual sickness - one immersed in disobedience, neglectful of duties, and attached to worldly pleasures. This hatred stems from awareness of one's shortcomings and fear of divine accountability.

Scholarly Insights

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that loving to meet Allah requires proper preparation through obedience and purification of the heart from shirk and innovations.

Imam al-Nawawi states this hadith encourages believers to constantly evaluate their spiritual state and increase in good deeds that draw them closer to Allah.

Scholars emphasize that this divine reciprocity is absolute justice - as the servant positions himself towards his Lord, so does the Lord position Himself towards His servant.

Practical Implications

This teaching serves as a spiritual barometer. The believer should regularly assess: Do my actions reflect love for meeting Allah? Does my life demonstrate preparation for the inevitable encounter?

The hadith inspires hope for the righteous and serves as warning for the negligent, motivating continuous self-reformation and spiritual development.