Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and I were coming out of the mosque that we met a person on the threshold of the mosque and he said to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ): When would be the Last Hour? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: What preparation have you made for that? The man became silent and then said: Allah's Messenger, I have made no significant preparation with prayer and fasting and charity but I, however, love Allah and His Messenger. Thereupon (the Holy Prophet) said: You would be along with one whom you love.
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and I were coming out of the mosque that we met a person on the threshold of the mosque and he said to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ): When would be the Last Hour? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: What preparation have you made for that? The man became silent and then said: Allah's Messenger, I have made no significant preparation with prayer and fasting and charity but I, however, love Allah and His Messenger. Thereupon (the Holy Prophet) said: You would be along with one whom you love.
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih Muslim reveals the immense virtue of sincere love for Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet's response redirects the questioner from speculative matters to practical spiritual preparation, teaching us that concern for the Hereafter should focus on our spiritual state rather than mere curiosity about timing.
The man's confession of inadequate worship combined with his declaration of love demonstrates that genuine love for Allah and His Messenger encompasses and transcends specific acts of worship. Classical scholars explain that this love is not merely emotional but manifests through obedience, following the Sunnah, and prioritizing what Allah and His Messenger love.
The final statement "You would be along with one whom you love" establishes the principle of spiritual companionship in the Hereafter. Al-Qadi 'Iyad explains that this companionship includes both proximity in Paradise and sharing in the noble qualities of the beloved. This hadith gives hope to every believer whose heart contains genuine love for the Prophet, assuring them of his company in the Next Life.
Practical Implications
This teaching emphasizes that our ultimate destiny is determined by what and whom we truly love. The scholars note that love for the Prophet must be greater than love for oneself, one's family, and all worldly possessions.
True love necessarily leads to emulation - we must study the Prophet's character, follow his guidance in all matters, and revive his Sunnah in our lives. As Imam al-Ghazali stated, "The perfection of love is conformity to the beloved in what he loves and hates."