When My servant draws close to me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the space of a cubit, and when he draws close to Me by the space of a cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and when he draws close to Me by the space (covered by) two hands, I go in hurry towards him.
The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness
Sahih Muslim 2675 c
Divine Proximity and Reciprocation
This sacred hadith qudsi reveals the boundless mercy and generosity of Allah towards His servants. The imagery of measurement—span, cubit, and two hands—illustrates the exponential nature of divine response to human effort.
When a servant takes a single step towards Allah through obedience, remembrance, or devotion, Allah responds with multiple steps of divine grace and proximity. The progression from palm to cubit to two hands demonstrates increasing divine generosity, culminating in Allah hastening towards the servant—the ultimate manifestation of divine eagerness to embrace the repentant soul.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars explain that the initial "span of a palm" represents obligatory worship (fard), while the "cubit" signifies supererogatory acts (nawafil). The final stage of "two hands" symbolizes complete divine acceptance, where Allah not only accepts the worship but actively seeks out the worshipper.
The hastening mentioned in the final phrase indicates that when a servant consistently engages in voluntary worship after fulfilling obligations, Allah's response becomes immediate and abundant, removing all barriers between the servant and His Lord.
Practical Implications
This teaching encourages believers to initiate spiritual effort, however small, with the certainty that divine response will far exceed human action. It emphasizes that the path to Allah begins with human intention and action, which Allah multiplies through His infinite mercy.
The hadith serves as profound motivation for consistent worship, reminding Muslims that no effort in Allah's path is wasted, and that divine generosity always surpasses human endeavor.