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أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادٌ، عَنْ أَبِي زُبَيْدٍ، - وَهُوَ عَبْثَرُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ - عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ شُرَيْحِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ شُرَيْحٌ فَأَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدِيثًا إِنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ فَقَدْ هَلَكْنَا ‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَلَكِنْ لَيْسَ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ قَالَتْ قَدْ قَالَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَيْسَ بِالَّذِي تَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَكِنْ إِذَا طَمَحَ الْبَصَرُ وَحَشْرَجَ الصَّدْرُ وَاقْشَعَرَّ الْجِلْدُ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ ‏.‏
Translation
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said;"The Messenger of Allah said

Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him." (One of the narrators) Shuraih said: 'I went to Aishan and said: O mother of the believers! I heard Abu Hurairah narrate from the Messenger of Allah a Hadith which, if that is the case, we are all doomed. She said: 'What is that?' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah said: Whoever loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him. But there is no one among us who does not hate death.' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah did say that, but it is not what you think. When the eyes begin to stare, the death rattle sounds in the chest and the flesh shiver, at that point, whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him."'

Comment

Hadith Commentary: The Meeting with Allah

This profound narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i 1834 addresses the spiritual state at the moment of death. The initial misunderstanding by Abu Hurairah highlights the importance of proper contextual understanding in Islamic scholarship.

Contextual Clarification by Aisha

The Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), provides the crucial clarification that this hadith refers specifically to the final moments when death becomes inevitable - when the eyes fixate, the death rattle appears, and the body trembles.

At this precise moment, one's true spiritual state is revealed. The natural human aversion to death's experience is distinct from the spiritual longing for divine encounter.

Scholarly Interpretation

Classical scholars explain that "loving to meet Allah" signifies firm faith (iman), sincere devotion (ikhlas), and anticipation of divine mercy. "Hating to meet Allah" indicates weak faith, attachment to worldly life, or fear of divine punishment due to sins.

The believer's preparation throughout life culminates in this final test. Righteous deeds and constant remembrance of Allah cultivate the love for this ultimate meeting.

Practical Implications

This teaching from The Book of Funerals in Sunan an-Nasa'i reminds Muslims to regularly assess their spiritual state and increase in righteous deeds. The wise person prepares for this moment through sincere repentance, fulfilling obligations, and increasing in voluntary worship.

The hadith ultimately serves as both warning and encouragement - urging believers to cultivate such love for Allah that even death's difficulty cannot diminish the longing for divine proximity.