Hadith Text

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.'"

Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1837 | Book: The Book of Funerals

Commentary on the Meaning

This profound hadith establishes a fundamental principle of divine reciprocity concerning the ultimate meeting with our Lord. The "meeting" refers to the encounter with Allah after death, which is the inevitable destiny of every soul.

The one who "loves to meet Allah" is the believer who has prepared for this meeting through sincere faith, righteous deeds, and constant remembrance of the Hereafter. Their love stems from certainty in Allah's mercy, hope for His reward, and longing for His pleasure.

Conversely, the one who "hates to meet Allah" is typically the sinner, the negligent, or the disbeliever who fears the consequences of their actions and dreads divine accountability.

Scholarly Explanations

Imam an-Nawawi explains that this love and hatred are manifested through one's actions. Loving the meeting is demonstrated by preparing for it through obedience, while hating it is shown through immersion in sin and neglect of religious obligations.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the true believer's love for meeting Allah increases as their faith strengthens, for they recognize that the ultimate perfection lies in beholding the Divine Countenance in the Hereafter.

The scholars clarify that this hadith does not contradict the natural human aversion to death itself, but rather addresses the spiritual attitude toward what comes after death - the meeting with the Creator.

Practical Implications

This teaching should motivate believers to constantly examine their hearts and increase in righteous deeds that draw them closer to Allah.

It serves as a criterion for measuring one's spiritual state - the more one longs for the meeting with Allah, the stronger their faith, and vice versa.

The hadith provides profound comfort to the righteous that their longing for Allah is reciprocated by divine love and acceptance.