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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 from 'Aishah that 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." Amr (one of the narrators) added in his narration: "t was said: 'O Messenger of Allah mean hating death? Fore all of us hate death.' He said; 'That is when he is dying; if he is given the glad tidings of the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him. But if he is given the tidings of the punishment of Allah, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him."'

Comment

The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1838

This profound hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i addresses the spiritual state of a believer at the moment of death, revealing the correlation between one's spiritual preparation and the divine response.

Exposition of the Text

The hadith establishes a fundamental principle: Allah's response to His servant mirrors the servant's spiritual disposition. When a believer cultivates love for meeting his Lord through righteous deeds and sincere devotion, Allah reciprocates this love.

The clarification provided by 'Amr ibn al-'As resolves potential misunderstanding - this isn't about natural human aversion to death's pain, but rather about the spiritual consciousness at death's approach. The dying person's reception of divine tidings reflects their lifelong spiritual state.

Scholarly Interpretation

Imam an-Nawawi explains that "loving to meet Allah" signifies yearning for His reward, mercy, and vision in the Hereafter, achieved through obedience and avoiding disobedience. "Hating to meet Allah" indicates fear of punishment due to sins and neglect of religious obligations.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the glad tidings mentioned are spiritual insights granted to the dying believer, reflecting their true standing before Allah. The righteous see death as a transition to eternal bliss, while the wicked perceive it as passage to punishment.

Practical Implications

This teaching emphasizes that our spiritual state throughout life determines our final moments. Constant remembrance of Allah, repentance, and good deeds cultivate love for meeting Him.

The hadith serves as both warning and encouragement: Muslims should regularly assess their relationship with Allah and strive to make death something they anticipate with hope rather than dread.