📖Sunan Ibn Majah 4264
It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” It was said to him: “O Messenger of Allah, does hating to meet Allah mean hating to meet death? For all of us hate death.” He said: “No. Rather that is only at the moment of death. But 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; and if he is given the tidings of the punishment of Allah, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.”
From this hadith (narration) in Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4264), we can learn the following:
- The love to meet Allah: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) states that whoever loves to meet Allah, meaning having a sincere desire to meet their Creator, Allah also loves to meet them. This implies that having a strong connection with Allah and longing for His presence is commendable and reciprocated by Allah’s love.
- The hatred to meet Allah: The hadith also mentions that whoever hates to meet Allah, meaning having an aversion or fear towards meeting their Creator, Allah also hates to meet them. This indicates that if a person has a negative view or apprehension about meeting Allah, it is not favored by Allah.
- The meaning of hating to meet Allah: The companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) if hating to meet Allah refers to hating death since everyone naturally dislikes death. The Prophet clarified that it does not refer to hating death in general. Instead, it refers specifically to the moment of death when one may experience fear or uneasiness. Thus, it is not about disliking the concept of death itself, but rather the state of fear or uncertainty associated with it.
- Response to glad tidings: The hadith further explains that if a person receives the good news of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, they develop a love for meeting Allah, and in turn, Allah loves to meet them. This highlights the importance of seeking Allah’s forgiveness and having hope in His mercy.
- Response to tidings of punishment: Conversely, if a person is informed of the punishment of Allah, they dislike meeting Allah, and Allah also dislikes meeting them. This emphasizes the need to avoid sinful actions and strive for righteousness to avoid the consequences of Allah’s punishment.
Overall, this hadith teaches us about the importance of having a positive and sincere mindset towards meeting Allah, seeking His forgiveness, and striving to lead a righteous life. It also highlights the significance of having hope in Allah’s mercy and the need to avoid actions that may lead to punishment.
