No love in this world is greater than the love of Allah for His sincere believers and worshippers. And that in fact should be the endeavour of every Muslim to do whatever is humanly possible to get closer to their Creator so that are blessed, guided and loved.
In our series of Hadith Qudsi, we share today a well-known narration where Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) reports a profound statement from Allah. This hadith is a narration where Allah speaks directly to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), revealing His will and intentions in a personal manner and is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 81: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq) / كتاب الرقاق / Chapter 38: The humility or modesty or lowliness / باب التَّوَاضُعِ / as Hadith 6502, given herein under:
Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
"Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي شَرِيكُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي نَمِرٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ عَبْدِي بِشَىْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَىَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطُشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنِ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لأُعِيذَنَّهُ، وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ ".
This hadith beautifully describes the deep relationship between Allah and His devoted worshippers. It emphasizes the importance of both obligatory and voluntary acts of worship in drawing closer to Allah. Allah promises to protect, guide, and answer the prayers of His beloved servants, and He is deeply merciful, even in matters like death. The hadith shows how much Allah loves His believers and how He is always with them, guiding them and fulfilling their needs, as long as they remain sincere in their worship.
This hadith explains several key concepts about Allah's relationship with His believers, focusing on His mercy, love, and guidance. Let's look at the different parts of the hadith and explain their meanings:
"I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine."
- Meaning: Allah is saying that if someone shows hostility, harm, or opposition to a sincere and pious worshiper (a true servant of Allah), He will oppose that person. This highlights the sanctity of those who are devoted to worship and the protection Allah provides to His sincere believers.
- Significance: This is a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of those who are righteous and dedicated to their faith. Those who oppose or harm them will face consequences because of Allah's protection over His servants.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: This idea of protecting the believers and punishing those who harm them is echoed in the Qur'an. For example, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:190) says: "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors." Allah protects His believers, and those who harm them will face consequences.
"The most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him."
- Meaning: Allah is telling us that the most beloved acts to Him are the ones He has commanded us to do — the obligatory acts of worship like the five daily prayers (Salah), fasting in Ramadan, giving charity (Zakat), and other essential duties.
- Significance: This emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the obligations prescribed by Allah. These acts of worship are the foundation of a Muslim's relationship with Allah.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177), Allah says: "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward the East or the West, but righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets..." This verse highlights that fulfilling Allah’s commandments is the core of righteousness.
"My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (extra deeds) till I love him..."
- Meaning: Once a person fulfills the obligatory acts of worship, Allah loves them. Then, the individual can grow even closer to Allah through Nawafil, which refers to voluntary actions such as extra prayers (like Taraweeh), giving additional charity, fasting extra days, or doing other acts of kindness.
- Significance: Nawafil or voluntary deeds help a person become even closer to Allah. These deeds are not required but are encouraged, and they are an avenue to strengthen one’s bond with the Creator.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: In Surah Al-Isra (17:79), Allah encourages voluntary prayer: "And from part of the night, pray with it (as voluntary) for extra worship for you. It is expected that your Lord will raise you to a praised station." This highlights the importance of voluntary acts in drawing closer to Allah.
"So I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks..."
- Meaning: Allah is saying that when a believer becomes so close to Him through their devotion and good deeds, Allah’s guidance and support will permeate every aspect of their life. The believer’s actions, senses, and decisions will be aligned with Allah’s will. This indicates the divine closeness and the purity of guidance Allah bestows upon His beloved servant.
- Significance: This shows how deeply Allah is involved in the life of a person who is devoted to Him. Everything that a believer does becomes in accordance with Allah’s will and wisdom.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), it says: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." Allah's guidance and help are always in harmony with what a person can manage and handle, ensuring that the person is never led astray.
"If he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him..."
- Meaning: Allah promises to grant the requests of His beloved servants. If they seek anything from Him, He will provide it, and if they ask for His protection, He will safeguard them from harm.
- Significance: This part emphasizes Allah’s generosity and willingness to fulfill the needs of His faithful servants, showing His immense love and care for them.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186), Allah says: "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." This confirms that Allah is close to His believers and is always ready to answer their prayers.
"I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him."
- Meaning: Allah expresses His reluctance to take the life of a believer because He knows that they dislike death. This shows how deeply Allah cares for His servants and His mercy toward them, even in matters such as death.
- Significance: This demonstrates Allah's compassion and mercy. Even when a believer's time to leave this world comes, Allah is reluctant to take their soul because of His love for them and their natural aversion to death.
- Related Qur'anic Concept: In Surah Al-Ankabut (29:69), it says: "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." Allah’s care for the believer is evident, and He does not wish to disappoint His righteous servants.
Every word and promise of Allah is and should be most sought out mercy that He shows to His sincere believers. If are actions are exactly in line with the Divine commandments and every action of ours is to get closer to our Creator, we should be rest assured that we will never be returned empty handed when bowing in front of our Lord. We need to be sincere to please Allah and not to act in a manner to show off our sincerity to others for Allah knows what resides in our hearts and how true and faithful we are to Him.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadith Qudsi (حدیثِ قُدسی) attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadith Qudsi.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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