Whoever loves to meet Allah, Hadith

There is a Hadith which mentions whoever loves to meet Allah. Please see below for the correct wording below. The Hadith is authentic.

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ، وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ

(Sayidina) Abu Musa (al-Ash’ari May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Whoever loves the meeting with Allah (Most High), Allah (Most High) loves the meeting with him. And whoever dislikes the meeting with Allah (Most High), Allah (Most High) dislikes the meeting with him.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6508).

The Hadith above is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari in at least two places. It is also mentioned in Sahih Muslim several times. There is no doubt regarding the authenticity. Since all Musnad narrations in Bukhari and Muslim are Sahih.

This Hadith teaches us to work hard in this life to prepare for the Afterlife. If a person does so, then in sha Allah he can look forward to the Afterlife. However, this does not negate the importance of balancing between hope and fear. Rather this particular Hadith is addressing hope, other narrations address fear. Thus, one must balance between the two.

جَمِيع مَا حكم مُسلم بِصِحَّتِهِ من هَذَا الْكتاب فَهُوَ مَقْطُوع بِصِحَّتِهِ وَالْعلم النظري حَاصِل بِصِحَّتِهِ فِي نفس الْأَمر وَهَكَذَا مَا حكم البُخَارِيّ بِصِحَّتِهِ فِي كِتَابه وَذَلِكَ لِأَن الْأمة تلقت ذَلِك بِالْقبُولِ سوى من لَا يعْتد بِخِلَافِهِ ووفاقه فِي الْإِجْمَاع. (صيانة صحيح مسلم)

Everything that (Imam) Muslim considered to be Sahih of this book is undoubtedly Sahih, and it leads to contemplative certainty due to its authenticity. Likewise, everything that (Imam) al-Bukhari considered to be Sahih in his book (is Sahih), because the Ummah has accepted that reality (the authenticity of Bukhari and Muslim) with agreement. Except for a few, whose acceptance or disagreement does not affect the consensus. (Imam Ibn Salah, Siyanatu Sahih Muslim).

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (01.04.2023)