Hadith Explanation: “A Man Will Be With Whoever He Loves”
Disclaimer: This hadith is taken from زاد الطالبين (Provisions for the Seekers) originally written by Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Ashiq Ilahi al-Bulandshehri in Arabic. Provision for the Seekers is the English version, with the translation and additional commentary by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf. No copyright infringement intended whatsoever. All rights belong to the publisher(s).
Original and Translation
اَلمَرءُ مَعَ مَن أَحَبَّ
“A man will be with whoever he loves.”
Note: This is an authentic hadith from Saheeh Bukhari (two narrators, Abdullah رضي الله عنه and Abu Musa رضي الله عنه) and also in Saheeh Muslim.
Sentence Analysis (Tarkeeb)
المَرءُ means “person” or “man”, coming here as a general term and used for both genders. This is the mubtada.
مَعَ means “with”. Its usage in Arabic is for linking. It is a zarf makaan.
مَن is ism mawsool.
أَحَبَّ is a fi’l on baab if’aal and this word also contains faa’il inside of it. It means “he loves” and this is a complete jumlah fi’liyyah. This jumlah becomes the silah to مَن.
Ism mawsool and silah become mudhaaf ilayh to the zarf preceding it. (Note: if an ism comes after a zarf then the zarf is mudhaaf and the following ism is mudhaaf ilayh.) This mudhaaf and mudhaaf ilayh form murakkab idhaafiyy. So the murakkab idhaafiyy مَعَ مَن أَحَبَّ becomes the khabr. Mubtada and khabr form jumlah ismiyyah khabariyyah.
Commentary
If you have a natural love for good people, you will try to emulate them. When you do so, you will be together with them in the Aakhirah (Hereafter). The situation is also flipped: if one loves and keeps company with non-righteous people, they will end up emulating them and lose out in the Aakhirah. Therefore, the suhbat (company) in which we place ourselves is directly linked with our hearts. Spending time with someone (or avidly keeping up with someone on social media!) has an effect on you and softens your heart towards them.
Fadheelah: This hadith is actually part of a longer one.
Similar Hadith #1:
Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه said: I never saw the Companions of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم so happy about anything as I saw them being happy about this thing. A man said: “Messenger of Allah! A man loves another man for the good work that he does that but he himself cannot do [the deed] like it.” The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “A man will be with those whom he loves.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 5127]
- Shaan e Wurood: The Sahaabah (RA) wanted to reach a higher level. So this hadith made them very happy, as they thought they could be like Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم or on his level in Paradise (Jannah).
Our hearts should be guarded because love and attachment have an impact on us. This natural instinct would make us end up on their rank, their level on the Day of Judgement.
We have to check our hearts and assess whether we are attached to the Dunya or Aakhirah. We have to evaluate and ponder over our attachments. This means we ponder and then assess where we spend our time. What kind of people do we spend time with the most? Who and/or what do we follow on social media? In terms of social media, we should ask how attached are we to them (if negative) and would it hurt us if we left following them.
Loving the right people will automatically make you emulate them and make you closer to deen. This is if those people are pious and do good deeds.
Similar Hadith #2:
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that a man came to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم and said: “O Messenger of Allah! When will the Hour be established?” So the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم stood to perform Salah and when he was finished his Salah he said: “Where is the one who asked when the Hour will be established?” The man said: “It was I, O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “What have you prepared for it?” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have not prepared very much of Salah nor fasting for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger.” So the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “A man shall be with whomever he loves, and you shall be with whomever you love.” So after the advent of Islam, I [Anas رضي الله عنه] did not see that anything brought the Muslims more happiness than that. [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2385]
- A side note: The Companions (RA) of Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم obviously read and did all the fardh Salah but this man meant extra supererogatory works.
- it gave the Sahabi (RA) great happiness to hear this from Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم.
- The question to ask regarding the FInal Hour is not about when it will come. Rather, the question is what has one done to prepare for it.
To learn from this: The Sahābah (RA) were always concerned with the Hour, being answerable to Allah (SWT) and death. They were keen and held constant awareness. This means that we should constantly remind ourselves of this point (i.e. being answerable) as it prevents us from doing sins and bad deeds. We have to emulate the attitude of the Sahābah (RA) because they were always concerned, wanted to do more and thought their good deeds insufficient.
It is important to note that one cannot just have feelings in the heart. Getting nearer to Allah (SWT) and preparing for the Akhirah takes effort and time.
Additional Note:
In addition to the disclaimer, please note that I have not created this information. Rather, I have shared my notes on what was taught to me by my reputable teachers as I am a student of the deen (religion) Islam. All thanks to Allah, the Most High. Any mistake, misuse, or misinterpretation of the teachings would be entirely due to my lack of knowledge. If you have any questions or concerns about these notes, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach me privately through my blog here or @hadithexplained on Twitter.
