Question

Is it true that Allah says “I am the companion of the one who remembers me”?

Answer

This narration is recorded in Musnad Ad Daylami as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) without a chain of narrators.

Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) and others have recorded the following Historical (Israely) Narration wherein Ka’b Al Ahbar relates:

“Once Musa (‘alayhis salam) asked Allah, O My Rabb!, Are you close so that I may secretly remember you or are you far so that I may call out unto you? Allah Ta’ala replied, O Musa!, I am the companion of those who remember me…”

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 1231 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 670)

Although the above words are not established as the words of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), there are numerous authentic Hadiths which convey a very similar message. Among them are the following:

1) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

Allah Ta’ala says:

“I am as my servant thinks of me and I am with him when he remembers me…”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 7405 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2675)

2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

Allah Ta’ala says:

“I am with my servant as long as he remembers me..”

(Sahih Bukhari -Ta’liqan- بصيغة الجزم, before Hadith: 7524. Declared authentic by Imam Ibn Hibban, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 815, Imam Hakim and Hafiz Dhahabi, Mustadrak, vol. 1, pg. 496)

Additional references for all of the above

Al La-Alil Manthurah, Hadith: 204, Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 186, Kashful Khafa, vol. 1, pg. 183 and Ithafus Sadah Al Muttaqin, vol. 6, pg. 287. Also see Min Sihahil Ahadithil Qudsiyyah of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, pg. 341)

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar