:salam2:
If you don't mind akhi..I will post the full text of the hadith..which is one of the 40 Qudsi Hadiths (Holy Hadith)..for those wishing to research into it
..
English:
On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: Allah the Almighty said:
"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed."
It was related by al-Buhkari (also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah).
Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadith Qudsi
As for what it means...
This hadith relates to what a servant *suspects of Allah*..what he/she *think of Allah*..or how he/she perceives Him (swt)..and how he/she leads his/her life according to that "thought and/or perceivance"..in Islam we are *expected* to possess what would quite literally be phrased as *optimistic thoughts or perceivance* of Allah..and apply that "optimism" into our *deeds and actions* earnestly through sincere *conviction*..
The hadith reveals to us the importance of that *perceivance* because it will interpret into *the deeds* and *actions* of our actions and behaviors as Muslims...as in..when Muslims ask Allah for forgiveness after repentance..they *must believe* He (swt) Will forgive them..if they ask for healing they *must believe* He (swt) Will heal them..if they plead to Him (swt) then they *must believe* He *Hears* them and *Will* answer them according to His infallible Knowledge and Permission (swt)..thus the Muslims attached to that perceivance and committed to believing in it..will *act* according to what they *expect* of Allah (swt) in return..
Whereas someone who believes that Allah is unjust..that Allah does not answer dua'as..that Allah's mercy doesn't encompass everything..or that Allah does not forgive..(astaghfirullah al-adheem from such thoughts!)..and so on..then they will attach themselves to whims and desires..accompanied by lack of belief in Allah's Might and Power..and this inturn *will* influence their actions (i.e. if they no longer believe *repentance* is accepted by Allah..then they will have less taqwa in that..they will sin repeatedly because they think "it doesn't matter" now they *committed* sins)...and make them an *easy prey* to the fitnahs of dunya and the fitnahs of Iblis (ao'otho billah from him!)
The examples above derived from *the deeper spiritual meaning of the hadith*..take us to the *most important* part of *Islamic belief*..it takes us back to *tawheed*..and more specifically..*tawheed al-asmaa'a was-sifaat* (Tawheed of the names & attributes of Allah)..it also reminds us of the concept of *tawakkul*..and the concept of *raja'a* (plead)..and how *all* these things can literally..*make* or *break* the soundness and completeness of spirituality and belief of a Muslim!
Also..it puts before us an aim to *reach* and pinpoints to us *qualities* which we must possess (i.e. having tawakkul..believing in decree..believing in Allah's compassion..believing in Allah's generosity..etc.) and qualities we must avoid (i.e. hypocrisy..greed..not believing in Allah's Power..not seeking Allah in time of need..not doing things for Allah's sake..seeking means of shirk to accomplish matters..etc.)..and the qualities we must avoid are especially under focus in this instance..because Allah (swt) Warns against them in the Qura'an when He says:
"And that He may punish the Munafiqun (hypocrites), men and women, and also the Mushrikun men and women, who think evil thoughts about Allah: for them is a disgraceful torment. And the Anger of Allah is upon them, and He has cursed them and prepared Hell for them - and worst indeed is that destination." [Al-Fat'h 48:6]
"while another party was thinking about themselves and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance." [Al-Imran 3:154]
And in Sahih Muslim there's a hadith of Rasulullah saying (from the narration of Jabir Ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari):
"None of you should die but hoping only good from Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. (Book
#040, Hadith
#6877)
As for the Quranic verses and hadiths pertaining to having *good perceivance and thoughts* of Allah (swt) and believing in His Might, Mercy, Justice, and Love..then they are *numerous* and deserve a thread all on their own..
Inshallah this will be of help to you..it is my personal understanding..and my personal wording..should it have incompetence..then it should be pointed out and corrected for Allah's Sake..and if I have transgressed with it in any way..then I ask Allah (swt) to forgive me for He is the Only One who Knows best..and surely no words can conclude better than the words of Allah (swt) when He says in the Qura'an:
"Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger] and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures." [Al-Bayyina 98:7]
And
"Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves." [Fussilat 41:46]
And Finally
"And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (the deeds of those who are obedient to Him)." [Ashura 42:23]
