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: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar