In short: Allah says: “I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me… If he comes a span closer to Me, I come a cubit closer to him; if he comes a cubit closer, I come an arm’s length closer; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7405).
The hadith qudsi
A hadith qudsi is a saying of the Prophet ﷺ in which he reports Allah’s words. In this one, Allah says that He is as His servant expects Him to be, and is with him when he remembers Him. If the servant remembers Him in himself, Allah remembers him in Himself; if in a gathering, Allah remembers him in a better gathering (Bukhari 7405).
Small steps, big returns
A span, a cubit, walking: the servant’s effort is small and slow. Allah’s response is always greater: a cubit, an arm’s length, running.
One step today
- Remember Him: a few minutes of daily dhikr.
- Think well of Allah. He is as you think He is.
- Come back after a slip: Allah is happier with your return than a man who found his lost camel.