Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I live in the thought of My servant and I am with him as he remembers Me. (The Holy Prophet) further said: By Allah, Allah is more pleased wth the repentance of His servant than what one of you would do on finding the lost camel in the waterless desert. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand. I draw near him by the length of a cubit and when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit. I draw near him by the length of a fathom and when he draws near Me walking I draw close to him hurriedly.
Hadith In Arabic Text :
حدثني سويد بن سعيد، حدثنا حفص بن ميسرة، حدثني زيد بن أسلم، عن أبي، صالح عن أبي هريرة، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال ” قال الله عز وجل أنا عند ظن عبدي بي وأنا معه حيث يذكرني والله لله أفرح بتوبة عبده من أحدكم يجد ضالته بالفلاة ومن تقرب إلى شبرا تقربت إليه ذراعا ومن تقرب إلى ذراعا تقربت إليه باعا وإذا أقبل إلى يمشي أقبلت إليه أهرول ” .
Chapter : The Book Pertaining to Repentance and Exhortation to Repentance – كتاب التوبة