Q: What is your opinion on the following Hadith: "Anyone who wants to know his status with Allah should first consider the status of Allah within him"?

A: Al-Suyuty mentioned this Hadith in (Al-Jami` Al-Saghir) and ascribed it to Al-Daraqutny and to Abu Nu`aym in (Al-Hilyah) and referred to its weakness.The meaning of the Hadith is that Allah places the servant in a rank that befits Allah's place in the servant's heart. Allah's place in the servant's heart depends upon how much he knows about Him, how much he glorifies and respects His Commands and Prohibitions, how far he accepts His Rulings with a sincere heart and a satisfied soul, and how far he acts upon the duties which He enjoined and abandons His prohibitions out of sincere belief in Him and out of glorification, hope and fear of Him. Allah says about His Prophets and righteous servants: Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us. (Part No. 3; Page No. 215) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.