عن ابنِ مسعودٍ رضيَ اللهُ عنه قال: جاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلى رسولِ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم فقال: يا رسولَ اللهِ، كَيْفَ تَقُولُ في رَجُلٍ أَحبَّ قَوْمًا وَلَمْ يَلْحَقْ بِهِمْ؟ فقالَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم: «المَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ» متفقٌ عليه.
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about a man who loves a people but has not caught up with them? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A person will be with those whom he loves." Agreed upon.
الشرح · explanation
لم يلحق بهم : يعني في العمل، لأنّه مقصّر ومرتبته دون مرتبتهم، فليس له من الاجتهاد ما لهم في طاعة الله عز وجل.
"Has not caught up with them": meaning in deeds, because he falls short and his rank is below their rank, for he does not have the same diligence they have in obedience to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.
الدروس · lessons
على المرء أن يختار الأصدقاء والإخوة في الله من الصالحين والمتقين ليُحشر معهم. أن يحشر المرء مع من أحب لا يستلزم مساواته له في منزلته وعلو مرتبته، لأن ذلك متفاوت بتفاوت الأعمال الصالحة. على المرء أن يجتنب صحبة الأشرار والفُسَّاق كي لا يحشر معهم.
A person should choose his friends and brothers in Allah from among the righteous and the God-fearing so that he may be gathered with them. That a person is gathered with those whom he loves does not necessitate that he be equal to them in rank and lofty station, for that varies according to the variation in righteous deeds. A person should avoid the company of the wicked and the sinful so that he is not gathered with them.