How can a Muslim wish to meet Allaah and at the same time not wish for death, which is forbidden in Islam (i.e., the act of wishing for death)?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It was authentically narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade the Muslim from wishing for death because of an affliction that befalls him. It was narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity that befalls him. If he cannot help doing so, he should say: 'O Allaah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and make me die if death is better for me.'" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar commented,

This Hadeeth (narration) indicates that the prohibition of wishing for death is limited to what is beyond this expression, since generally wishing for death is a sort of objection and challenge to inevitable fate. This form of expression that we were ordered to follow, on the other hand, involves surrender and submission to the Divine Decree. Also, the reason for the prohibition of wishing for death is that a long lifetime is better for the believer in all cases. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "None of you will enter Paradise by his good deeds.'' They (The Companions) asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allaah?'' He said: "Not even me, unless Allaah grants me His mercy and grace. So be moderate in performing religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability. None of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allaah." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Muslim is forbidden to wish for death, but he is required to train and ardently prepare himself to meet Allaah The Almighty and long for what He has in store for His believing slaves in terms of reward and honor, the highest of which is seeing Allaah The Almighty in the Hereafter.

Longing to meet Allaah The Almighty requires that the Muslim should not be inclined to this worldly life, be assured of it, or be content with it. The person, who really longs to meet Allaah The Almighty and looks forward to entering His abode of honor and grace and is immersed in His enormous rewards, considers this life a station of preparation and collecting provision as much as possible, for meeting the Beloved, Allaah The Almighty. Although this life is like a prison for the Muslim and a barrier that prevents him from achieving this goal, he does not wish for death in the hope for much provision and preparation, and in contentment with the decree of Allaah The Almighty.

In this way, it is possible to reconcile between wishing to meet Allaah The Almighty and not wishing for death, and that they are not contradictory as is the case with all the ordinances of Allaah the All-Wise and All-Aware.

Allaah Knows best.