In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Inform those whom you love for the sake of Allah

By Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhali may Allah have mercy on him

Al-Miqdam ibn Ma’di Karib reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُعْلِمْهُ أَنَّهُ أَحَبَّهُ

“When one of you has love for his brother, he should inform him that he loves him.” [Bukhari – Book of Manners #542]

The Shaykh comments on this narration in his explanation of al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imaam Bukhari on page 137-139 Vol 2. He said,

This narration gives guidance to the Muslim [male and female] that when he [or she] loves his brother [or her sister] for the sake of Allah then he [or she] should inform him [or her] of that. This is good mannerisms between the believers. Loving for the sake of Allah means that the believers love each other only for Allah’s sake, not for any desire of worldly affairs, nor for any wealth that they give one another, nor for lineage, but this love is only for Allah’s sake. It comes in an Athar [in which Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him] said,

“Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, and hates for the sake of Allah, and befriends for the sake of Allah, and shows enmity for the sake of Allah, would get Allah’s friendship. Without abiding by this, no one can get the real taste [sweetness] of faith though he may have been a frequent offerer of prayer and fasts.” [Ibn Jarir in al-Kabeer 11/215]

Through these actions the servant is able to attain the friendship of Allah. It comes in a narration that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

والذي نفسي بيده لا تدخلوا الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم‏:‏ أفشوا السلام بينكم

“By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you shall not believe until you love one another. May I inform you of something, if you do, you love each other. Promote the Salaam among each other [by saying As-Salaamu ‘alaykum to one another]” [Muslim – #54]

Promoting the Salaam is a reason for attaining love between the Muslims. If there were two Muslims and one of them gives the Salaam to the other with the greeting of Islaam, “As-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullah”, or [adding] “wa Barakaatuh”, then the response has to match [the initial Salaam by responding in the same manner] or be greater [if possible].

Spreading the Salaam is from the attributes of the people of faith, from the actions of the people of Jannah, and from the reasons of loving one another for the sake of Allah. So if you love someone for their religion, truthfulness, trustworthiness, good mannerisms, then inform them that you love them. Say to them: “I love you for the sake of Allah.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say that to many of his companions. He said to Mu’aadh [ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him],

 إِنِّي لأُحِبُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ‏ فَلاَ تَدَعْ أَنْ تَقُولَ فِي كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ رَبِّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

“I love you, O Mu’aadh! Do not leave off saying after every prayer:

Rabbi a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik

[My Lord, help me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You well].” [Ahmad 5/144, Abu Dawud 1522]

“Do not leave off” the Prophet was advising Mu’aadh and this was also an advice for all of the believers. Therefore, whoever loves his brother for Allah’s sake then let him say, “O so and so, I love you for the sake of Allah.” That will increase love in the hearts and that will also lead to the Muslims supplicating for each other behind their backs.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ دَعَا لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ

“He who supplicates for his brother behind his back [in his absence], the Angel commissioned [for carrying supplication to his Lord] says: ‘Aameen, and it is for you also.'” [Muslim #2732]

When you supplicate for your brother – who is not in your presence and not able to hear or see you – asking Allah to grant him forgiveness, mercy, success, firmness, to attain good in the Hereafter and worldly life, then the Angel says, “Aameen, and it is for you also.” So the one who supplicates receives more aid than the one who he supplicated for, and that is because the Angel’s supplication is answered. The Angel replies, “Aameen” for your supplication and also for yourself.

Loving for Allah and brotherhood/sisterhood for Allah’s sake is from the excellent manners that every Muslim, male and female, should be diligent to learn and apply with a true application. Informing each other about this love is for both men and women. Men should do this with men, women with women, men with their close relatives like his: mother, spouse, daughter, sister, aunt [maternal and paternal]. All of these instances are permissible and are legislated. However, he should never say it to a strange woman outside of his family.

These are noble mannerisms that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, motivated his companions to apply in order to change the conditions of the people from one state to another. From the state of harshness, apathy, and unfriendliness towards each other to the state of having true love that is planted within the hearts.

Whenever there is differing between two individuals then there should be an intermediary – from the people of goodness, the Shari’ah, of perfection [Ihsaan] – who brings rectification between them. It is not permissible to abandon one another or cut one another off [to an extent where] they pass by each other and the Salaam is not given. This is disliked and does not rectify the Muslims nor the Muslim communities. So it is upon everyone to fear Allah and to apply the teachings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for he was the best person who taught the Ummah their affairs of the worldly life and Hereafter, and Allah knows best.

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله