Fruits for the Week

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One of the most prominent distinguishing features of the true Muslim is his love for his friends and brothers in faith, a love that is untainted by worldly interests or ulterior motives. This is true brotherly love, whose purity is derived from the light of Islamic guidance; its effect on the behavior of Muslims is quite unique in the history of human relationships.

The bond that links a Muslim to his brother, regardless of race, color, or language, is the bond of faith in Allah. Allah (SWT) said: “The believers are but a single brotherhood.” (Qur’an 49: 10)

The brotherhood of faith is the strongest of bonds between hearts and minds. It comes as no surprise that this unique brotherhood bears fruits of love that are amazingly sublime, pure, deep, and lasting. Islam calls it “Love for the sake of Allah.” In which the true Muslim finds the sweetness of faith. The Prophet (SAW) said: “There are three things that whoever attains them will find the sweetness of faith: if Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than anyone else; if he loves a person solely for the sake of Allah; and he would hate to return to kufr after Allah has rescued him from it, as much as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The status of two who love one another for the sake of Allah

Many hadiths describe the status of two people who love one another for the sake of Allah and describe the high position in Paradise which He has promised them and the great honor that He will bestow upon them on the Day when mankind is resurrected to meet the Lord of the Worlds: Among them is the hadith which describes the seven whom Allah (SWT) will shade on the Day when there is no shade but His: “…a just leader; a youth who grows up worshipping Allah; a man who is deeply attached to the mosque; two men who love one another for the sake of Allah, meeting for His sake and parting for His sake; a man who is called by a beautiful woman and says,’ I fear Allah; a man who gives charity in secrete such that his left-hand does not know what the right hand is doing; and a man who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes fill with a tear.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The two who love one another for the sake of Allah are clearly shown to be among those whom Allah will shelter with His shade and upon whom He will shower His mercy and kindness. What a great honor! It is enough to honor those who love one another for the sake of Allah that their Almighty Lord will greet them on the Day of Resurrection and say to them: “Where are those who loved one another for My glory? Today I shade them in My shade on the Day when there is no shade but Mine.” (Muslim)

Such as the magnificent honor and tremendous reward that will be bestowed upon those who truly loved one another for the sake of Allah, on that awesome Day. Love for the sake of Allah, and not for the sake of anything else in this life which is filled with greed, desires, and interests, is very difficult, and none can attain except the one who is pure of heart, for whom this world is as nothing compared to the pleasure of Allah. It is not surprising that Allah should give them a status and blessing which is commensurate with their position in this world, above whose concerns they have risen. We find proof of this in the hadith of Mu’adh who said that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Allah said: ‘Those who love one another for My glory, will have minbars of light, and the Prophets and martyrs will wish that they had the same.’” (Tirmidhi)

Allah gives to those who love one another for His sake a gift that is very difficult to attain. This is proven by the hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA) in which the Prophet (SAW) said: “A man went to visit a brother of his in another village. Allah sent an angel to wait for him on the road. When the man came along, the angel asked him, ‘Where do you intend to go?’ He said, ‘I am going to visit a brother of mine who lives in this village.’ The angel asked, ‘Have you done him any favor (for which you are now seeking repayment)?’ He said, ‘No. I just love him for the sake of Allah.’ The angel told him, ‘I am a messenger to you from Allah, sent to tell you that He loves you as you love your brother for His sake.’” (Muslim)

What a great love, that rises a man to a position where Allah loves him and is pleased with him!

The teaching of the Prophet (SAW) goes even further and states that the better of two brothers who love one another for the sake of Allah is the one who loves his brother more. The Prophet (SAW) said: “No two men love each other, but the better of them is the one whose love for his brother is greater.” (Bukhari)

Islam goes even further in spreading love in the rightly-guided Muslim society by telling the Muslims that if they love their brothers, they should tell them. The Prophet (SAW) said: “If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (SAW) understood the impact of this strong, pure love in building societies and nations, so he never let any occasion pass without advocating this love and commanding the Muslims to announce their love for one another, in order to open hearts and spread love and purity among the ranks of the ummah.

Anas (RA) said that a man was with the Prophet (SAW) when another man passed by. The first man said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, indeed I truly love this man.”  The Prophet (SAW) asked him, “Have you let him know that?” He said, “No.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Tell him.” He caught up with him and told him, “Truly I love you for the sake of Allah,” and the man said, “May Allah love you who loves me for His sake.” (Abu Dawud)

by Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi

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