1. Among the signs of loving a person for the sake of Allah is that you love the person according to his/her adherence to the Book of Allah, and the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). The love between each other should not be based upon wanting something in return from the worldly life.
The Hadith:
أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ لأُنَاسًا مَا هُمْ بِأَنْبِيَاءَ وَلاَ شُهَدَاءَ يَغْبِطُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِمَكَانِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ” . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُخْبِرُنَا مَنْ هُمْ . قَالَ ” هُمْ قَوْمٌ تَحَابُّوا بِرُوحِ اللَّهِ عَلَى غَيْرِ أَرْحَامٍ بَيْنَهُمْ وَلاَ أَمْوَالٍ يَتَعَاطَوْنَهَا فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ وُجُوهَهُمْ لَنُورٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ عَلَى نُورٍ لاَ يَخَافُونَ إِذَا خَافَ النَّاسُ وَلاَ يَحْزَنُونَ إِذَا حَزِنَ النَّاسُ ” . وَقَرَأَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { أَلاَ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ } .
From ‘Umar b. al-Khaṭṭab who said that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Verily, among the worshippers of Allah are people who are neither prophets nor martyrs. The prophets and the martyrs will envy them on the Day of al-Qiyamah due to their position to Allah the Most High.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, inform us about them?” He replied, “They are a people who love one another for the Ruh of Allah [i.e. Quran], despite that they are not related by blood and do not give wealth to one another. I swear by Allah, their faces surely will be light, and they will be upon light. They will not fear when the people will fear, and they will not grieve when the people grieve.” Then, he recited this verse {No doubt! Verily, the awliya of Allah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve}.
[Reported by Abu Dawud and others. Graded saheeh by Shaykh Albani rahimahullah.]
2. Also, from the signs of loving a person for the sake of Allah is that you would, perhaps, intend to visit the person upon the basis that you love the individual for the sake of Allah.
The Hadith:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :”أن رجلاً زار أخًا له في قريةٍ أخرى، فأرصد الله له على مدرجته ملكاً” وذكر الحديث إلى قوله: ”إن الله قد أحبك كما أحببته فيه” ((رواه مسلم))
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A man set out to visit a brother (in Faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him, “Where do you intend to go?” He said, “I intend to visit my brother in this town”. The angel said, “Have you done any favour to him?” He said, “No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious.” Thereupon the angel said, “I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)” [Muslim].
It has also been reported as one of the seven types of people who will be shaded under the Shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment:
The Hadith:
ورجلان تحابا في الله، اجتمعا عليه، وتفرقا عليه،
“[…] Two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
3. From the signs of loving one another for the sake of Allah is that you would desire good for each other.
The Hadith:
عن أنس رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه”
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
4. From the signs of loving one another is the exchanging of gifts among one another for the sake of Allah:
The Hadith:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ : { تَهَادُوْا تَحَابُّوا }
Narrated Abu Hurairah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Give gifts to one another and you will love one another.” [al-Bukhari reported it in al-Adab al-Mufrad. Graded saheeh by Shaykh Albani rahimahullah]
5. From the signs of loving a person for the sake of Allah is that your love for the person decreases when he falls into things that Allah hates.
The Hadith:
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ “ مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِلَّهِ وَأَبْغَضَ لِلَّهِ وَأَعْطَى لِلَّهِ وَمَنَعَ لِلَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ الإِيمَانَ ” .
Narrated Abu Umamah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for Allah’s sake, he will have perfect faith.
[Reported by Abu Dawud. Graded saheeh by Shaykh Albani rahimahullah.]
Note: There are other signs such as spreading salaams among one another, making du’a for one another, enjoining the good upon one another, and forbidding each other from evil.
Compiled by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
