Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani was asked:

Question:

Our shaikh, is getting to know someone from the Sunnah?

Answer:

Many from the practicing people of Islaam, whether their understanding of Islaam is correct or is not correct [believe] that getting to know someone is from the Sunnah. This is not from the Sunnah in anything. The Sunnah is if you love a Muslim for the sake of Allah to tell him that. This is from the Sunnah.

As for let’s get to know each other [Oh] so and so, the son of so, and so and so, the son of so and so, he works such and such and is the employee of such and he studied such and such until the end of this, [then this] is blind following of Europe purely.

Then this getting to know each other does not exceed, this getting to know each other does not exceed to something, that is, legislated and [to think that] this is from the door as Allah said Azza wa jal:

يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَـكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَـرَفُواْ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عَندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَـكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted” [49:13]

So if getting to know each other is purely to know each other, then this is like one who makes wudu and does not pray. As for if he intends what is beyond that, that is, taking another step in finding something of connection and affection and love which is necessary, then there is no problem in it, however, with the condition that you do not take it as sunnah.

The Sunnah as we mentioned: “I love so and so for the sake of Allah”. So he comes with the reply, “May Allah for Whose sake you love me, love you”.

[Taken from Silsilatul Huda wan-Noor no. 18]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan