Divine Friendship: Islamic Hadith Quotes on Loving for the Sake of Allah
1. Hadith about Allah’s Love and Earthly Acceptance
When Allah Loves You, The Entire Universe Does Too
Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA):
عَنْ أَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم إِنَّ اللهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيْلَ فَقَالَ إِنِّىْ أُحِبُّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبَّهُ، قَالَ فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيْلُ ثُمَّ يُنَادِى فِى السَّمَاءِ فَيَقُوْلُ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبُّوْهُ. فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ، قَالَ ثُمَّ يُوْضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُوْلُ فِى الأَرْضِ. وَإِذَا أَبْغَضَ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيْلَ فَيَقُوْلُ إِنِّىْ أُبْغِضُ فُلاَنًا فَأَبْغِضْهُ، قَالَ فَيُبْغِضُهُ جِبْرِيْلُ ثُمَّ يُنَادِىْ فِىْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللهَ يُبْغِضُ فُلاَنًا فَأَبْغِضُوْهُ، قَالَ فَيُبْغِضُوْنَهُ ثُمَّ تُوْضَعُ لَهُ الْبَغْضَاءُ فِى الأَرْضِ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibreel and says, ‘I love so-and-so; so you love him.’ Then Jibreel loves him. After that, Jibreel announces to the inhabitants of the heavens, ‘Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ Thus, the dwellers of the heavens love him, and then acceptance is placed for him on earth.
And when Allah hates a servant, He calls Jibreel and says, ‘I dislike so-and-so; so you too dislike him.’ Then Jibreel also dislikes him. Thereafter, Jibreel announces to the dwellers of the heavens, ‘Indeed, Allah dislikes so-and-so, so dislike him.’ Thus, they all begin to dislike him, and hatred for him is also placed among the people on earth.”
(Sahih Muslim, Mishkat Hadith No. 5005)
Reflection: Hadith No. 217
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
2. Hadith about Loving for the Sake of Allah
Under Allah’s Shade: A Reward for Pure Love
Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA):
عَنْ أَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم: إِنَّ اللهَ يَقُوْلُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَيْنَ الْمُتَحَابُّوْنَ بِجَلاَلِى الْيَوْمَ أُظِلُّهُمْ فِىْ ظِلِّىْ يَوْمَ لاَ ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلِّىْ.
Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“On the Day of Judgment, Allah will say, ‘Where are those who loved one another for My Majesty’s sake? Today I will shade them in My Shade on a Day when there is no shade but My Shade.’”
(Sahih Muslim, Mishkat Hadith No. 5006)
Reflection: Hadith No. 218
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
3. Hadith about Good vs. Bad Companionship
Choose Friends Like Perfume Sellers, Not Blacksmiths
Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (RA):
عَنْ أَبِىْ مُوْسَى رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِىِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم قَالَ: مَثَلُ الْجَلِيْسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالسَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيْرِ، فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُّحْذِيَكَ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيْحًا طَيِّبَةً، وَنَافِخُ الْكِيْرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُّحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيْحًا خَبِيْثَةً.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The example of a righteous companion and a bad one is that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith. As for the musk seller, he will either gift you some, or you may buy some from him, or at the very least, you’ll enjoy a pleasant fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he may burn your clothes, or at the very least, you will inhale an unpleasant smell.”
(Bukhari, Muslim, Mishkat Hadith No. 5010)
Reflection: Hadith No. 219
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
4. Hadith about Allah’s Guaranteed Love
Guaranteed by Allah: Love for His Sake is Never Lost
Narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal (RA):
عَن مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم يَقُوْلُ قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِيْ لِلْمُتَحَابِّيْنَ فِيَّ وَالْمُتَجَالِسِيْنَ فِيَّ وَالْمُتَزَاوِرِيْنَ فِيَّ وَالْمُتَبَاذِلِيْنَ فِيَّ.
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Allah, the Most High, says: ‘My love is guaranteed for those who love one another for My sake, who sit together for My sake, who visit one another for My sake, and who spend on each other for My sake.’”
(Muwatta Malik, Mishkat Hadith No. 5011)
Reflection: Hadith No. 220
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
5. Hadith about Expressing Love
Tell Them You Love Them — It’s a Sunnah
Narrated by Miqdad ibn Ma‘dikarib (RA):
عَنْ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ مَعْدِيْكَرِبَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم قَالَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ الرَّجُلُ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُخْبِرْهُ أَنَّهُ أَحَبَّهُ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a man loves his brother, he should inform him that he loves him.”
(Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Mishkat Hadith No. 5016)
Reflection: Hadith No. 221
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
6. Hadith about Choosing Close Friends
Close Friends Should Be Believers — Protect Your Soul Circle
Narrated by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (RA):
عَنْ أَبِىْ سَعِيْدٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم يَقُوْلُ: لاَ تُصَاحِبْ إِلاَّ مُؤْمِنًا وَلاَ يَأْكُلْ طَعَامَكَ إِلاَّ تَقِىٌّ.
He reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Do not take anyone as a close companion except a believer. And let only a pious person eat your food.”
(Abu Dawud, Mishkat Hadith No. 5018)
Reflection: Hadith No. 222
Authenticity: Sahih Hadith
Source: Al-Hadith App
