A Muslim, as ordered by his belief in his Lord, does not love anyone he loves except for the sake of Allah the Exalted and he does not hate anyone he hates except for the sake of Allah. This is because he does not love anything except what his Lord loves and His beloved Prophet (PBUH) loves. Likewise, he does not hate anything except what Allah hates and His Messenger (PBUH) hates. Therefore, if Allah or His Messenger (PBUH) love something, he loves it. If Allah or His Messenger (PBUH) hate something, he hates it. The confirmation of this is in the statement of Allah’s Prophet (PBUH):
“Whoever Loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah and withholds for the sake of Allah, he will have perfected his faith.” (Abu Dawud 4681).
Based on this Hadith, a true and faithful believer loves and his loyalty is for all of Allah’s righteous worshipers. Similarly, all evil and wicked people who go against Allah and His Messenger’s commandments are hated and opposed by a Muslim. Nevertheless, it does not mean that a Muslim may not have specific brethren for which he has even a closer relationship and even more love. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) strongly encouraged us to take such close friends and brethren in his following statement:
“A believer is friendly. And there is no good in one who is neither friendly nor dealt or treated in a friendly manner.” (Al-Mujam Al-Awsat, littabrani 5787).
To love someone for no other reason than for the sake of Allah’s Might and Majesty – a distinctive hallmark of a true and faithful believer – is an act that wins the approval and appreciation of Allah and endears the concerned individuals to Him, so that they will be placed on podiums of light whose enchanting beauty shall even draw the admiration and envy of the Prophets and martyrs, although their own ranks would be much higher and superior to those individuals. The confirmation of this is stated in the following Hadith. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: ‘Those who love each other for the sake of My Majesty shall be upon podiums of light, and they will be admired by the Prophets and the martyrs.” (At-Tirmidhi 2390).
Those who love each other for the sake of their Lord, Allah will give them shade on the Day of Resurrection where there will be no shade except His shade. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Where are the two who loved one another for My sake? Today I will shade them with My shade, on a day when there will be no shade but My shade.” (Muslim 2566).
This extraordinary brotherhood is conditioned by it being for the sake of Allah and entirely free of any worldly matters and benefits. The inspiring factor behind it must be for the true and the only belief in Allah.
As for its manners, a Muslim should keep the following points in mind when choosing anyone as a special brother for the sake of Allah:
- The person chosen should be intelligent. There is no benefit and good in choosing an idiot as a brother or accompanying him. This ignorant one may end up harming the one who is seeking to benefit him.
- The chosen person for being a brother must be a person of good character. It is because the one with evil character, even if he is intelligent, may be overcome by desires or may decide things out of anger and this may harm his companion.
- The chosen brother must be fearful of Allah. It is because one is not safe from the evildoer, who disobey his Lord. The evildoer may commit a crime against his companion because he has no respect for the ties of brotherhood. Undoubtedly, one who does not fear Allah is not going to fear anybody else under any circumstances.
- The chosen brother should be one who sticks to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) and is far away from any kind of deviation by some of the evil effects of his innovation. In fact, one must flee and keep away from innovators and those who follow their own lusts. If that is so, how could one choose him as a close companion and a special brother?
