Conversations About God’s Love

Hadiths on the Love of Allah Towards His Servants

Here are some hadiths that discuss Allah’s love for His servants:

(When Allah loves a servant, He calls Gabriel, saying: “Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” Gabriel loves him and then calls out to the inhabitants of heaven: “Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” The inhabitants of heaven love him, and then acceptance is placed for him in the earth.)
(Allah said: “Whoever acts as an enemy to a friend of Mine, I declare war against him. My servant does not draw closer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw closer to Me through voluntary acts until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks of Me, I will surely give it to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge.”)
(The greatness of the reward corresponds with the magnitude of the trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is pleased with this will receive pleasure, and whoever is displeased will face displeasure.)

Here are some hadiths that elaborate on the love of servants for Allah:

(A Bedouin once asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, “When will the Hour be?” The Prophet replied, “What have you prepared for it?” The Bedouin said, “I love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet responded, “You will be with those whom you love.”)
(The Prophet, peace be upon him, sent a man to lead a military expedition. This man would recite to his companions and always conclude with “Say: He is Allah, the One.” When he returned, they mentioned this to the Prophet, who asked them to inquire why he did that. Upon being asked, the man replied, “Because it is a description of the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it.” The Prophet said: “Inform him that Allah loves him.”)
(In his supplications, David said: “O Allah! I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the deeds that will bring me closer to Your love. O Allah! Make Your love dearer to me than my own self, my family, and cool water.” When the Prophet, peace be upon him, mentioned David, he said: “He was the most devoted of mankind.”)

Here are some hadiths that focus on the concept of loving for the sake of Allah:

(On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will say: “Where are those who loved one another for My glory? Today, I will shade them in My shade on a day when there is no shade except Mine.”)
(Three qualities grant one the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else, that he loves a servant solely for the sake of Allah, and that he detests returning to disbelief as he would detest being thrown into the fire.)
(Whoever loves for Allah, hates for Allah, gives for Allah, and withholds for Allah, has completed his faith.)
(Whoever desires to taste the sweetness of faith should love a person only for the sake of Allah.)
(I entered the Mosque of Damascus and saw a young man with a bright face. The people were with him, and when they disagreed on something, they referred to him for guidance. I asked about him, and it was said: “This is Mu’adh ibn Jabal.” The next day, I arrived for the morning prayer and found him ahead of me in prayer. I waited until he finished, approached him, and said: “By Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah.” He replied: “Really?” I said: “Indeed.” He then took hold of my cloak and pulled me closer, saying: “Rejoice, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: ‘Allah, Blessed and Exalted, said: My love is guaranteed for those who love each other for My sake, those who sit together for My sake, and those who visit one another for My sake.’)