Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:” Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are the two who loved one another for my sake? Today I shade them with My shade, on a day when there will no shade but My shade.” (Muslim)
True love of one human being by another manifests Allah’s attribute of perfect love for his creation. Thus, any love that does not emanate from our belief in God is false. Allah (SWT) apportioned some part of His perfect attribute of love into the hearts of humans, and this manifests itself as emotions of love. That is why, in the above hadith, Allah’s Messenger has expressly said that those who truly love each other based on belief in Allah - meaning their love for each other is not for worldly gain, fortune, or any other worldly reason, but to please Allah and gain his pleasure – such people will be saved on the terrifying Day of Judgement.
Allah (SWT) said:” O humankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the final Hour is a terrible thing. On that Day when you behold it, every nursing mother will forget that child she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will spontaneously abort her pregnancy. You will see the people appearing intoxicated while they are not drunk: o, but the punishment of Allah will be severe.” (Qur’an 22: 1-2)
Another statement from Allah’s Messenger (SAW) explains that on this dreadful day, seven categories of people will be under the shade of Allah (SWT) on a day in which there will be no shade except the shade of His throne. One of the categories mentioned is two people who loved each other only for the sake of Allah (SWT). They always met and departed from each other for the sake of Allah.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said:” There are seven whom Allah will shade with His shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His: a just ruler; a young person who grows up worshipping Allah; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two people who love one another for the sake of Allah, they meet and part on that basis; a man who is called to sin by a woman of status and beauty, but he abstains and says: I fear Allah; a person who gives charity so secretly that his left-hand does not know what is right hand is giving; and a person who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes fill with tears.” (Bukhari)
This is how great loving one another for the sake of Allah is in the sight of Allah (SWT), if it is genuine. People who truly love each other are compassionate and merciful to each other. They respect each other and do not hurt each other's feelings. They especially care about each other and fulfill each other’s needs to the best of their abilities within the boundaries of Allah’s laws. They are kind, considerate, and sympathetic to each other in all circumstances. In short, they please each other as long as it does not go against the Shari’ah of Allah (SWT). They love for one another what they love for themselves, as Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:” None of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari)
Yahya M.A. Ondigo
