Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 36971 — Reports on Dawud (peace be upon him)

Abdullah bin al-Harith said: Allah, Majestic is His glory, revealed to Dawud (peace be upon him): "Love Me, love those who love Me, and make Me beloved to My servants." Dawud (peace be upon him) said: "O my Lord, I love You and I love those who love You, but how can I make You beloved to Your servants?" Allah Almighty said: "Mention Me before them, for they will surely speak of Me only with good (and thus love for Me will arise in their hearts of its own accord)."