Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami رحمه الله
Chapter: “When a Person Loves Another, He Should Inform Him”
«باب إذا أحب الرجل أحدًا فليخبره»
✿ Narrated by Al-Miqdām ibn Ma‘dīkarib (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“When one of you loves his brother, he should inform him that he loves him.”
[Sahih: Reported by Abu Dāwūd 5124, al-Tirmidhī 2392, Ahmad 17171, Ibn Ḥibbān 507]
✿ Narrated by Abū Dharr (رضي الله عنه), he said he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
“When one of you loves his companion, he should go to his house and inform him that he loves him. And indeed, I have come to your house for this reason.”
[Hasan: Reported by ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak in Az-Zuhd 712; Ahmad 21294]
✿ Narrated by Mujāhid:
“One of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) met me, took hold of my shoulders from behind and said, ‘Indeed, I love you.’ I said, ‘May the One for whose sake you love me also love you.’ He said, ‘Had the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) not instructed us to inform the one whom we love, I would not have told you.’ Then he began to discuss a marriage proposal, saying, ‘We have a young woman, but she has a defect in one eye.’”
[Hasan: Reported by al-Bukhārī in Al-Adab al-Mufrad 543]
✿ Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
A man was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) when another man passed by. The first man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I love this person.” The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, “Did you inform him?” He said, “No.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Go and inform him.” He followed the man and said, “Indeed, I love you for the sake of Allah.” The man replied, “May the One for whose sake you love me also love you.”
[Sahih: Reported by Abu Dāwūd 5125, al-Nasā’ī in ‘Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah 182, and Ahmad 12514, 12430]
✿ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
“While I was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ), a man came and greeted him with salām, then turned to leave. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I love this man for the sake of Allah.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Have you informed him?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Go and inform him.’ So I followed him and caught up with him, took hold of his shoulder, greeted him and said, ‘By Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah.’ He replied, ‘By Allah, I love you too for the sake of Allah.’ Then I said, ‘Had the Prophet (ﷺ) not ordered me to inform you, I would not have done so.’”
[Hasan: Reported by Ibn Ḥibbān 569; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsaṭ and al-Kabīr]
✿ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar from the Prophet (ﷺ):
“When one of you loves his brother, let him inform him, for he will find that his brother feels the same.”
[Sahih: Reported by Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in Al-Ikhwān 74; al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān 8595]
✔ Expressing love for the sake of Allah is a noble Sunnah and strengthens brotherhood.
✔ Such love is rooted in sincerity and not based on worldly interests.
✔ Informing someone of your love for them in Allah's cause encourages mutual affection and unity.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ personally guided and encouraged this behavior, making it a part of Islamic etiquette.
Chapter: “When a Person Loves Another, He Should Inform Him”
«باب إذا أحب الرجل أحدًا فليخبره»
✿ Encouragement to Express Love for the Sake of Allah
✿ Narrated by Al-Miqdām ibn Ma‘dīkarib (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“When one of you loves his brother, he should inform him that he loves him.”
[Sahih: Reported by Abu Dāwūd 5124, al-Tirmidhī 2392, Ahmad 17171, Ibn Ḥibbān 507]
✿ Narrated by Abū Dharr (رضي الله عنه), he said he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
“When one of you loves his companion, he should go to his house and inform him that he loves him. And indeed, I have come to your house for this reason.”
[Hasan: Reported by ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak in Az-Zuhd 712; Ahmad 21294]
✿ Narrated by Mujāhid:
“One of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) met me, took hold of my shoulders from behind and said, ‘Indeed, I love you.’ I said, ‘May the One for whose sake you love me also love you.’ He said, ‘Had the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) not instructed us to inform the one whom we love, I would not have told you.’ Then he began to discuss a marriage proposal, saying, ‘We have a young woman, but she has a defect in one eye.’”
[Hasan: Reported by al-Bukhārī in Al-Adab al-Mufrad 543]
✿ Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
A man was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) when another man passed by. The first man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I love this person.” The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, “Did you inform him?” He said, “No.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Go and inform him.” He followed the man and said, “Indeed, I love you for the sake of Allah.” The man replied, “May the One for whose sake you love me also love you.”
[Sahih: Reported by Abu Dāwūd 5125, al-Nasā’ī in ‘Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah 182, and Ahmad 12514, 12430]
✿ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
“While I was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ), a man came and greeted him with salām, then turned to leave. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I love this man for the sake of Allah.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Have you informed him?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Go and inform him.’ So I followed him and caught up with him, took hold of his shoulder, greeted him and said, ‘By Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah.’ He replied, ‘By Allah, I love you too for the sake of Allah.’ Then I said, ‘Had the Prophet (ﷺ) not ordered me to inform you, I would not have done so.’”
[Hasan: Reported by Ibn Ḥibbān 569; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsaṭ and al-Kabīr]
✿ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar from the Prophet (ﷺ):
“When one of you loves his brother, let him inform him, for he will find that his brother feels the same.”
[Sahih: Reported by Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in Al-Ikhwān 74; al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān 8595]
✦ Key Lessons:
✔ Expressing love for the sake of Allah is a noble Sunnah and strengthens brotherhood.
✔ Such love is rooted in sincerity and not based on worldly interests.
✔ Informing someone of your love for them in Allah's cause encourages mutual affection and unity.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ personally guided and encouraged this behavior, making it a part of Islamic etiquette.
