369. Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه reported:
A bedouin came to Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and said to him, “When will be the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?” He (the Prophet ﷺ) said, “What preparation have you made for it?” He said, “Only the love of Allāh and His Messenger.”Then Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “You will be with those whom you love.”[Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The
narration in Muslim is: The man replied: “I have made no significant
preparation with regard to Salāh (prayer), Saūm (fasting) and Sadaqah (charity) but I love Allāh and His Messenger.”
Commentary: The love of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ for Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ was not verbal only, as is the case of present-day Muslims. Their love was full of obedience and submission to Allāh in the true sense. This is what the Bedouin mentioned in this Hadīth really meant when he said that he had not amassed a large treasure by way of Salāt, Saūm (fasts) and Sadaqah for presentation on the Day of Resurrection. What he meant by them was voluntary acts and not the obligations. The reason being that the obligatory acts like Salāt , Saūm and Zakāt are incumbent on every Muslim and no one can claim to be a true believer and lover of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ who ignores them. Any Muslim who entertains true love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ, makes it evident in his practical life by his strict performance of the duties and obligations enjoined by Allāh and demonstrated by His Prophet ﷺ through his Sunnah. Even if such a person does not have to his credit a large amount of voluntary acts, he will be successful by Allāh. This is the real import of this Hadīth, otherwise a Muslim’s claim for the love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ will be void if he does not fulfill his religious obligations. In fact, without the fulfillment of religious obligations, his claim will be nothing short of self-deception. His claim for the love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ, which is not supported by his actions will carry no weight before Allāh.This is what the following Āyah of the Noble Qur’ān enjoins: “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind:) ‘If you (really) love Allāh then follow me (i.e., accept Islāmic Tauhid, follow the Qur’ān and the Sunnah), Allāh will love you and forgive your sins. And Allāh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (3:31)
Source: Riyād-us-Saliheen, Volume 1., Chapter 45 (under Visiting the Pious Persons Loving them and Adoption of their Company) Hadīth no. 369, page. 336-337, Compiled by Al-Imām Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi, Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, Translated by Dr. Muhammad Amin Abu Usamah Al-Arabi bin Razduq, Darussalam.
