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One of the joys that Allaah, the Most High, grants His servant is to love His beloved Noble Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and how can it be otherwise, when to love the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, is one of the conditions of faith?

Imaam al-Bukhaaree related from Aboo Hurayrah, radiyallaahu `anhu, that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: By Him in Whose Hands my soul lies, none of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his father and son. [1/58]

Imaam Muslim related from Anas, radiyallaahu `anhu, that he said: The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: None of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his family, wealth and all the people. [67]

In the same way that love of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, is a reason for attaining the good of this world and the Hereafter, then loving him is also a reason for achieving the sweetness of eemaan.

Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim both related from Anas, radiyallaahu `anhu, that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: Whoever possesses the following three qualities will taste the sweetness (delight) of eemaan: One to whom Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, become dearer than anything else; Whoever loves his brother solely for Allaah's sake; and whoever hates to revert to disbelief just as he hates to be thrown into the Fire. [al-Bukhaaree 1/60, Muslim 166, and the wording is from al-Bukhaaree]

The meaning of "sweetness of eemaan", as the scholars, rahimahumallaah, have stated is: Deriving pleasure from obedience, to endure hardship in religion and preferring this over worldly things. [See Sharh un-Nawawee (2/13) and Fath ul-Baaree (1/16)]

Loving the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, will also be a means of taking one to the place of felicity.

It has been related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from `Abdullaah bin Mas`ood, radiyallaahu `anhu, that he said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and said: O Messenger of Allaah! What do you say of a man who loves a people and never joins them? The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: The person will be with those whom he loves. [Agreed upon. al-Bukhaaree 10/557, Muslim 3/2034, and the wording is from al-Bukhaaree]

His statement, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, The person will be with those whom he loves, means in Paradise. [See `Umdat ul-Qaari' 22/197]

We all claim that we love the Noble Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and that he, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, is more beloved to us than our fathers, sons and all the people. However, are we really truthful in this claim? Does our claim have any value in the Sight of Allaah?

The scholars, rahimahumallaah, have mentioned signs and criterion by which the love of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, can be judged i.e. whether it is in a person's heart or not. Some of the most apparent signs are the following:

1) Concern for seeing and keeping company with him, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Thus, the loss of these two concerns would be worse than the loss of anything in the world.

2) Total willingness to sacrifice oneself and one's wealth for him.

3) Following his orders and leaving what he prohibited.

4) To make his Sunnah victorious and to protect the Sharee`ah.

If one finds these signs in himself, then he should praise Allaah, the Most Mighty and the Most Majestic, that he possesses in his heart the true love for the Beloved, the Noble [Prophet], may the blessings of the Lord and His peace be upon him. He should ask Allaah for steadfastness upon this.

Whoever lacks some or all of these signs, should hold himself to account before he is held to account, on a Day which will turn the hair of children gray (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). Nothing will be hidden from Allaah, the Most High, and he (the slave) will not consider or attempt to deceive Allaah, the Most High, and the Believers; because one who attempts to deceive Allaah, the Most High, will only deceive himself as Allaah says:

They (think to) deceive Allaah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not. [Soorah al-Baqarah, 9]

I will speak, with success granted by Allaah, the Most High, summarizing these signs, drawing on accounts of the love of the Companions for al-Habeeb, al-Kareem, al-Mustafaa, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, mentioning also our condition upon it, in the hope that Allaah, the Most Mighty and the Most Majestic, will improve our affairs and guide us to the path of righteousness.