Riyad as-Salihin, 385

Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A man was with the Prophet (ﷺ) when another man passed by and the former said: "O Messenger of Allah! I love this man (for Allah's sake)". Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Have you informed him?" He said, "No". Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said, "Tell him (that you love him)". So he went up to the man and said to him, "I love you for the sake of Allah;" and the other replied, "May Allah, for Whose sake you love me, love you." [Abu Dawud].

وعن أنس، رضي الله عنه ، أن رجلاً كان عند النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم، فمر رجل به، فقال‏:‏ يا رسول الله إني لأحب هذا، فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏أأعلمته‏؟‏‏"‏ قال‏:‏ لا ‏:‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أعلمه‏"‏ فلحقه، فقال ‏:‏ إني أحبك في الله، فقال‏:‏ أحبك الله الذي أحببتني له‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 385

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Telling someone about your love for them strengthens the ties between you and increases intimacy. 2) When someone is informed by his brother that he loves him, he should respond by saying to him, “May Allah love you, for the sake of whom you love me.” 3) The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) guided his Ummah to all that is good, including teaching them how to love one another and how such love could increase. So, why are some Muslims today negligent about the guidance of their Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in this regard?

Related hadiths1

Sunan Abi Dawud5125hasan