HADITH TWENTY THREE : YOU WILL NOT ENTER JANNAH UNTIL YOU SPREAD LOVE
The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, «By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I not tell you about a thing which if you do, you will love each other? Spread Salam among yourselves.»
Reported by Muslim (54)
Commentary
Allah created us to love and be loved. He made the spreading of love a good deed that takes us to Jannah, and Salam is one of the best ways to do that. We must love each other in order to please Allah.
No love, no Jannah
Reread the Hadith. I mean it! Reread it, please. We probably have heard it countless times, but we do not appreciate what it is saying. Is it not saying that you cannot enter Jannah without love? If we cannot enter Jannah without Iman, and cannot have Iman without love, then we cannot enter Jannah without love. It is essential to let this sink in to dissipate any suspicion about how necessary love is in Islam. If we notice a love gap among Muslims, it is not because Islam lacks love. It is because Muslims forgot about it.
I hope it has become a truism by now that Islam and love are inseparable. Without loving Allah and His Prophet, one cannot be a Muslim. Every Muslim, no matter how sinful they may be, enjoys a minimum of this love, and it saves them from Hell eventually. Those with strong faith possess a more profound love that saves them from Hell altogether. The vigor of our Iman depends on the love of Allah and His Prophet. And the opposite is absolutely true: weakness in religious certitude and practice stems from weaker love. Reviving our Iman rests on reviving our love for Allah and His Prophet.
But we cannot stop there. Our Iman will remain deficient, jeopardizing our entry to Jannah, until we love each other. The possibilities are that we may lose the higher positions in Jannah, be delayed entry to it, or pass through Hell first if this love is missing. The absence of this love is no trivial matter. This is how essential it is.
“Why?” you may ask. I am glad you did. First, it points to a weakness in the love of Allah itself. It is a failure to love what Allah loves. If Allah’s love is strong, it will surely extend to what Allah loves. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«The firmest of the knots [i.e. obligations] of Islam is for you love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah.»
Reported by Ahmad (18524) and al-Albani declared it hasan li-ghayrihi (Sahih al-Targhib, 3030)
In another hadith, he صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«The one who loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake, and withholds for Allah’s sake has completed [their] Iman.»
Reported by Abu Dawud (4681) and al-Albani declared it sahih (al-Silsilah
al-Sahihah, 380)
Love and hate are the internal movements of the heart. And giving and withholding are its external movements, founded on the internal ones. When one moves internally and externally for Allah’s sake, not simply for personal preferences and gain, they have reached the summit of Iman. Some who read this and similar hadiths may think that it promotes hate. But it does the opposite: it restricts it. Rather than leaving the door open for us to hate whatever and whomever we feel like, it restricts it to what the All-Wise hates. And rather than allow us the freedom to mistreat whatever and whomever we hate, it asks us to observe Allah’s rules. Plus, if we do not hate for Allah’s sake, we will hate for another reason (nationalism, wealth, color, ethnicity, political affiliations, and personal conflicts). No one escapes this. And this type of hate is blind, excessive, and merciless. But our discussion here is not about hate. We discuss it further in Appendix II. So, let us go back to love.
Failing to love each other points to weakness in loving Allah. This is the first reason why it is a serious concern. The second is that the absence of this love damages Allah’s revealed laws, society, and our character. Allah made us social beings, needful of each other. This human dependency requires congregation, and for that to work, we need laws. One of the essential roles of Shari‘ah is to regulate and guide human congregation and protect it from harm. This is accomplished by attaching social etiquette to the pleasure of Allah and loving each other to the love of Allah. If we abandon this love, we will surrender to hate and selfishness. Consequently, the laws of Allah will be violated,
and society will deteriorate. When we care about no one but ourselves, we will treat everyone as a means to our ends. We will abuse our neighbors’ rights whenever we can get away with it. If this is how society runs, it will miserably collapse, and chaos will follow.
And We made some of you a test for others, so will you be patient?
Al-Furqan (Q25:20)
Failure to love each other is a failure to live by Allah’s laws, as well as a failure to grow as Allah intended for us. It goes against the purpose of creation.
We can glean from the Hadith that Allah created us to teach us love. Think about it for a minute. Allah commanded us all to have Iman, put us together on earth, and made loving each other an essential requisite for Iman. This is a love that we are supposed to cultivate as we grow, learn what He revealed, and socialize. All the worldly challenges we meet, and the difficulties that proximity to other humans generate, are designed to mold us into beings that transcend their shortcomings. We start our journey ignorant and selfish, but we learn from Him that we have to change. Social interaction, which is difficult at times, is the obstacle course that allows love to grow in practice after it was learned in theory. This is how we graduate in love. It is why Allah made us.
Allah declared that He created us to Worship Him when He said:
And I did not create humans and the Jinn except to worship Me.
Adh-Dhariyat (Q51:56)
This worship is to know Allah and love Him. Mujahid, the famous Tabi‘i, explained Shirk as loving other than Allah (see the Introduction). Hence, the essence and intent of worship are to establish Tawhid, which is the love of Allah. Allah’s commands guide us to the love of Allah and each other. This is why Allah made us: to love Allah and to love each other. Allah created you for love.
Spreading love
The Hadith makes it abundantly clear that we are to spread Salam to spread love. The profound implication is that spreading love is dear to Allah. Any act that promotes love between the believers is recommended, and any act that diminishes it is prohibited.
In fact, we can say that this is a major theme and an intent of the Shari‘ah that guides its individual commands. If you look at why many things are prohibited (e.g. alcohol, gambling, fornication, backbiting, and gossiping), you will see that they promote hatred and friction. On the other end, what is pleasing to Allah (e.g. charity, forgiveness, and congregational worship) cements social connections and boosts love. Remember Hadith
Seven where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«The most beloved of people to Allah are the most beneficial to people. And the most beloved deed to Allah is happiness you bring to a Muslim, or you remove their hardship, or you pay their debt, or chase away their hunger. And to walk with my brother to assist him in a need of his is more beloved to me than i’tikaf for a month in this Mosque, meaning Madinah Mosque. And if one holds back their anger, Allah will conceal their faults. And if one withholds their fury, and if they had wished to unleash it, they would have been able to, Allah will fill their heart with hope on the Day of Resurrection. And if one walks with his brother to secure their need until they get it, Allah will make firm their feet on the Day when feet slip.»
Reported by al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (13646) and al-Albani declared it hasan (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 906)
Anything that brings happiness to people is beloved to Allah (as long as it is halal, of course). The mission of the believer who is seeking Allah’s love would be to look for and adopt all the acts that spread love. Conversely, they also should avoid all the acts that spread hate. One simply has to look at what Allah revealed—that which He loves and that which He hates—to have a complete to-do-list of how they can nurture love in themselves and among Muslims. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم highlighted Salam because of its potency in spreading love. But the journey only starts here. Good manners are an essential component of showing love and receiving it: being courteous, honest, forgiving, empathic, and humble. Today, people jump into conflicts at the first sign of a disagreement. They mock and ridicule, expose mistakes, refuse to forgive, are happy at others’ misfortune, and willfully harm others for their own benefit or amusement. Look at all the political dissension and rancor or all the racial tension and bitterness. Or look at how we lose our sanity on social media and try to tear each other apart. Muslims are supposed to suppress evil and decrease it whenever they find it, not inflame it. They
are supposed to use every opportunity to plant the seeds of harmony between people. The Muslim inclination is to extend the love they have for Allah to others, and not to export the hatred and bitterness of Shaytan to humanity.
The excellence of Salam
There is something unique about Salam. It is not like any other greeting. This is why it is such a loss when we fail to spread it. We need to understand what it means to appreciate it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«Al-Salam is a Name of the Names of Allah that He placed on earth, so spread it among yourselves. For if a Muslim passes by a group of people and greets them with Salam and they reply, he would have an extra degree [of virtue] over them because he reminded them of Salam. And if they do not reply, those who are better and purer than them will reply [i.e. the Angels].»
Reported by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1039) and al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (10391) and al-Albani declared it sahih (Sahih al-Jami‘, 3697)
Al-Salam is one of the Names of Allah, which means the One free from any deficiency and shortcoming; He is perfect, complete, and eternal. When we say Salam, we are invoking the protection and blessing of Allah’s Name for that person. It is as if we are saying, may Allah’s Name surround you, protect you, guide you, and bless you. It is also a declaration on the part of the greeter that people are safe from his harm. And if people are safe from your harm, they can only expect the best from you. Whenever you greet with Salam, you are sharing Allah’s Name with another Muslim, and promising that you will not hurt them. Tell me, what other greeting comes close to this? This is why some of the People of the Book were envious of this greeting as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained (see Ibn Majah, 856). They knew its value. They knew its worth better than many of us know it today.
Salam is a unique dynamo of love. First, it brings Allah’s Name to each encounter. And He brings love. Allah said in the Quran:
And Allah brought their hearts together. If you were to spend all that is on earth, you would not be able to bring their hearts together, but Allah did.
Al-Anfal (Q8:63)
This ayah is significant, very significant. The love that Allah gives is unlike any other in its intensity, longevity, and healing. Allah alone can fix certain rifts. This ayah explains that no amount of money or human effort could have brought the hearts of the early Muslims together. The differences were too significant, and their history was too complicated. But when they surrendered their hearts to Allah, Allah filled their souls
with such love to melt away all the impurities of the past. This should be an important lesson for all who are trying to fix their societies: you will not be able to mend the hearts and chase away the divisions of Shaytan until you bring the love of Allah in. If you do, the hearts will come together. If you do not, your success, at best, will be partial and short-lived.
Second, Salam spreads love because it spreads righteousness. Beginning others with Salam requires Iman and humbleness, especially when done according to the Sunnah. A hadith states:
A man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, “What Islamic acts are best?” He replied, «Feeding [those in need] and greeting whom you know and whom you do not with Salam.»
Reported by al-Bukhari (12)
Greeting only those whom we know is a sign of the impendence of the Day of Judgment, generally considered a sign of decline. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«Just before the Hour is Salam between acquaintances only.»
Reported by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1049) and al-Albani declared
it sahih (Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad, 805)
This is what we do now, right? But to greet everyone with Salam, even whom you do not know, is a sign of Iman. Why else would you do it? There is no connection between you two except that of Islam, and you do not expect anything from them. And to keep doing it even when others fail to reply is another sign of Iman. For there is no room for bitterness when you are trying to spread love. If they reject your greeting, the love of Allah and your love for them will chase any negative feelings away. And you resume because the love of Allah keeps refueling you. Every time you say it, it brings you closer to Him, and for that, you can take anything that may come at you. Salam is also humility in practice, where we learn not to elevate ourselves above others. Motivated by your love for them, you keep trying to bring them the gift of Salam in order to get them closer to Allah.
Third, Salam is kind words and smiles that you share with all. We are all in desperate need of kindness these days. Since spreading Salam is spreading love, it should be done with love. When you say it, remember what you are trying to spread and what you are gaining from Allah. Spread this Sunnah with kindness and a smile. Imagine a stranger receiving this gift from you for nothing but being a Muslim. And imagine yourself
receiving this gift from strangers who want nothing in return for their kind words and smiles but to make you happy. You would love this person even if you were never to see them again. This is how love spreads.
The Companions understood the importance of this worship and practiced it with intent. Here is the example of Abu Bakr:
Al-Agharr said, “The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم earmarked some dates for me with a man from the Ansar, but the man delayed handing them to me. So, I spoke to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about it and he said, «O Abu Bakr, head out in the morning and get him his dates.» Abu Bakr promised to meet me in the mosque at Fajr Prayer, and I found him there as he promised. So, we headed out and whenever Abu Bakr would see a man from a distance, he would greet him with Salam. Then Abu Bakr said, ‘Do you not see the good deeds that people are gaining instead of you? Do not let anyone say Salam before you.’ So, when we saw a man from afar, we would rush to say Salam to him before he said it to us.”
Reported by al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (880) and al-Albani declared it hasan (Sahih al-Targhib, 2702)
Ibn Umar went out of his way to find people to say Salam to.
Al-Tufayl ibn Ubayy ibn Ka’b said that he used to visit ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and go with him in the morning to the market. And when we went to the market, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar did not pass by anyone selling poor or good merchandise or a needy person or anyone but he greeted them with Salam. Al-Tufayl said, “So, I came to ‘Abdullah ibn
‘Umar one day and he asked me to follow him to the market. I said to him, ‘What will you do in the market when you do not sell or ask about any goods to buy or bargain or
sit in the market gatherings? Sit here so we can talk.’ He said to me, ‘You with the belly [Al-Tufayl had a prominent belly], we go out in the morning only for the sake of Salam, to greet with Salam whomever we meet.’”
Reported by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1006) and al-Albani declared it sahih (Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad, 774)
Walking the path of love is not always easy. It is sometimes thankless and exhausting. Be ready for it. Like with Salam, not everyone will reciprocate. And if you make their reply and approval a condition, your practice of Salam will suffer, shrivel, and disappear. It must be done for Allah, for the sake of following this Hadith. If people ignore you, you have Allah’s reward and the greeting of the angels to satisfy you. Similarly, if you do a loving act to please Allah and bring joy to Muslims and they ignore it or hurt you because of it, do not be discouraged. You did not do it seeking their approval. You did it seeking Allah’s approval. Attach yourself to Allah, and you will keep doing good things because His love—unlike that of humanity—never ends or disappoints.
DR. ALI ALBARGHOUTHI
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