47/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4988 — Love for Allah's Sake
The Sweetness of Faith
Sweetness of Faith Hadith: Love for the Sake of Allah
Sunan an-Nasai : 4988
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4988
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، رضى الله عنه يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " ثَلاَثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وَجَدَ حَلاَوَةَ الإِيمَانِ مَنْ أَحَبَّ الْمَرْءَ لاَ يُحِبُّهُ إِلاَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَسُولُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا سِوَاهُمَا وَمَنْ كَانَ أَنْ يُقْذَفَ فِي النَّارِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَنْقَذَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ " .
Qatada Narrated from:
I heard Anas bin Malik narrating that the Prophet [SAW] said: 'There are three things, whoever attains them will find therein a sweetness of faith: When he loves a person, and only loves him for the sake of Allah [SWT]; when Allah [SWT] and His Messenger [SAW] are dearer to him than all else; and when he would prefer to be thrown into the fire rather to go back to the disbelief from which Allah [SWT] has saved him.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4988In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 6, Book 47, Hadith 4991
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4988
This sweetness of faith hadith from Anas bin Malik names three things. A person finds sweetness of faith when he loves another person only for the sake of Allah, when Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else, and when he would rather be thrown into the fire than return to the disbelief from which Allah saved him. The core topic is faith love, because the report connects belief with what a person loves and what a person refuses to go back to. It does not speak about a casual feeling. It speaks about faith becoming so real that love, loyalty, and fear of disbelief are all shaped by it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Loving a person only for Allah's sake is linked to sweetness of faith.
- Allah and His Messenger being dearer than all else is a key sign.
- The report describes strong dislike of returning to disbelief.
