What makes one beloved to Allah Almighty?

O those who love the saints! What blessings are there in loving the saints solely to please Allah Almighty? If we were to narrate them, how far could we go? One of the best blessings of this love is that whoever loves the saints becomes beloved to Allah Almighty.

The renowned Imam Mālik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes of how Shaykh Idrīs Khawlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said:

I went to a masjid in Damascus, where I beheld brightly faced elderly man sitting, with people gathered around him. Whenever people had a disagreement, they would go to him, and he would resolve it. I asked the people, “Who is this elder?”

They replied, ہٰذَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَل – “This is Muʿādh b. Jabal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ (a Companion of Allah’s Messenger).”

The next day, I wanted to be the first to reach the masjid. When I arrived, I saw Muʿādh b. Jabal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ had already arrived and was performing salah. When he finished, I approached him, greeted him with salam, and said: وَاللہِ اِنِّی لَاُحِبُّکَ لِلہِ – “By Allah! I love you for the sake of Allah.”

He رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ asked, “Do you take oath by this?” I replied, “Yes, by Allah! I love you.” He then took hold of my shawl, pulled me lightly yet lovingly towards him, and said, “Congratulations to you. Indeed, I have heard the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم say that Allah Almighty declared, ‘I certainly love those who love one another for My sake.’”^[1]

Explaining this, Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān Naʿīmī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه writes, “This means Allah Almighty will certainly love those who love other people only to