رِيَاضُ الصَّالِحِينَ
Riyad as-Salihin 361
The Book of Miscellany
Visiting the Pious Persons, loving them and adoption of their company
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : أَنَّ رَجُلاً زَارَ أَخًا لَهُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ أُخْرَى، فَأَرْصَدَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى مَدْرَجَتِهِ مَلَكًا، فَلَمَّا أَتَى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ؟ قَالَ: أُرِيدُ أَخًا لِي فِي هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ. قَالَ: هَلْ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: لاَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أحببت في اللَّه تَعَالَى، قَالَ: فإنى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّكَ كَمَا أَحْبَبْتَهُ فِيهِ" ((رَوَاهُ مُسْلِم)).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A man set out to visit a brother (in Faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him, "Where do you intend to go?" He said, "I intend to visit my brother in this town." The angel said, "Have you done any favour to him?" He said, "No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious." Thereupon the angel said, "I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)" [Muslim].
Riyad as-Salihin, 361