listens to you with full concentration, you too listen to him attentively. (Imam A’zam ki Wasiyyatayn, pp. 28-30, summarised)

Dear Islamic brothers! In order to earn the pleasure of Allah Almighty, let us listen to the sayings of pious predecessors pertaining to loving the Muslims and establishing brotherhood with them.

   ۔1The fourth caliph, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Ali-ul-Murtazaرَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ  has stated: Necessitate establishing brotherhood upon you, for they (i.e. the good friends) are your support in this world and the Hereafter. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, p. 579)

   ۔2Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما stated: By Allah! If I fast during the day and do not perform Iftar, perform Qiyam all night long without sleeping, and keep spending in the path of Allah Almighty with small intervals, but the day I die, that day I don’t have the love of Allah Almighty’s pious bondsmen and enmity of His disobedient people in my heart, then all these things will not benefit me at all. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, p. 579)

   ۔3Sayyiduna Fuzayl Bin ‘Iyaaz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه has stated: Alas! You desire the neighbourhood of Allah Almighty with the Prophets, Siddiqeen, martyrs and the righteous in Jannat-ul-Firdaus, but have you performed any action for the pleasure of Allah Almighty? Have you abandoned any desire for His pleasure? Have you ever controlled your anger for His pleasure? Have you ever mended a severed relationship? Have you forgiven any mistake of your brother for His sake? Have you ever distanced yourself from any close relative for the sake of Allah Almighty? Have you brought a distanced person close to you for the pleasure of Allah Almighty? (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, p. 580)

   ۔4Sayyiduna Mujahid رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه has said: When those loving each other for the sake of Allah Almighty meet each other and smile by looking at each other, then their sins are forgiven the way dry leaves fall off the trees in winter. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, p. 582)

   ۔5Sayyiduna Abu Idrees Khawlani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said to Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ: ‘I love you for the pleasure of Allah Almighty.’