English Translation

Abdullah narrated to us: Abu Ahmad Makhlad ibn al-Hasan ibn Abi Zumayl narrated to us by dictation from his book: al-Hasan ibn Amr ibn Yahya al-Fazari, known as Abu Abdullah and nicknamed Abu al-Malih al-Raqqi, narrated to us, from Habib ibn Abi Marzuq, from Ata ibn Abi Rabah, from Abu Muslim, who said: I entered the mosque of Hims, and there was a circle of people in it, among whom were thirty-two men of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: Among them was a young man with dark, kohl-lined eyes and bright teeth, sitting cross-legged; and whenever they disagreed about something, they asked him, and he informed them, and they deferred to what he said. He said: I asked, Who is this? They said: This is Mu'adh ibn Jabal. He said: So I got up for the prayer, and I wanted to meet some of them, but I could not reach any of them - they had dispersed. Then the next day I went in, and there was Mu'adh praying beside a pillar. So I prayed near him, and when he finished, I sat down with the pillar between him and me, sitting cross-legged, and I remained a while, neither speaking to him nor he to me. Then I said: By Allah, I love you, not for any worldly gain I hope to attain through you, and there is no kinship between me and you. He said: For what then? I said: For the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted. He said: he shook off my cross-legged posture, then said: Then rejoice, if you are truthful, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Those who love one another for the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted, will be in the shade of the Throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade; the prophets and the martyrs will envy them for their position. He said: Then I went out and met Ubadah ibn al-Samit, and I told him what Mu'adh had told me. Ubadah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, relate from his Lord, Blessed and Exalted, that He said: My love has become due for those who visit one another for My sake, and My love has become due for those who give to one another for My sake, upon pulpits of light; the prophets and the truthful ones will envy them for their position.