Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا زَارَ أَخًا لَهُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ أُخْرَى فَأَرْصَدَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَدْرَجَتِهِ مَلَكًا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ قَالَ أَزُورُ أَخًا لِي فِي اللَّهِ فِي قَرْيَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ هَلْ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا قَالَ لَا وَلَكِنَّنِي أَحْبَبْتُهُ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ فَإِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّكَ كَمَا أَحْبَبْتَهُ فِيهِ.
English Translation
Abd al-Rahman narrated to us, he said: Hammad narrated to us, from Thabit, from Abu Rafi', from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: A man visited a brother of his in another village, and Allah set an angel in ambush on his way. The angel said to him, "Where are you going?" He said, "I am going to visit a brother of mine for Allah's sake, in such-and-such village." The angel said, "Does he have any favor upon you that you are seeking to repay?" He said, "No, but I loved him for the sake of Allah, Mighty and Sublime." The angel said, "I am indeed the messenger of Allah to you: Allah has loved you just as you loved him for His sake."