—has said: ‘Whoever shows enmity to a close friend (walī) of Mine, I have declared war upon him. My servant draws no nearer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory for him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks of Me, I will surely grant him; and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge.’” Reported by al-Bukhārī.

The meaning of “adhantuhu” is: I have informed him that I am at war with him. The phrase “istaʿādhani” is transmitted both with the preposition bāʾ (“istaʿādha bī — seeks refuge in Me”) and with the pronoun nūn (“istaʿādha nī — seeks My protection”).

392 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When Allah the Exalted loves a servant, He calls Gabriel and says, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ Gabriel then loves him and proclaims among the inhabitants of heaven, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ The inhabitants of heaven therefore love him, and acceptance for him is placed upon earth.” Agreed upon.

In another narration recorded by Muslim: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When Allah the Exalted loves a servant, He summons Gabriel and says, ‘I love so-and-so, so love him.’ Gabriel loves him, then calls out in heaven, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ The inhabitants of heaven love him, and acceptance for him is placed upon earth. And when He detests a servant, He calls Gabriel and says, ‘I detest so-and-so, so detest him.’ Gabriel detests him, then proclaims among the inhabitants of heaven, ‘Allah detests so-and-so, so detest him,’ and aversion toward him is set down upon earth.”

393 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched a man in command of a raiding party (1). In the prayers he led for his companions he would always conclude his recitation with “Qul huwa Allahu ahad” (Say: He is Allah, the One). When they returned, they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said, “Ask him for what reason he does that.” They asked, and he replied, “Because it contains the description of the All-Merciful, and I love to recite it.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Inform him that Allah the Exalted loves him.” Agreed upon.