Yet the situation has changed: nowadays most people base their loyalty and hostility on worldly advantage. Whoever holds out the promise of material gain, they flock to him in friendship—even if he is an enemy of Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslims’ religion. But should a person offer no prospect of worldly benefit, they oppose him, even though he be a loyal friend of Allah and His Messenger; at the slightest pretext they harass and belittle him.

ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas said, “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, shows loyalty for the sake of Allah, and shows enmity for the sake of Allah—such a person thereby attains Allah’s friendship. Most people’s companionship today is founded on worldly concerns, and that will bring them no benefit.” Reported by Ibn Jarir.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah, Exalted is He, has declared: ‘Whoever shows hostility to a wali of Mine, I have proclaimed war upon him….’” The hadith is recorded by al-Bukhari.