[Commentary]
The compiler—may Allah have mercy on him—cites these ḥadiths in the chapter on renouncing worldly life. Among them is the report of ʿAbd Allah ibn Mughaffal, may Allah be pleased with him, in which a man said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “By Allah, I truly love you.” The Prophet replied, “Consider well what you are saying.” The man repeated, “By Allah, I truly love you,” and he did so three times. The Prophet then said, “If you do love me, then prepare for poverty a shield, for poverty reaches the one who loves me faster than a torrent rushing to its end.” (A torrent that descends from a height and has a fixed course will swiftly arrive at its destination.)

This narration, however, is not authentic; there is no inherent link between poverty and love for the Prophet. Many affluent people love the Messenger, while many impoverished people may feel the greatest aversion toward him. Consequently, this ḥadith is not sound.

The real hallmark of loving the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, is to follow him most closely and hold fast to his Sunnah. Allah the Exalted says: “Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (Āl ʿImrān 31)

Thus the standard is following the Messenger: the one who follows him more is the one who loves him more. Poverty and wealth, on the other hand, are entirely in the hand of Allah.

The Prophet’s own renunciation of the world is also evident in the hardship of his daily life and his limited means, to the point that he slept on a woven mat whose marks remained on his side.