English Translation

Abdullah narrated to us: Abu Salih al-Hakam ibn Musa narrated to us: Hiql, that is Ibn Ziyad, narrated to us, from al-Awza'i: a man narrated to me in the gathering of Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, from Abu Idris al-Khawlani, who said: I entered the mosque of Hims and sat down with a circle of people among whom were thirty-two men of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: One of them would say, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and narrate; then another would say, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and narrate. He said: Among them was a dark-eyed man with bright teeth, and whenever they were in doubt about something, they referred it to him and were satisfied with what he said. He said: I never sat, before it or after it, in a gathering like it, and the people dispersed and I did not know the name of any man among them nor his dwelling. He said: I spent a night the like of which I had never spent. He said: And I said, I am a man seeking knowledge, and I sat with the Companions of the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, yet I did not know the name of any man among them nor his dwelling. When morning came, I went early to the mosque, and there was the man to whom they used to refer when in doubt, bowing in prayer beside one of the pillars of the mosque. So I sat down beside him, and when he finished, I said: O servant of Allah, by Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted. So he took hold of my cross-legged posture and drew me close to him, then said: Do you indeed love me for the sake of Allah? I said: Yes indeed, by Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Those who love one another for the majesty of Allah will be in the shade of Allah and the shade of His Throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade. He said: Then I got up from beside him, and there was a man among the people who had been with him. I said: A hadith the man narrated to me... He said: He would say nothing to you but the truth. So I told him, and he said: I have heard that, and something better than it: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, relating from his Lord, Blessed and Exalted: My love has become due for those who love one another for My sake, and My love has become due for those who give to one another for My sake, and My love has become due for those who visit one another for My sake. I said: Who are you, may Allah have mercy on you? He said: I am Ubadah ibn al-Samit. I said: Who is the other man? He said: Mu'adh ibn Jabal.