Umar (rad) said, “Don’t be neglectful of being loved.”
(Al Bidayah Wal Nihaya)
Meaning, be such that people love you. Because love is extremely valuable. Therefore, we should make an effort so that people love us.
(1) One way to gain love is through flattery. Not that.
Flattery is a despicable trait.
This is when someone acts agreeably to gain favor.
(2) Another way to gain love is for a person to be sincerely devoted to the truth. Allah then places that person’s love in people’s hearts.
The Prophet
said, “When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him’. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so- and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him”.
(Riyad as-Salihin 387)
Why is this person loved? Because this person is a seeker of truth. Truth is before him and the Hereafter is before him.
