Love for the Sake of Allah: The Hadith of the Pulpits of Light
Imagine a group of people on the Day of Resurrection whose place is so honored that the prophets and martyrs admire them. They are not prophets, and they are not martyrs. The Prophet ﷺ was asked who they are, and his answer is within reach of all of us: people who love one another for the sake of Allah.
At a glance
- Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 3527
- Narrated by: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)
- Topic: Loving one another for the sake of Allah
- Put it into practice: Tell a friend you love them for the sake of Allah
The hadith
إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ لأُنَاسًا مَا هُمْ بِأَنْبِيَاءَ وَلاَ شُهَدَاءَ يَغْبِطُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِمَكَانِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
“There are people from the servants of Allah who are neither prophets nor martyrs; the prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Resurrection for their rank from Allah, the Most High.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 3527 · Narrated by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab · Grade: Sahih (al-Albani) · Translation from Sunnah.com
The companions asked: “Tell us, Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He replied:
هُمْ قَوْمٌ تَحَابُّوا بِرُوحِ اللَّهِ عَلَى غَيْرِ أَرْحَامٍ بَيْنَهُمْ وَلاَ أَمْوَالٍ يَتَعَاطَوْنَهَا فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ وُجُوهَهُمْ لَنُورٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ عَلَى نُورٍ لاَ يَخَافُونَ إِذَا خَافَ النَّاسُ وَلاَ يَحْزَنُونَ إِذَا حَزِنَ النَّاسُ
“They are people who love one another for the spirit of Allah (i.e. the Qur’an), without having any mutual kinship and giving property to one. I swear by Allah, their faces will glow and they will be (sitting) in (pulpits of) light. They will have no fear (on the Day) when the people will have fear, and they will not grieve when the people will grieve.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 3527 · Translation from Sunnah.com
Then he recited this verse:
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allāh there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
Surah Yunus 10:62 · Saheeh International translation
He recited it straight after describing them, linking these people to the promise of the verse: no fear and no grief.
Who are these people?
The hadith describes them carefully. Their love is not because they are family, and not because of money or business between them. Nothing ties them together except their love for each other for Allah’s sake.
That is what makes this love special: there is nothing to gain from it in this world. It could be the friend you pray with, learn with, or who reminds you of Allah.
The pulpits of light
At-Tirmidhi narrates a similar hadith from Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), in which Allah says:
قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمُتَحَابُّونَ فِي جَلاَلِي لَهُمْ مَنَابِرُ مِنْ نُورٍ يَغْبِطُهُمُ النَّبِيُّونَ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ
“Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: ‘Those who love each other for the sake of My Majesty shall be upon podiums of light, and they will be admired by the Prophets and the martyrs.'”
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2390 · Narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal · Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) · Translation from Sunnah.com
Does this mean they are better than the prophets? No. The Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths (HadeethEnc) explains: “This does not necessarily mean that they are better than the prophets, because this particular virtue does not supersede the general virtue.” It is one special honor, not a higher rank overall.
In the shade of Allah
Imam Muslim records that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will call for them:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَيْنَ الْمُتَحَابُّونَ بِجَلاَلِي الْيَوْمَ أُظِلُّهُمْ فِي ظِلِّي يَوْمَ لاَ ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلِّي
“Where are those who have mutual love for My Glory’s sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shadow when there is no other shadow but the shadow of Mine.”
Sahih Muslim 2566 · Narrated by Abu Hurayrah · Translation from Sunnah.com
They are also among the seven people Allah will shade on that Day: “two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only” (Sahih al-Bukhari 660).
I shared this hadith with my friends at our farewell lunch together before I left my former workplace. I hope Allah makes us among these people on the Day of Resurrection.
Reflection: most friendships are built on something: work, school, a shared hobby. This hadith invites us to add one more reason to the friendships we already have, so that when the work and the hobbies are gone, the bond still counts.
How to put it into practice
The hadith does not give a routine, so these are suggestions:
- Renew your intention in your friendships: love your friends for Allah, not only for what you share.
- Choose friends who remind you of Allah and help you do good.
- Meet for good: attend a class, pray together or read the Qur’an together.
- Make dua for your friends by name, especially when they cannot hear you.
- Be sincere with them; the religion is sincerity, including to the people around us.
Key lessons
- Loving one another for Allah, without family ties or worldly gain, has a special reward.
- Such people will be on pulpits of light, admired by the prophets and martyrs.
- Allah will shade those who love one another for His sake on the Day of Resurrection.
- Good friendships are part of our religion, so choose and keep friends well.
Questions people ask
What does it mean to love someone for the sake of Allah?
It means loving them because of their faith and goodness, not because of family ties or anything you gain from them. The Prophet ﷺ described such people as those who love one another “without having any mutual kinship and giving property to one” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3527).
What does the hadith say about friends?
It promises a great reward for friends whose bond is for Allah: their faces will glow, they will sit on pulpits of light, and they will have no fear when people fear (Sunan Abi Dawud 3527). Allah will also shade them on the Day of Resurrection (Sahih Muslim 2566).
Are they better than the prophets?
No. The Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths (HadeethEnc) explains that this particular virtue does not mean they are better than the prophets overall.
One thing to do today: message a friend and tell them, “I love you for the sake of Allah.”
Save this to Pinterest so you can share it with a friend you love for Allah
Share the reward. Send this article to someone who needs it today — teaching a hadith or dua can become a lasting good deed for you, in shaa Allah.
