Religion is no other thing than love

35. From him, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al-Hassan Bin Ali Bin Fazzal, from Ali Bin Uqba and Tha’alba Bin Maymoun and Ghalib Bin Usman and Haroun Bin Muslim, from Bureyd Bin Muawiya who said: ‘I was in the presence of Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام in his عليه الصلاة والسلام tent at Mina. He عليه الصلاة والسلام looked at the feet of Ziyad which had turned black, so he felt pity for him and said: ‘What is the matter with your feet that they are like this?’ He said, ‘I came upon a week's ride and I had to walk most of the way’. He عليه الصلاة والسلام lamented to him and Ziyad said to him عليه الصلاة والسلام during that, ‘I was in (so much) pain due to my sins to the extent that I thought that I would be destroyed. I remembered my love for you عليه الصلاة والسلام which gave me hope for salvation and it brightened my situation’. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘And is the Religion anything except for the love? Allah عز وجل the High has Said: “[49:7] But Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts”, and Said: “[3:31] Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you”, and Said: “[59:9] love those who have fled to them”. A man came up to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم so he said, ‘O Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم of Allah عز وجل, I love the Praying ones but I do not Pray myself, and I love the Fasting ones but I do not Fast myself’. The Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم of Allah عز وجل said: ‘You are with the one whom you love, but to you belongs what you have acquired’. And he عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘What you are seeking and what you want, but it is if there is a scare from the sky, every people would seek protection in its safe place, and we عليه الصلاة والسلام will seek safety with our Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and you will be seeking safety with us عليه الصلاة والسلام’.