Telling someone you love them is a sunnah the Prophet recommended.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended that anyone who loves a brother for the sake of Allah should tell him so. When a companion said he loved someone, the Prophet asked whether he had told that person; on learning he had not, he told him to go and tell him. He said that the best of people is the one who treats his family best, and he consulted his wife on an important matter. Putting love into words deepens relationships and binds hearts together.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ ثَوْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حَبِيبُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِيكَرِبَ، - وَقَدْ كَانَ أَدْرَكَهُ - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا أَحَبَّ الرَّجُلُ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُخْبِرْهُ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّهُ " .
Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: When a man loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him
Text: Sunan Abi Dawud, hadith no. 5124. Grade: Sahih, Isnaad Hasan.
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- at-Tirmidhi, Book of Asceticism, 53 (hadith no. 2391)
- Abu Dawud, Book of Good Manners, 112-113 (hadith no. 5125)
- at-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, 63 (hadith no. 3895)
- al-Bukhari, Book of Conditions, 15 (hadith no. 2731)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Social Life
As a table with references: Social Life sunnahs.
- Looking After the Neighbor: Treating the neighbor well and looking after them is a sunnah the Prophet valued greatly.
- Visiting the Sick: Visiting and consoling sick friends and loved ones is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
- Exchanging Gifts: Giving a gift and receiving it graciously nourishes love between hearts.
- Honoring the Guest: Meeting guests with a smiling face and generosity is one of the beautiful reflections of the sunnah.
- Forgiveness and Keeping One's Word: Forgiving the one who wrongs you and answering with kindness was the way of the Prophet.
- Giving Charity: Giving charity, however little, protects its giver and softens the heart.
- Faithfulness to a Trust: Guarding what is entrusted to you and returning it to its owner is the most basic sign of trustworthiness.
- Wanting for Your Brother Too: Wanting for your brother what you want for yourself is a sign of mature faith.
- Seeking Knowledge: Allah eases the path to Paradise for one who sets out in search of knowledge.
- Never Saying "I Have None": A generosity that made a principle of never saying "I have none" when asked for something.