The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None will have the sweetness (delight) of Faith (a) till he loves a person and loves him only for Allah's sake, (b) and till it becomes dearer to him to be thrown in the fire than to revert to disbelief (Heathenism) after Allah has brought him out of it, (c) and till Allah and His Apostle become dearer to him than anything else."
Exposition of the Hadith on the Sweetness of Faith
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (6041) in the Book of Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) outlines three fundamental conditions for experiencing the true sweetness of iman (faith). The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) describes these as sequential stages of spiritual development that lead a believer to the ultimate delight of divine connection.
First Condition: Love for Allah's Sake
"Till he loves a person and loves him only for Allah's sake" - This signifies pure, selfless love devoid of worldly interests, kinship, or tribal affiliations. The scholars explain that such love arises when one recognizes the qualities of faith and obedience to Allah in another believer. This brotherhood in faith transcends all worldly relationships and becomes a means of drawing closer to the Almighty.
Imam An-Nawawi comments that this type of love is among the firmest bonds of faith, where believers become like a single structure supporting one another. The sweetness of faith manifests when this divine love becomes the foundation of all human relationships.
Second Condition: Hatred of Disbelief
"Till it becomes dearer to him to be thrown in the fire than to revert to disbelief" - The scholars interpret this as the ultimate test of faith's strength. When a believer reaches such a state, the horror of kufr (disbelief) becomes so abhorrent that physical torment in fire appears preferable to spiritual destruction through apostasy.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this condition demonstrates the complete transformation of one's value system, where spiritual integrity outweighs all worldly considerations, including physical safety and comfort.
Third Condition: Supreme Love for Allah and His Messenger
"Till Allah and His Apostle become dearer to him than anything else" - This represents the pinnacle of faith where love for the Divine and His Messenger transcends all earthly attachments - including wealth, family, and even one's own self. The scholars emphasize that this love must manifest in complete obedience, following the Sunnah, and prioritizing what Allah and His Messenger love over personal desires.
Al-Qurtubi notes that this condition encompasses the previous two, for when Allah and His Messenger become the ultimate beloved, all other loves and hatreds naturally align with divine will, resulting in the complete sweetness of faith that permeates one's entire existence.