Musnad Ahmad Hadith 8259

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: By Allah, every believer whom Allah creates and who hears about me or sees me, begins to love me. The narrator asked: O Abu Hurairah, how did you come to know this? He replied: Actually, my mother was a polytheist woman. I used to invite her to Islam, but she always refused. One day, I invited her, and I had to hear something about the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) from her that I disliked. Crying, I went to the service of the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I used to invite my mother to Islam, but she always refused. Today, when I invited her, I had to hear something about you that I disliked. Please pray to Allah to grant guidance to the mother of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed: O Allah, grant guidance to the mother of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). I ran out to give my mother the glad tidings of the Prophet’s prayer. When I reached the door of the house, it was closed from inside. I heard the sound of water falling and sensed the movement of feet. My mother said from inside: Abu Hurairah, wait a little. After a short while, the door opened, and she had put on her shirt and quickly covered herself with a scarf. As soon as she saw me, she said: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” Hearing this, I again went to the Prophet (ﷺ) with tears of joy, just as I had previously cried out of grief, and said: O Messenger of Allah! Congratulations, Allah has accepted your prayer and granted guidance to the mother of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). Then I said: O Messenger of Allah! Please pray to Allah to create love for me and my mother in the hearts of the believing servants, and to place their love in our hearts as well. So the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed: O Allah, create love for this servant of Yours and his mother in the hearts of Your believing servants, and place their love in their hearts. After that, every believer whom Allah created and who hears about me or sees me or sees my mother, begins to love me.