بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

الحمد الله

Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم “O’ Messenger of Allah, what is the best deed?” Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلمsaid, “The best deeds are that you love only for the sake of Allah and dislike only for the sake of Allah. You engage your tongue in the remembrance of Allah.” So the companion asked, “What else, O’ Messenger of Allah, is the best deed?” He صلى الله عليه و سلمsaid, “What you desire for yourself, you desire for other people and what you dislike for yourself you dislike for other people and you say something good otherwise remain silent.” [Musnad Imam Ahmad]

Lessons to be learnt:

1) The concern of Companion رضي الله عنهis shown by the question he asked RasuluLlah صلى الله عليه و سلم

2) Loving for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى brings in many benefits to a person:

a) Allah will shade him/her on the Day of Judgement

b) He/she tastes the sweetness of Iman

c) He/she will be on high seats of light on the day of Judgement

d) All of his/her sins will be forgiven by Allah سبحانه وتعالى

e) Allah will love that person
(all are mentioned in sahih/hasan ahadith of Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم)
3) Also loving for the sake of Allah means that a believer is abiding by the covenant he has made with his Creator which if he hadn’t done, he would have been a faasiq

4) Disliking for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالىmeans disapproving or opposing what Allah سبحانه و تعالى does not like. For example, committing a sin must be an act of disapproval for a Muslim because it is what Allah سبحانه و تعالى dislikes.

5) Engaging one’s tongue in the remembrance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى is one of the easiest acts a Muslim can do. It does not require a person to do wudhu but if someone is in major impurity (i.e. he/she is junub) then a ghusl (bath) is a prerequisite to do dhikr. Nor does it require a specific place or any type of action. A person can do dhikr anywhere except places that are filled with najas (impurity).
6) We can also understand the thirst which the Sahabah رضي الله عنه had for gaining knowledge that the scholar of this ummah Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه once again asked the same question to get more pearls and gems from the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم
7) The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلمis commanding Mu’adh رضي الله عنه and all the Muslims that we must be just with all the people by desiring and disliking for oneself what one would desire or dislike for others.
8) Being just for the sake of Allah سبحانهو تعالىin this way instigates love between the two people for His sake only and thus they get the reward of the people who love each other for Allah سبحانه و تعالى’s sake too.
9) Saying something good otherwise keeping silent is a quality of the one who believes in Allah سبحانه و تعالى and the Last Day as mentioned in a hadith narrate by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلمsaid, “… Whoever believes in Allah سبحانه و تعالى and Last Day should speak good or remain silent.” [Sahih AlBukhari]
10) This way of dealing in one’s speech saves him/her from saying something that might result in displeasure of Allah سبحانه و تعالى and finally going to Jahnnam

And indeed, Allah سبحانه و تعالى knows best.