It is narrated from Abu Kathir that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us, saying: By Allah! Allah has not created any believer who has merely heard about me, even if he has not seen me, except that he loves me. Abu Kathir says: I asked him,“Abu Hurairah! How do you know that every believer loves you?”He said: My mother was a polytheist woman. I used to invite her to Islam, but she would refuse to accept my invitation. One day, I invited her to Islam, and she said such things about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that I absolutely disliked. I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) crying and said: O Messenger of Allah! I used to invite my mother to Islam, but she would refuse to accept my invitation. Today, I invited her to Islam, and she said such unpleasant things about you that I absolutely disliked. Please pray to Allah to grant guidance to my mother. (So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed.) I ran towards my mother to give her the glad tidings of the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) supplication. When I reached the door, it was closed from inside. I heard the sound of water falling and also the sound of shoes. From inside, my mother said: Abu Hurairah! Wait a little. After a while, she opened the door. She had put on her shirt and, even before covering her head, she exclaimed:“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”Just as a short while ago I had come to you crying out of grief, now, out of intense joy, I came to you crying and said: O Messenger of Allah! Congratulations, Allah has accepted your supplication and has granted guidance to the mother of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). I said: O Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah that He makes me and my mother beloved in the eyes of all His believing servants, and makes all the believers beloved to us. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed: O Allah! Make this servant of Yours (Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him) and his mother beloved to all Your believing servants, and make all the believers beloved to both of them. By the blessing of this supplication, now every believer who hears about me, even if he has not seen me or my mother, loves me.