Is it from the Sunnah to get to know one another among the brothers?

Abu Layla : Is getting to know one another from the Sunnah?

The Shaykh : Now, many of those who are committed to Islam, whether their understanding of it is correct or not, believe that getting to know one another is from the Sunnah. This is not from the Sunnah in any way. The Sunnah is that if you love a Muslim for the sake of Allah, you let him know that. That is the Sunnah. Allah, let us get to know each other, so-and-so bin so-and-so, so-and-so ibn so-and-so works in such-and-such, is an employee in such-and-such, and studies such-and-such, and so on. This is pure European imitation. Then, this getting to know one another does not go beyond this; it does not lead to anything prescribed. This is in the category of what He, Mighty and Majestic, said: Why? If the getting to know one another is merely for the sake of getting to know one another, then it is like the one who performs wudu' but does not pray. However, if the intention behind it is to take another step toward establishing some connection, affection, and love, which is necessary, then there is no harm in it, provided that it is not made into a Sunnah. The Sunnah, as we mentioned, is: I love so-and-so for the sake of Allah, and the response comes back: May Allah love you for the sake of which you loved me. As for so-and-so whose name is such-and-such, and so-and-so whose name is such-and-such, and one like my story, he gains nothing from this getting to know one another.