Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

A R C H I V E S

L o v e   o f   A l l a a h

Madina Archives


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

L o v e   o f   A l l a a h
Halima
01/15/04 at 04:04:36
B i s m i l l a a h i r    R a h m a a n i r    R a h e e m

Alhamduli'Allaahi Rabbil-'Aalameen wa-Salaatu wa-Salaamu 'alaa Ashrafil-Anbiyaa-e-wal-Mursaleen, wa ba'd.

Assalaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

What are the signs of Allaah’s love for His worshippers?

You have asked about a serious and weighty matter, which none attain but very few of the righteous slaves of Allaah.

The love of Allaah is “the status for which the righteous compete and strive… It is the nourishment of hearts and souls… the delight of the eyes… It is the life of which one who is denied it is dead… the light which the one who loses it is in deep darkness… the healing of which the one who is denied is sick… the joy which the one who is deprived of it lives in distress and pain…  

It is the spirit of faith and good deeds… by means of which one may draw closer to Allaah… which, when it is absent, one is like a body in which there is no soul.”

[i]O Allaah, make us among those whom You love.[/i]

The love of Allaah has signs and causes which are like the key to the door. These causes include the following:

1 –Following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says in His Holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):

[i]“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [/i](Aal ‘Imraan 3:31)

2-5 – Being humble towards the believers and stern towards the kaafirs, waging jihad for the sake of Allaah, and not fearing anyone or anything but Him. Allaah has mentioned these qualities in a single verse, in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):

[i]“O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allaah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the way of Allaah, and never fear of the blame of the blamers”[/i] (al-Maa'idah 5:54)

In this verse Allaah describes the attributes of those whom He loves, the first of which is: humility and not being arrogant towards the Muslims, and being stern towards the kaafirs, and not humbling or humiliating oneself before them. They (the ones whom Allaah loves) strive for the sake of Allaah, against the Shaytaan, the kuffaar, the hypocrites and the evildoers, and they strive against their own selves (jihad al-nafs). They do not fear the blame of any blamer, because so long as they are following the commands of their religion, he will not care about anyone who mocks him or blames him.

6 – Doing naafil (supererogatory) acts of worship.  Allaah says – according to a hadeeth qudsi – “My slave keeps drawing near to me by means of supererogatory acts of worship until I love Him.” Supererogatory acts of worship include naafil prayers, charity, ‘Umrah, Hajj and fasting.

8-12 – Loving, visiting one another, helping one another (financially) and offering sincere advice to one another for the sake of Allaah.

These attributes were mentioned in a single hadeeth in which the Messenger [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam[/i] narrated that his Lord said: “My love is guaranteed for two who love one another for My sake; My love is guaranteed for two who visit one another for My sake; My love is guaranteed for two who help one another (financially) for My sake; My love is guaranteed to two who uphold ties with one another for My sake.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 4/236 and 5/236; [i]al-Tanaasuh[/i] by Ibn Hibbaan, 3/338; the two ahaadeeth were classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in [i]Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb,[/i] 3019, 3020, 3021.

What is meant by “two who visit one another for My sake” is that they only visit one another for the sake of Allaah, seeking thereby His pleasure for their loving one another for His sake or cooperating in worshipping Him.

From [i]al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta’,[/i] hadeeth 1779.

13 – Being tested. Calamities and disasters are a test for a person, and this is a sign that Allaah loves him, because this is like medicine: even though it is bitter, but still you offer the medicine, despite its bitterness, to the one whom you love; and Allaah’s is the highest description. According to a saheeh hadeeth: “The greatest reward comes from the greatest trial. When Allaah loves people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it gains the pleasure of Allaah and whoever complains earns His wrath.

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; Ibn Maajah, 4031; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani.

For calamities to befall the believer is better than punishments being stored up for him in the Hereafter. How can it be otherwise when he is raised in status and his bad deeds are erased thereby? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He wills bad for His slave, He withholds his sins until he comes with them on the Day of Resurrection.”  

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

The scholars have explained that the one from whom calamities and trials are withheld is the hypocrite, for Allaah withholds [his punishment] in this world, so as to bring him with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.

[i]O Allaah, make us among those whom You love.[/i]

If Allaah loves you, do not ask about the good that you will attain and the virtue that you will acquire… it is sufficient for you to know that you are beloved of Allaah. The great fruits of the love of Allaah for His slave are as follows:

1 – People will love him and he will be accepted on earth, as it says in the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (3209): “When Allaah loves a slave, He says to Jibreel, 'I love so-and-so, so love him,' so Jibreel loves him and then calls out to the people of heaven, 'Allaah loves so-and-so, so love him,' and the people of heaven love him, and then acceptance is placed in the Earth for him."

2 – What Allaah has mentioned in the hadeeth qudsi of the great virtues of those whom He loves. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allaah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said: “Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6502.

This hadeeth qudsi includes a number of benefits of Allaah’s love for His slave:

(i) “I am his hearing with which he hears” i.e., he does not listen to anything but that which Allaah   loves.

(ii)  “his seeing with which he sees” i.e., he does not see anything but that which Allaah loves.

(iii) “his hand with which he strikes” i.e., he does not do anything with his hand but that which Allaah loves.

(iv) “and his foot with which he walks” i.e., he does not go towards anything but that which Allaah loves.

(v) “Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him” i.e., his du’aa’s are heard and his requests are granted.

(vi) “and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it” i.e., he is protected by Allaah from  all things…

The indications of Allaah’s love for his worshippers and the way to its achievement.

Almighty Allaah said : “Say (O Mohammad Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam to mankind) : “if you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Qur’aan 3:31

Abu Huraira Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam.[/i] Said, ‘if Allaah loves a person, He calls Jibrael (Gabriel) saying,’Allaah loves so and so; O Jibrael (Gabriel) love him.’ And make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the heaven:

“ Allaah loves so and so therefore you should love him also, and so all the inhabitants of the heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasures of the people on the earth.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim.  

Abu Huraira Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that Allaah’s Messenger Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said that Allaah said: “I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of mine And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My worshipper keeps on coming closes to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is (obligatory) till I love him, then I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hands with which he grips, and his legs with which he walks; and if he ask Me, I will give him, and if he ask My Protection (Refuge), I will Protect him.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari.

A. The EXCELLENCE OF RECITING THE QUR’AAN

1. Abu Umamah Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that he heard the Prophet Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam saying: “ Read the Qur’aan (regularly) for it will act as an intercessor for its readers on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by Muslim.

2. Uthman Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said: “ The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it (to others).” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari.

3. Abdullah bin Mas’ud Radhiallahu ‘anhu reported that the Prophet Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said : “when somebody recites one letter from the Qur’an he will get one good deed in recompense will be equal to ten good deeds. I do not say that Alif Lam Meem is a letter, but A is a letter, L is a letter and M is a letter i.e it is equal to three letters.” Narrated by At-Tirmithi.  

B. The EXCELLENCE OF THIKR ALLAAH (REMEMBERING ALLAAH I.E., GLORIFYING AND PRAISING HIM ETC.)
 
1.      Abu Huraira Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said :[/i] “ A person who recites after every salah (prayer) : sub-han- Allaah (glory be to Allaah) thirty three times, Al-ham-do Lil-lah (all praise belongs to Allaah) thirty three times and [i]Al-la-ho Akbar[/i] (Allaah is great) thirty three times, and completes the figure of hundred with the recitation of [i]La ilaha ila Allaah wahdahu lasharikalahu lahu almulku walahu alhamdu wahuwa ala kul shai in gadeer.[/i]

  “ None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and He has no partner in Lordship or in the Names and the Qualities and for Him is the kingdom and all the praises and thanks are for Him and he is Omnipotent “will have his (minor) sins forgiven, although they may be as much as the foam of the sea. Narrated by Muslim.  

2.  Abu Huraira Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that Allaah’s Messenger [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said:[/i] “Who-ever says[i] ‘Subhan Allaahi wa bihamdi hi,[/i] one hundred time a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

3. Abu Musa Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam said :[/i] “The similitude of the one who remembers (glorifies the praises of) his Lord (Allaah) in comparison to the one who dos not remember (glorify the praises of) his, Lord, is like that of a living and the dead.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari.  

C. INVOKING ALLAAH’S BLESSING UPON THE PROPHET [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam.[/i]  

1. Almighty Allaah said : “ Allaah and His Angels send blessing on the Prophet, O you who believe ! send your [i](salah)[/i] and salute (greet) on him with a worthy salutation.” Qur’aan 33:56.

2. Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas Radhiallahu ‘anhu said that he heard the Prophet [i]Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam saying :[/i] “A person who calls for blessings on me, (recites salah) once, Allaah sends down mercies on him ten times.” Narrated by Muslim.

When does the love of Allaah save a person from punishment?

Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said regarding this matter:

There are four kinds of love, which we must differentiate between, and those who go astray do so because they do not make this distinction. The first of them is love of Allaah, but this alone is not sufficient to save a person from the punishment of Allaah and to earn him His reward. The Mushrikeen, worshippers of the cross, Jews and others all love Allaah. The second is love of that which Allaah loves. This is what brings a person into Islam and out of Kufr. The most beloved of people to Allaah is the one who is most correct and most devoted in this kind of love. The third kind is love for the sake of Allaah, which is one of the essentials of loving that which Allaah loves. A person’s love of that which Allaah loves cannot be complete until he also loves for the sake of Allaah. The fourth is love for something alongside Allaah, and this love has to do with shirk.. Everyone who loves things alongside Allaah but not for the sake of Allaah has taken that thing as a rival to Allaah. This is the love of the Mushrikeen. There remains a fifth kind of love which has nothing to do with our topic; this is the natural love which is a person’s inclination towards that which suits his nature, such as the love of a thirsty person for water or of a hungry person for food, or the love of sleep, or of one’s wife and children. There is nothing wrong with this unless it distracts a person from remembering Allaah and keeps him from loving Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

[i]“O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allaah” [/i](al-Munaafiqoon 63:9)

[i]“Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allaah”[/i] (al-Noor 24:37)

[i](Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, 1/134)[/i]

And he said (may Allaah have mercy on him):

The difference between loving for the sake of Allaah and loving something alongside Allaah is one of the most important distinctions. Everyone needs to make this distinction and is indeed obliged to do so. Loving for the sake of Allaah is a sign of the perfection of faith, but loving something alongside Allaah is the essence of shirk. The difference between them is that a person’s love for the sake of Allaah is connected to his love of Allaah; if this love becomes strong in his heart, this love dictates that he will love that which Allaah loves. If he loves which his Lord loves and he loves those who are the friends of Allaah, this is love for the sake of Allaah. So he loves His Messengers, Prophets, angels and close friends because Allaah loves them, and he hates those who hate them because Allaah hates those people. The sign of the love and hatred for the sake of Allaah is that his hatred for the one whom Allaah hates will not turn into love merely because that person treats him kindly, does him a service or meets some need he has; and his love for those whom Allaah loves will not turn to hatred simply because that person does something that upsets or hurts him, whether it is done by mistake or deliberately, in obedience to Allaah or because the person feels that he has a duty to do it for some reason, or because the person is a wrongdoer who may yet give up his wrongdoing and repent. The entire religion revolves around four principles: love and hatred, and stemming from them, action and abstinence. The person whose love and hatred, action and abstinence, are all for the sake of Allaah, has perfected his faith so that when he loves, he loves for the sake of Allaah, when he hates, he hates for the sake of Allaah, when he does something, he does it for the sake of Allaah, and when he abstains from something, he abstains for the sake of Allaah. To the extent that he is lacking in these four categories, he is lacking in faith and commitment to religion. This is in contrast to the love of things alongside Allaah, which is of two types. One is diametrically opposed to the principle of Tawheed and is shirk; the other is opposed to perfection of sincerity and love towards Allaah, but does not put a person beyond the pale of Islam.

The first kind is like the love of the Mushrikeen for their idols and gods. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

[i]“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals (to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah”[/i] (al-Baqarah 2:165)

These Mushrikeen love their idols and gods alongside Allaah as they love Allaah. This love and devotion is accompanied by fear, hope, worship and supplication. This love is pure Shirk which Allaah does not forgive. Faith cannot be perfected unless a person regards these idols as enemies and hates them intensely, and hates the people who worship them, and regards them as enemies and strives against them. This is the message with which Allaah sent all His Messengers and revealed all His Books. He created Hell for the people of shirk who love these rivals, and He created Paradise for those who strive against them and take them as enemies for His sake and to earn His Pleasure. Anybody who worships anything from the vicinity of the Throne to the lowest depths of the earth and takes a god and a supporter besides Allaah and associates another beings in worship with Him, will be disowned by the object of his worship when he is most in need of it (i.e.on the Day of Judgement).

The second kind is love for the things which Allaah has made attractive to people, such as women, children, gold, silver, branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. People love them with a kind of desire, like the love of the hungry person for food and the thirsty person for water. This love is of three kinds. If a person loves them for the sake of Allaah and as a means of obeying Allaah, he will be rewarded for that; it will be counted as a part of love for the sake of Allaah and a means of reaching Him, and he will still find enjoyment in them. This is how the best of creation (i.e. the Prophet Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa Salam) was, to whom women and perfume were made dear in this world, and his love for them helped him to love Allaah more and to convey His Message and fulfil His commands. If a person loves them because they suit his nature and his own desires, but he does not give them preference over that which Allaah loves and is pleased with, and he gets them because of his natural inclination, then they come under the heading of things which are permissible, and he will not be punished for that, but his love of Allaah and for the sake of Allaah will be lacking somewhat. If his sole purpose in life is to get these things, and he gives priority to that over that which Allaah loves and is pleased with, then he is wronging himself and following his own desires.

The first is the love of al-Saabiqoon (those who are foremost in Islam); the second is the love of al-muqtasidoon (those who are average) and the third is the love of al-zaalimoon (the wrongdoers).

[i]Al-Rooh by Ibn al-Qayyim, 1/254.[/i]

May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Islam Q&A

(www.islam-qa.com)




Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
A R C H I V E S

Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.
The rest © Jannah.Org