What is love?
Who’s your best friend?
In another narration, the Prophet said, “From one part of mercy the creation is merciful between themselves, and ninety-nine parts are for the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Muslim 2753)
The importance of loving Allah(SWT) and His Messenger
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “What preparation have you made for it?”
The narration in Muslim is: The man replied: “I have made no significant preparation with regard to Salat (prayer), Saum (fasting) and Sadaqah (charity) but I love Allah and His Messenger”. In the narration of Imam Bukhari he said, “Only the love of Allah and His Messenger.” Then Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, Innaka ma’a man ahbabta. “You will be with those whom you love.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Anas(RA) said so we said wa nahnu kadhaalik? And does this apply to us as well? The Prophet(SAW) replied Na’am hadha lil jamee’. Yes, this is for all. Famaa farihna bihadhil kalima ba’dal Islam mimma farihna bihadhihil kalima. We have not been more overjoyed since we entered Islam than on hearing these words.
Take care in these times that you don’t get involved in hate. Hating another because of their ethnicity, football club, mosque, group or cast. Shaytaan wants us to indulge in hate, rather than love for others.
It was Imam Abu Hanifa(rh), the great scholar and pious leader of this Ummah, who used to say uhibbu saaliheen wa lastu minhum I love the pious though I am not from them. Look at his humility.
He would say I love the pious though I am not from them, but I have a hope. I have this hope in Allah(SWT) that perhaps, because of my love for them, I will be included with them on the Day of Judgement. So don’t talk bad about anyone. Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but has not solved one yet.
Haters don’t really hate you. In fact, they hate themselves because you’re a reflection of what they wish to be. Shaytaan was an example of this – his hatred for Adam (AS) and all of us stemmed from his jealousy of his position before Allah(SWT). That hatred burned him and led him down a path of destruction. Don’t be enslaved to others through hatred for them. Free yourself through forgiveness and focus on the One who loves us all – Allah(SWT).
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “None will have the sweetness (delight) of Faith (a) till he loves a person and loves him only for Allah’s sake, (b) and till it becomes dearer to him to be thrown in the fire than to revert to disbelief (Heathenism) after Allah has brought him out of it, (c) and till Allah and His Apostle become dearer to him than anything else.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6041
How do you earn Allah’s Love?
1. Obey Allah and His Messenger(SAW)
Thawban was a freed slave of Allah’s Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace, who passed away in the blessed land of Palestine. Thawban loved the Prophet dearly such that he could not bear not seeing him for long periods. One day Thawban showed up with his complexion changed, he had lost weight and the signs of sadness were evident on his face.
The Messenger of Allah,Allah bless him and give him peace, said to him: ‘O Thawban, what has made your complexion change?’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am not suffering from any harm or pain, except that when I do not see you, I miss you and feel intense longing for you which does not cease until I meet you. Then I remember theAfterlife and I fear that I will not see you there. I know that you will be raised high up with the Prophets whereas if I enter the Garden, I will be in a rank much lower than yours, and if I do not enter the Garden, it will be certain that I will never see you’. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”.
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favour of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. [And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. [Surah An-Nisaa Verse 69]
Hadhrat Al-Hassan Al-Basri (rh) “Oh Son of Adam, Love Allah! Allah will love you, and know that you will not love Allah until you love obeying Him”.
2. Say salaam
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “You will not enter Paradise until you have faith and you will not have faith until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.” [Muslim, 54]
I used to run regularly in parks across the region and it’s amazing what a “Mornin’ ” said with a smile does to break barriers. Imagine repeating the statement of Adam(AS) when he addressed the angels – As-Salaamu alaikum. Not just peace out or may you be blessed with peace but in fact, As-Salaam is one of the names of Allah(SWT) and so we are wishing that Allah(SWT), by His All-Comprehensive Peace is with our companion – there can be no better greeting and message of love for others.
3. Don’t fight over their treasure
On the authority of Abu al-’Abbas Sahl bin Sa’ad as-Sa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” [Sahih Muslim 157]
He loves those who obey Allah and detest those who disbelieve in Him and disobey Him. Allah the Almighty Says (what means):
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him – those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah is the successful.” [Quran 18:22]
Anas (RAA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.” Related by At·Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah with a strong chain of narrators.
4. He who knows Allah, loves Him
5. Turn back to Allah(SWT)
“Indeed Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and those who keep themselves clean.” (Al-Baqarah 2:222)
Allah loves the repentant slave, who constantly turns back to Him, knowing He is the All-Forgiving, Most-Forgiving, the Acceptor of Repentance, the Pardoner. No matter how often one repeats a sin, and no matter how grave the sin is, one should constantly turn back to Allah. And Allah loves when a slave purifies himself from impurities, both major and minor.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying, “If somebody commits a sin and then says, ‘O my Lord! I have sinned, please forgive me!’ and his Lord says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sins).’ Then he remains without committing any sin for a while and then again commits another sin and says, ‘O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,’ and Allah says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sin).’ Then he remains without Committing any another sin for a while and then commits another sin (for the third time) and says, ‘O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,’ and Allah says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven My slave (his sin), he can do whatever he likes.’” (Bukhari)
One should follow up a bad deed with seeking forgiveness and doing good deeds, so that the bad deed is wiped out. One should not tire of repenting to Allah.
It was narrated by Anas that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.” (Ibn Majah)
—
And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord,
Establishing the rights of his Lord,
Focusing upon Him with his heart,
The light of fear setting ablaze his heart,
Whilst drinking from the vessel of pure love,
And certain hidden realities being unveiled for him.
So when he talks, it is due to Allâh,
When he speaks, it is from Allâh,
When he moves, it is by the Command of Allâh,
And when he is serene, then it is from Allâh,
He belongs to Allâh, is for Allâh and is with Allâh.”
