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Level 2 :: Lesson 17

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Love of God and How to achieve it (part 2 of 2)

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Description: The relation of loving Prophet Muhammad to loving Allah. The correct beliefs, practices, and behaviors that help to achieve the love of Allah.

By Imam Mufti

Published on 14 Dec 2011 - Last modified on 06 Aug 2022

Printed: 662 - Emailed: 1 - Viewed: 32,634 (daily average: 7)

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Objectives

·To understand the relation of loving Prophet Muhammad to loving Allah.

·To learn some of the ways to achieve the love of Allah.

Arabic Terms

·Salah - the Arabic word to denote a direct connection between the believer and Allah. More specifically, in Islam it refers to the formal five daily prayers and is the most important form of worship.

·Zakah - obligatory charity.

·Sunnah - The word Sunnah has several meanings depending on the area of study however the meaning is generally accepted to be, whatever was reported that the Prophet said, did, or approved.

·Taqwa - Awe or fear of Allah, piety, God-consciousness. It describes a state of awareness of Allah in everything one does.

·Shahadah - Testimony of Faith.

Sixth, love of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, is part of loving Allah. All the world’s treasures and riches can not match the love for the Prophet. It needs to be discussed separately.

Seventh, following Prophet Muhammad is a true sign of loving Allah as He says in the Quran:

“Say [O Prophet]: ‘If you love Allah, follow me, [and] Allah will love you.’” (Quran 3:31)

A new Muslim should learn as much as possible about how the Prophet worshipped and prayed to Allah, his guidance and Sunnah in all matters of life and lovingly imitate him to earn divine love. There is nothing that Allah loves or with which one can come close to Allah, except that the Prophet of Mercy has informed us of it.

The next question for is, ‘how can I achieve the love of Allah?’

(a) the first and most important way to achieve the love of Allah is to understand the meaning of the Testimony of Faith (Shahadah) and to commit oneself to live by it. Laa ilaha ill-Allah is the purpose of your creation, the definition of your relationship with Allah, and the key to Allah’s love and entry into Paradise. Anyone’s whose last words are Laa ilaha ill-Allah in this life will enter Paradise. One must also try to learn Allah’s beautiful Names and sublime Attributes. One cannot truly love someone they do not know.

(b) the second most important way to achieve the love of Allah is to perform the obligatory duties followed by voluntary ones. The most important of the obligatory duties is to learn the salah and to pray regularly. This is followed by fasting, paying zakah, and performing other obligations. Some scholars say that there is a Paradise on earth, if someone does not enter it, he shall not enter it in the afterlife. A person enters the Paradise on earth by enjoying God’s worship and obedience. With time, understanding the spiritual significance, and patience one will reap the greatest spiritual benefit of carrying out the obligations of Islam: the love of Allah. The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, related:

“Allah the Mighty has said: ‘Whoever shows enmity to a beloved slave of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My slave does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. And My slave continues to draw near to Me by voluntary works till I 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 of Me, I would surely give and were he to seek refuge in Me, I would surely grant it.”’ (al-Bukhari) [This Prophetic narration is not to be taken literally, rather what is meant is that the person will act according to that which pleases God. For example, he will not look at impermissible things, will only listen to that which is useful and beneficial such as listening to the Quran, Islamic lectures, etc.]

(c) to enjoy being alone with Allah in prayer, salah, reciting Quran, and meditating in isolation with the Creator. Call out to Allah by presenting your problems, ask for His assistance, and supplicate to Him in those specific areas in the prayer where this is to be done, such as the prostration. One does not reach this level immediately with the first prayer. A person has to struggle with distractions, one’s self, and the devil and patiently practice being attentive to reach the state in salah where he finds comfort in it.

(d) a person can achieve the love of Allah by developing the qualities Allah loves and avoiding those things he dislikes. These qualities are found in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Some of them are:

Patience in face of religious prejudice and persecution:

“And Allah loves the steadfast.” (Quran 3:146).

A new Muslim should be patient when they face ridicule, lose friends, or are mocked for accepting Islam. They should endure in learning Islam and practicing it.

Doing good:

“Surely, Allah loves those who do good.” (Quran 3:134, 148).

Controlling your anger, spending more in charity, and learning the etiquette of supplicating to Allah all fall under this category.

Taqwa:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.” (Quran 3:76).

Taqwa is to obey Allah’s commandments and to stay away from His prohibitions in dress, diet, behavior, personal relationships, and other aspects of life.

Continuously repenting to Allah and maintaining proper hygiene:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” (Quran 2:222, 9:108)

Trusting Allah in all affairs especially in decisions made after consultation:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” (Quran 3:159)

Being fair:

“And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Quran 5:42)

Allah does not love:

Arrogance like rejecting the truth even after it has become clear:

“Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.” (Quran 16:23)

Transgression like speaking about Allah and His religion what one does not know:

“Surely, Allah does not love transgression.” (Quran 2:190, 5:87)

Wronging others:

“Indeed, He does not like the wrongdoers.” (Quran 3:57, 42:40)

Being excessive in eating, drinking, and clothing:

“And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” (Quran 6:141, 7:31)

Spreading corruption like inciting wars:

“And Allah does not like corruption.” (Quran 2:205, 5:64)

Breaking treaties and covenants:

“Indeed, Allah does not like traitors.” (Quran 8:58)

Sins:

“And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.” (Quran 2:276)

Disbelief:

“Indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.” (Quran 3:32)

Boasting and stinginess:

“Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful, who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allah has given them of His bounty.” (Quran 4:36-37)

Deceiving Allah and people:

“Indeed, Allah does not love one who is a habitually sinful deceiver. They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allah, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech.” (Quran 107-108)

Mentioning evil:

“Allah does not love the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged.” (Quran 4:148)

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