Love for Allah

Allah (SWT) says in sura Al Maidah ayat 54

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion – Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah ; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

It is probably impossible to find a human being who does not love. Most people love their families, spouses and friends. Others love status and money. You can tell a person’s love for something or someone by what they do and how they act.

And we love all of these things despite their temporary nature, despite the fact that they disappoint us sometimes. It is almost an intrinsic part of a human being. And we all love for similar reasons—we love people for the perceived good qualities that we see in a person or the way they treat us. We love things because of the way those things make us feel.

In sura Al Fusilat aya 17

And as for Thamud, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.

The Glorious Quran clearly demonstrates the danger of pursuing the love of this Dunya, of this life.

So what does it mean when we say we should we love Allah SWT?

How can we not? If we put together all the reasons why we love other people or things, and then apply it to Allah (swt), we should see that truly it is Him that deserves our love. And because human beings are naturally inclined to love, it is only the love of Allah (swt) that can satisfy this need.

Try to count everything good in your life, and everything that seemed bad but turned out to be good. All that is from Allah (swt).

The fact that you are Muslim. The fact that, as the Prophet ﷺtold us, everything that happens in the life of a Muslim is good, and this is only for the believers.

If you are given blessings, then it is an opportunity to be thankful, and if you are tested, it is for you to be patient and to be rewarded for that patience. Nothing a believer does goes to waste inshallah.

So how does one make one’s heart love Allah SWT? One’s heart begins to feel the love for Allah SWT through:

Reading the Quran with reflection

Performance of more voluntary prayers

The remembrance of Allah SWT through Zikr

Choose what Allah SWT prefers over what you prefer

There is a Hadith which demonstrates how the best of Creation performed such a requirement and is an example for us all once more:

‘A’isha reported: One night I missed Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) from the bed, and when I sought him my hand touched the soles of his feet while he was in the state of prostration; they (feet) were raised and he was saying:” O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I can’t do justice to praise You. Only You can praise Yourself as you deserve”

We should all aim to strive to match this level of devotion and love for Allah SWT. True happiness and contentment from this life can only come when our hearts feel this love for Allah SWT.

One last reminder is a dua that was recited by the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him):

“Oh Allah I ask you for your love, and love of those who love you, and love of any action that will make me close to loving you”

We ask Allah swt to be from the people who love him and he loves us. We ask Allah to help us to remember him. We ask Allah to help us to thank him. and we ask Allah to help us to worship him.

We ask for his forgiveness, his mercy on ourselves and our family and ummah.

Ameen. Alhamdullilahi rabill alamin