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Introducing those who Love to the Reality of Love (The Love of Allah and His Messenger)
Author : Dr. Mohammad bani Taha
Date Added : 26-02-2025

Introducing those who Love to the Reality of Love (The Love of Allah and His Messenger)

 

The love of Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, is the strongest bond of faith, the shortest path to Paradise, and a sign of disavowal from Satan. How could it not be so when its place is the heart—the very place where the Most Merciful looks. When it dwells there, light radiates from it and spreads to all the limbs. This love manifests in the heart as faith and conviction, and in the limbs as obedience and submission. They loved Him, so He loved them, and He commanded them, so they obeyed Him. Allah Says (What means) "O you who have believed, whoever among you turns back from his religion—Allah will bring forth a people He loves and who love Him, 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, All-Knowing." [Al-Mai`dah/54].

Preferring this love over all other beloved things is a condition for attaining Paradise and being saved from Hellfire. However, this can only be achieved by striving against all desires and temptations. One who loves but does not struggle against their desires is deluded, and one who strives without love will find their deeds unacceptable. Allah Says in [Surat At-Tawbah]—which is also known as Surah of Disavowal [Bara`ah], the Revealer [Al-Khashifah], and the Exposer [Al-Fadihah] (What means): "Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your relatives, the wealth you have acquired, the commerce you fear will decline, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His decision. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people." [At-Tawbah/24].

Whoever attains this true love (for Allah and His Messenger) has acquired great goodness and reached a lofty level of faith. The Prophet said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people." [Agreed upon]. Therefore, every Muslim must understand the true nature of this love, so they may learn the way to attain it and enjoy its blessings.

The essence of love is the inclination of the heart, and it is of two types [1]:

1. Natural Love: This follows human desires, such as a person’s love for themselves or their parents. By nature, a person loves themselves more than they love others. This type of love is beyond human control and is not subject to religious obligation, as Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.

2. Rational, Volitional Love: This is the inclination towards what the intellect chooses, even if it goes against natural desires. For example, a sick person may willingly take bitter medicine because reason dictates that it will bring healing, despite its unpleasant taste.

The love that Islamic teachings require is of the second type—rational, volitional love—not the natural, instinctive love that a person has no control over. This is because Islamic law only obligates a person with what is within their ability and choice.

This Sharia-based love (for Allah and His Messenger) consists of two stages: the essence of love and its perfection [2].

The first stage: The foundation of Sharia-based love, which is the heart’s inclination and preference for the commands of Allah and His Messenger. This is because a person knows that Allah and His Messenger only command and forbid what ensures the well-being of their religion, worldly life, Hereafter, and ultimate fate [3]. As a result, they incline towards and prioritize their commands based on reason, even if their desires and natural inclinations oppose them.

This love is cultivated through reflection on Allah’s blessings and is proven through obedience. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized this in the hadith: "Love Allah for the blessings He bestows upon you, and love me for the love of Allah, and love my family for my love." [Al-Hakim]. The Quran also confirms this in the verse, it states (What means): "Say, if you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you." [Al-Imran/31].

Some scholars, like Qadi Iyad, considered this love a condition for true faith, as it signifies veneration and reverence for Allah and His Messenger (PBUH), which are fundamental aspects of Faith. However, Al-Qurtubi argued that reverence does not necessarily require heartfelt affection, as one might respect something without loving it, as mentioned by Ibn Hajar in His book Fath Al-Bari [4].

The Second Stage: At this level, a person’s natural inclinations and desires become fully aligned with their intellect and faith. Instead of experiencing the internal struggle of resisting personal desires in favor of divine guidance, the believer finds pleasure in following Allah’s commands. The heart, soul, and intellect are in harmony, loving only what Allah loves and detesting only what He detests. Scholars have described this stage in profound ways: A state beyond verbal expression. The beloved fully possesses the heart, immersing it in constant remembrance. No distinction remains between presence and absence, closeness and distance [5].

Perfect love can be described as the complete transformation of a person’s nature, desires, and pleasure into an unwavering devotion to knowing and worshiping Allah. Hence, the people of love and devotion—may Allah make us among them—express this reality through their well-known sayings: Whoever tastes, knows. Whoever knows, draws from it. Whoever draws from it, acknowledges it. Whoever acknowledges it, becomes immersed in what he knows.

Some have criticized the expressions used by those who speak about this stage of perfect love, objecting to it on two grounds:

First Objection: The Supposed Negation of Reason in Favor of Experience 

Some argue that this concept eliminates the role of intellect and replaces it with subjective experience ("Dhawq") [6].

This objection is clearly unfounded, because reaching this stage of knowing Allah comes only through deep reflection, contemplation, and intellectual engagement with His signs in creation—all of which are functions of the intellect.

Second Objection: The Risk of Straying from Sharia

Another criticism is that such discussions about love and spiritual experience may lead individuals to abandon the clear teachings of Islam, replacing divine guidance with personal feelings and mystical experiences [7].

This argument is also invalid, because one of the greatest fruits of true love for Allah is perfect obedience to His commands and strict adherence to the Sunna. The more complete a person’s love for Allah, the more they follow His guidance. Therefore, true love does not exist without obedience, and no one reaches its perfection without first establishing its foundation through adherence to the Sharia.

In conclusion, the station of love is a great station; whoever attains it has indeed achieved a tremendous success. May Allah make me and you among its people.

 

[1] Sharh Al-Shifa, Al-Hirawi Al-Qari, 2/36.

[2] Sharh Al-Shifa, 2/36.

[3] Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, by Ibn Battal, 1/67.

[4] Fath Al-Bari, 1/59.

[5] Mu'jam Maqalid Al-Uloom, by Al-Suyuti.

[6] Tanbih Al-Ghabi, by Al-Biqa'i, edited by Abdul Rahman Al-Wakeel, 2/212.

[7] Al-Manar Magazine, 19/50.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I married a man and had two children; however, we got separated four years ago. In addition, my husband`s brother, paternal uncle of my children, has been providing for them ever since. In fact, he is an honest, well-behaved man. Is it permissible that we get married although his brother (My ex-husband) is still alive?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
It is temporarily prohibited for a woman to marry her stepbrother. Therefore, once she receives Talaq Ba`in (Irrevocable divorce), she is allowed to marry her stepbrother, even if his brother (First husband) is still alive. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible to offer Istikhara prayer (seeking guidance) after Witr Prayer (A confirmed Sunnah which is offered after Isha prayer and before Fajir prayer with a minimum of 3 Rak`as and a maximum of 11)?

It is permissible to offer Istikhara before and after Witr prayer as it is permissible at any time except that in which prayer is disliked. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to give my zakat to my grandson who is studying at university, while I am living abroad and my money is in my home country? Also, is it permissible to assign my father the responsibility of distributing the zakat to the people in my home country?

 

It is permissible to give zakat to a son whom his father is supporting if he is an adult and in good health, because his father is not obligated to support him, making him one of the poor among the Muslims. However, the student who may receive zakat is one who is diligent in seeking beneficial knowledge for the Muslims and is religious. Zakat should be paid in the country where the money is located, and appointing your father to distribute the zakat in the country where the money is is the correct approach. And Allah Knows Best.

My husband wanted to sell a piece of land that was his own, but his father insisted that he transfer the land in his (the father’s) name so that he could sell it at a higher price. Then, my husband and his father would split the price. After my father-in-law sold the land, he denied everything and refused to acknowledge my husband’s right. My father-in-law passed away a year ago, and my husband’s brothers divided the inheritance, refusing to acknowledge that this land was a trust held by their father for my husband until it was sold. Are they sinful for knowingly denying that the land belongs to my husband, and what is the ruling on praying against them?
 
 
 
 
 

All perfect praise be to Alalh, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
Among the rights of the deceased upon their heirs are: preparing them for burial at death, settling their debts, returning people’s rights to them, executing their will, and then dividing their estate. What was mentioned in the question falls under the rights of others, even if they are among the heirs, and the deceased is not absolved of it unless it is returned to its rightful owners. This is because Allah, Almighty, forbids consuming others' wealth/properties unjustly. However, do not give up on seeking a solution by involving righteous and well - respected individuals who may have influence over them, in the hope that Allah guides them to goodness and correctness. As for supplicating against them, the prayer of the oppressed is not rejected, even if the oppressed person is not a Muslim. And Allah knows best.
 
 
 
 
 

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