By Islamic Online University
Read, in the Name of Your Lord
Knowledge is an integral part of Islam. In one example, Allah tells us in Surat AzZumar, verse 9:
(هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ)
. . . are those who know equal to those who do not know?
And everyone is familiar with the first word of revelation in Surat Al-Alaq, verse 1:
(اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ)
Read, in the Name of your Lord who created.
Also, the Prophet (sallah o alaihi wassalam) told us: Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise. [Part of a sahih hadith reported by Ibn Majah and others, fulfilling the conditions of Imam al Bukhari and Imam Muslim]
Seek Beneficial Knowledge
For Muslims it’s not just important to have knowledge; traversing the path to acquire knowledge is in itself highly regarded in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to seek knowledge in all areas as long as it is beneficial knowledge.
We’re taught to say in our supplications, Allah teach me what is beneficial to me and benefit me by what you have taught me and increase my knowledge. Ameen.
An Easy Path to Authentic Sources of Islamic Knowledge
Islamic Online University is true to the Islamic tradition of seeking knowledge from credible, authentic, and reliable sources and eases the path to this knowledge for every Muslim on earth.
We relieve you of the need to leave your home to attain Islamic knowledge which is now available to you completely online, in the comfort of your own home and within whatever time frame you can afford to set aside for your studies.
There’s no need to quit your job, leave your family, or bear the burden of moving to a foreign country or city to learn about Allah (swt). Your education can be completely incorporated into your current lifestyle. Masha’Allah, studying Islamic sciences has never been easier.
How Can You Be a Part of the Movement?
Islamic Online University’s (IOU) BA program is modeled after the BA programs of Al-Madeenah University in Saudi Arabia, Al-Azhar University in Egypt, and other well-known Islamic universities. Registration is open year-round for the BAIS section and the new semester is coming soon. Join now to begin studying in the new semester.
How can you be a part of the movement “Changing the Nation Through Education”? Simply visit www.islamiconlineuniversity.com and begin changing your life, your family, and the Muslim nation today.
inshaAllah
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good
When Hearts turn back towards ALLAH
Submitted by k.ibrahim
Bismillah Ir-Rahman, Ir-Raheem. Ashahadu An Laa illaaha illal llahu
Wa Ash Hadu Anna Muhammadan Abdu Hu Wa Rasooluhu
”I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah
who is without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is the Rasool.”
“O Allah, Shower Your Peace come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have brought peace to Ibrahim and his family.
Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, Shower your blessing upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”. Iam Satisfied with Allâh as My Rabb and Cherisher,Iam Satisfied With Islam as My Din(religion) and Iam satisfied with Muhammad as a Rasulallah (Messenger)sallallahu alaihi was salam . (This is the Statement of ALLAH in the Quran) ” Surah 60 – Al Mumtahinah – Ayat – 001 O ye who believe! Take not my enemies and yours as friends (or protectors),- offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in God your Lord! If ye have come out to strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them: for I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path.
Surah 60 – Al Mumtahinah – Ayat – 002 If they were to get the better of you, they would behave to you as enemies, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you for evil: and they desire that ye should reject the Truth. I declare that ALLAH’s Enemies as His Enemies, and I donot take His Enemies as Friends or protectors. (The Dajjal and his followers are the Enemies of ALLAH). And I also Declare that the Believers are the Friends of ALLAH, and I donot take them as enemies. Aishah (Radhialiaho anha) says: “Once Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam)entered the house and I guessed from his face that something of great importance had occurred. He did not talk to anyone, and after making Wudhu (ablution) he entered the mosque. I stood behind the wall to hear what he said. He sat at the pulpit and, after praising Allah, he said ‘ “O Muslims! Allah has commanded you to call people to good deeds, and prevent them from committing sins; otherwise a time will come when you will pray to Him; but He will not listen to you; you will ask your needs of Him, but He will not grant them; you will demand His help against your enemies, but He will not help you.” After saying this, he came down from the pulpit.”
Ya ALLAH! You are the One who turns the Hearts,turn Our Hearts towards your obediance. And know that ALLAH comes in between a man(person) and his Heart.(…comes in between a person and his heart.)Leaves him without comprehension,“Prevents one self from his own heart, so he will neither believe nor disbelieve except by His(ALLAH) Will.” Abdullah b. Amr b. al-’As reported that he heard Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) as saying: Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart. He turns that to any (direction) He likes. Then Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)said: O Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Thine obedience.It was narrated that Anas said: Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) often used to say“O Turner of the hearts, make my heart steadfast in adhering to Your religion.”
Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to often say these words, “O You Who changes the hearts, make my heart firm on Your religion.” We said, Ya Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)!We believed in you and in what you brought us. Are you afraid for us’ He said, Yes, for the hearts are between two of Allah’s Fingers, He changes them (as He wills)”
Indeed Rasulallah (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to do so, and taught us to do so, as in the hadeeth of Umm Salamah by Shihr who said : ‘I said to Umm Salamah : ‘O Mother of the Believers, what is the duaa’ which Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) would supplicate the most while in your presence? ’
So she said : ‘The frequent supplication of his was :
“O, Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm on Your religion.”
And also reported by Imaam Ahmad , from the hadeeth of ‘Aisha (radhiyaAllaahu anha): ‘The Dua’ which Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to supplicate with a lot…’ then she mentioned it the same. There is a promise in the Honored Qur’an, comes for those who repent . (A voice will say:) “This is what was promised for you,- for every one who turned (to Allah) in sincere repentance, who kept (His Law)” Sura 50:32 Qaf.
What is sincere repentance? Who must repent? These are just some of the questions we wish to answer in this short study.
One type of repentance involves a sorrow for something which is done or said that has caused grief or pain to another person. It involves regret or affliction which a person senses on account of his past conduct. Often this repentance is as a result of fear of punishment which may come as a consequence of one’s actions. But this is not sincere repentance.
Sincere Repentance
Sincere repentance is a deep sorrow or contrition for sin as an offense and dishonor to Allah and is seen as violation of His Divine Commands. Through the power of Allah, repentance can lead to a change in life. Sincere repentance is a change of heart mind and Soul.turning from sin to Allah.
Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended Allah, even though the deed may have been committed to a person, yet it is still viewed as an offense to Allah. Sincere repentance always has with it a desire to obey Allah.In the Holy Qur’an, Allah relates that being happy is possible only through sincere faith and devotin, true loyalty to Allah and Him lone, awe of Allah and love of Allah. For this reason it is impossible for those who do not turn to Allah, and lead a life dedicated to earning Allah’s good pleasure to be happy. As a requisite of the test in this world, Allah may grant the blessings of this world to such a person; when looked at from the outside, this person may seem to enjoy many blessings and beauties. However, he can never experience real happiness in his Heart ,in his soul. In the Qur’an Allah relates, “those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace.” (Surat ar-Ra‘d, 28)
As Allah relates in the verse, hearts will only find peace with the remembrance of Allah, and a deep and exuberant love of Allah. There is no other way to true happiness other than sincere faith.
In the Muslim World, In Our world
there has to be a revolution, a change! a change of our Hearts and Souls, Not just a revolution of Changing the condition of the political systems.But a Revolution that will change the Hearts and souls of the Muslims people, Through the Nur (Light)of The Holy Quran,the true knowledge and practice of Islam can bring about such a dramatic change in the Hearts and Souls of the Muslims people that it will seem like a revolution, this Happen in the days of Rasulallah(sallallahu alayha was salaam) and this was seen in Madinah among it people. O Muslims people we need a change of Heart! Such change that will bring about the Mercy,the Help,and the Protection of ALLAH! We are in Need of the Help of ALLAH! When the Hearts Soften and turn to ALLAH, When the Hearts change and started to seek the Forgiveness and the pleasure of ALLAH,then the mind will also seek the Forgiveness of ALLAH and the Soul will also seek it too and then our Faith and Devotion will increase.In this lies a great secret from the secrets of Tawheed:
Forgiving sins through Turning to ALLAH in Repentance and seeking His Pardon:
Allah is Much-Forgiving; He is the only One entitled to accepting repentance and to forgiving
sins. He says in the Holy Qur’an, “O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your evil deeds, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow.”
And He says, “Know they not that Allah doeth accept repentance from His votaries?” Abu Huraira narrated that I heard Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) saying, “By Allah! I seek Allah’s Forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance for more than seventy times a day.”
The heart of man, as created by Allah, is pure and unsullied. Every time that a man does an ill deed, it marks a stain or rust on his heart. But on repentance and forgiveness, such stain is washed off. If there is no repentance and forgiveness, the stains deepen and spread more and more, until the heart is sealed, and eventually the man dies a spiritual death.
Due to human weaknesses, Allah urges all Muslims to seek His forgiveness and to turn to turn our heart back to Him in repentance. He says in the Holy Qur’an, “And seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” And He says, “If anyone does evil, or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to urge his companions to seek Allah’s repentance, telling them how to do it. Shaddad bin Aus narrated that the Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but you. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and, my promise (to you) as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before you all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.”
When sins concern one’s obligations and duties towards Allah are committed, repentance can only be accepted of those who meet the following provisions: feeling regretful, refraining from committing more sins, and having firm resolution not to commit such sins again. this is that the heart cannot become firm, it cannot find satisfaction and it cannot find tranquillity except by reaching out to Him(ALLAH). Everything that is loved and desired besides Him then it must be desired for other than His sake. The One Who is desired, the One Who is beloved in and of Himself, with Whom all matters find their final goal is only one.As for the desire for the Pleasure of Allah (raghbah- the Aspiration), wanting to meet Him (lit. and to see His face- Countenance) and yearning for the meeting with Him, then it is the (capital-delight of the slave, the foundation of his affair, the basis of his life of goodness, the source of his (true) happiness, success and bliss, and it is the coolness of his eyes. For this reason he was created and for it he has been commanded. Rasulallah(sallahallaahu alayhi wasallam) have been sent and the books have been revealed also for this purpose. There is no rectification or bliss for the heart unless its desire is solely for the pleasure of Allah, alone, Mighty and Majestic is He. Hence, He alone should be his desire, what he seeks out and his goal in life. As Allah, the Exalted, has said, “So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allah’s worship. And to your Rabb turn your desires and intentions” (Qur’an 94:7-8). And He, the Exalted, has also said, “Would that they were contented with what Allah and His Rasulallah gave them and had said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His Bounty, and so will His Rasulallah. We implore Allah’” (Qur’an 9:59). So the one who loves ALLAH is the one who desires the Pleasure of Allah. The one who is concerned with works is the one who desires what Allah has to offer in this life and the Hereafter. And the one who is satisfied with this life, in neglect to the Hereafter, is the one who desires other than ALLAH’s pleasure . The person whose desire is for Allah’s pleasure alone, Allah will suffice him from every concern, take on all of his affairs, Protect him from what the Humanbing is not capable himself of Protecting himself from , and preserve him from all afflictions. And whoever prefers Allah to all others, Allah will prefer him to others. And whoever is for Allah, Allah will be for him where he is not even there for his own self. Whoever knows Allah, nothing will be more beloved to him than His Rabb and cherisher and no desire will remain in this believing muslim for anything other than His Pleasure, except that which will bring him closer to ALLAH or assist him in his way in seeking the pleasure of ALLAH. From among the signs of experiential knowledge (ma’rifah-to describe mystical intuitive knowledge of spiritual truth) of Allah is veneration and awe (haybah-Reverential Fear). Allah created creation so that they may worship Him through love, fear and hope of Him. Allah, Exalted is He, strictured: I created jinn and men only that they may worship Me.However, Allah can only be worshiped by possessing knowledge (marifah) of Him; which is why He created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, as an indicator to His divinity and majesty. About this, Allah proclaims: Allah it is who has created seven heavens, and of the earth a similar number. His command descends through them, so that you may know Allah has power over all things, and that He encompasses all things in knowledge. Here we are told that creation was created that you may know Allah, and that His Command courses through the creation, and that His omnipotence and His omniscience envelop all things.. As the slave’s experiential knowledge of his Rabb increases, so to does his veneration and awe increase. As Allah, the Exalted, has said, “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah” (Qur’ân 35:28), meaning, those who are knowledgeable concerning Him. And Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihiu was salam) , said, “I am the most knowledgeable of you concerning Allah and I am the most intense in awe and reverence of Him” (Al-Bukhârî and Muslim).So whoever knows Allah (has ma’rifah) his livelihood will be pure, his life will be sweet, everything will revere him and all fear of created things will leave him. He will find intimacy with Allah and will have an aversion for (common) people. Knowledge of Allah (ma’rifah) will bequeath to him shyness in front of Allah, veneration and reverence of Him, vigilance (concerning His vision), love, trust in Him, turning to Him,seeking His pleasure and forgiving and in submission to His will, ordinances.
It is stated in Surah Maida (54) ‘O you who believe, whoever from among you turns your back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom he will love and they will love him’. Islam is ALLAH’s Deen (religion); therefore this verse is acknowledging the people who turn their backs on Allah (swt)’s Deen. This verse proves that Allah (swt) possesses love for His believers. Some people have difficulty in understanding this concept and only recognize Allah (swt) through His other characteristics, and overlook the fact that Allah (swt) is capable of unlimited love,but with conditions
The nine conditions of the shahadah are known as: (1)Knowledge
That is, one must have the basic and general knowledge of what is meant by the shahadah. One must understand what the shahadah is affirming and what the shahadah is denying. Allah says in the Qur’an,
“So know that there is no God save Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin.”
(Surah Muhammad: 19).
Similarly, Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)said,
“Whoever dies knowing that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah shall enter Paradise.”
(Recorded in Sahih Muslim).
In fact, the shahadah itself is a testimony. When one testifies to something, one must know what it is that he is testifying concerns. Obviously, a testimony about something that one does not have any knowledge about is absolutely unacceptable. Allah says in the Qur’an,
“Except him who bears witness unto the truth knowingly.”
(Surah Al-Zukhruf: 86).
(2)Certainty
This is the opposite of doubt and uncertainty. In Islam, in fact, any kind of doubt is equivalent to Kufr or disbelief. We must, in our hearts, be absolutely certain of the truth of the shahadah. Our hearts must not be wavering in any way when we testify to the truth of, “There is none worthy of worship except Allah.” Allah describes the believers in the Qur’an as those who have belief in Allah and then their hearts waver not. Allah says,
“the (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere.”
(al-Hujjarat : 15).
Similarly, Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)said, “No one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I am the Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) , and he has no doubt about hat statement, except that he will enter Paradise.” (Recorded by Muslim.)
Indeed, Allah describes the hypocrites as those people whose hearts are wavering. For example, Allah says,
“They alone seek leave of thee (not to participate in jihad) who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver.”
(al-Tauba: 45).
Many scholars have stated that the diseases of the heart, or the doubt and suspicions that one allows into one’s heart, are more dangerous for a person’s faith than lusts and desires. This is because lusts and desires may be satisfied at some time yet the person still knows them to be wrong and he may control himself and repent and give up that evil deed. On the other hand, the doubts and suspicions may linger in the heart, with no cure, until the person finally leaves Islam entirely or continues to practice Islam while, in fact, in his heart he does not have the true faith. The greatest cure for these doubts is seeking knowledge. It is through sound knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah that most of these doubts will be removed.
(3)Acceptance
If a person has knowledge of and certainty in the shahadah, this must be followed by acceptance, with the tongue and heart, of whatever that shahadah implies. Whoever refuses to accept the shahadah and its implications, even if he knows that it is true and certain about its truth, then he is a disbeliever. This refusal to accept is sometimes due to pride, envy or other reasons.
In any case, the shahadah is not a true shahadah without its unconditional acceptance. The scholars all talk about this condition as a general condition in the way that I have just stated. However, there is also a more detailed aspect that we must all be aware of. The believer accepts whatever the implications of the shahadah are. This also means that he believes in whatever is stated in the Qur’an or stated by Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) without any right to choose what he wants to believe and what he wants to reject. Allah says in the Qur’an,
“Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so, except humiliation in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent to the most dreadful doom.” (al-Baqarah: 85).
This is one aspect that the Muslims must be aware of. Although it is not the same as the complete refusal to accept the truth, by rejecting part of the truth that has come from Allah, one also negates his testimony of faith. Unfortunately, many Muslims are doing this nowadays in various ways. Although not all of these forms may necessarily be considered apostasy, they are still very dangerous. For example, if they do not like what is stated in a verse in the Qur’an, they simply reinterpret the verse according to their liking. If they do not like what is stated in a hadeeth, they simply state that the hadeeth must not be authentic although they are not scholars in that area. This kind of behavior is the antithesis of the behavior of the true Muslims. Whatever comes from Allah and His Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam), the true Muslim believes in as the truth. This goes hand in hand with their testimony of faith.
(4)Submission
This implies the actual physical enactment with our deeds of our shahadah. In fact, this is one of the main meanings of the word Islam itself, “the submission to the will and commands of Allah.” This is what Allah commands in the Qur’an,
“Turn unto Him repentant, and surrender unto Him” (al-Zumar: 54).
Allah has praised those who submit to His command by their actions. Allah says,
“Who is better in religion than he who surrenders his purpose to Allah while doing good” (al-Nisa: 125).
Actually, Allah has clearly made it a condition of faith that one submits to the command of Allah and His Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam). Allah says,
“But nay, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you [ Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)] judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of which you decide, and submit with full submission” (al-Nisa: 65)
Unfortunately, there are many that claim that there is no relationship between faith and deeds. You can even hear one Muslim saying about another, “That is the best Muslim I have ever met,” yet the other person performs scarcely any of the deeds of Islam whatsoever. This incorrect understanding of faith has spread throughout the Muslim world. Indeed, our shahadah or testimony of faith must be implemented or realized in our hearts, tongues and actions. In our hearts, we must have love for Allah, fear Allah and hope in Him. With our tongues we must testify to the shahadah. And with our actions, we must implement what the testimony of faith requires from us.
Anyone who claims to be a Muslim and yet does no deeds, either does not understand Islam whatsoever or is bearing testimony against himself that his testimony of faith is not a true and correct testimony of faith. This does not mean that the true believer never commits a sin. Indeed, true believers do commit sins, but as long as they recognize that what they did is not correct and it is inconsistent with their obligation of submitting to Allah, then they have not violated the soundness of their testimony or shahadah. But do not forget they are still sinners. And what is the minimum of submission that is required from a person beyond whom there can be no claim to faith? For those scholars who say that the abandonment of prayers is infidelity, it is the five daily prayers. Whoever does not perform, at least, the five daily prayers have gone beyond the limit that is acceptable for lack of deeds. Allah knows best.
(5)Truth
This means that when we say the shahadah, we are saying it honestly. We actually mean it. We are not lying when it comes to our testimony of faith. Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “No one bears testimony to there being no one worth of worship save Allah, sincerely from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hell-fire forbidden for him.” (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
We are all familiar with those who say the testimony of faith yet they are not saying it honestly. They do not believe in it but they are simply saying it in order to protect themselves or to get some gain from doing so; these are the hypocrites. Allah has described them in the opening of the Qur’an with the following words,
“And of mankind are some who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves, but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie” (al-Baqarah: 8-10).
Obviously, the shahadah of those who become Muslims simply to benefit from being Muslim and not because they believe in Islam will be rejected by Allah in the Hereafter. They will face a painful punishment due to their lying.
(6)Sincerity
That is, when we make the shahadah, we must do so solely for the sake of Allah. We must not do it for any other reason. And we must not do it for anyone else’s sake. In this manner, the meaning of sincerity is opposite of Shirk or ascribing partners with Allah. We became and remain Muslims solely for Allah’s sake. Allah says in the Qur’an,
“Worship Allah, making religion pure for him” (al-Zumar: 2).
And Allah also says,
“And they are ordained not else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion” (al-Bayinah: 5).
And Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) added, “Allah has forbidden for the Hell-fire anyone who says, ‘There is no one worthy of worship except Allah,’ and say so desiring the face [and pleasure] of Allah.” (Recorded by Muslim).
This is something that we should all think about, especially those of us who grew up in Muslim families and were born Muslim. We should make it very clear to ourselves that we are Muslims only for the sake of Allah. We are not Muslims for the sake of our parents, friends, family or community. It must be clear in our minds that we are Muslims for the sake of Allah first, last and only. One of the signs that we are Muslims for the sake of Allah is that we do whatever Allah asks of us, regardless of what anybody else desires or wants from us. That is, in the same way that we are Muslims solely for the sake of Allah, all of our actions are done for the sake of Allah (7)Love
That is, the believer loves this shahadah, he loves in accordance with the shahadah, he loves the implications and requirements of the shahadah and he loves those who act and strive for the sake of this shahadah. This is a necessary condition of the shahadah. If a person makes the shahadah but does not love the shahadah and what it stands for, then, in fact, his faith is not complete. It is not the faith of a true believer. And if he loves something more that this shahadah or if he loves something more than Allah, then he has negated his shahadah. The true believer, the one meeting the conditions of the shahadah puts no one whatsoever as an equal to Allah in his love. Allah says in the Qur’an,
“Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is due to) Allah only. However, those who believe are stauncher in their love of Allah” (al-Baqarah: 165).
And elsewhere Allah says:
“Say: If your fathers, or your sons, or your brethren, or your wives, or your tribe, or the wealth you have acquired, or merchandise for which you fear that there will be no sale, or dwellings you desire are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk” (al-Tauba: 24).
Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever has three characteristics has tasted the sweetness of faith. [The first of these] is that he loves Allah and His Messenger more than he loves anyone else…” (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.).
This is one of the most important aspects of Islam yet, for some reason, it is missing from the lives of many Muslims. They act in Islam as if Islam were a chore instead of doing things out of the love of Allah. When Allah orders us to do something, like bear witness to the faith, we should realize that that thing is pleasing to Allah and, therefore, out of our love for Allah, we should be very pleased to do the acts that are pleasing to Allah. But, as I said, this feeling is missing from many, many Muslims today.
(8)Denial
Although that is clear in the words of the testimony of faith, it does not seem clear to everyone who makes that testimony. Therefore, I am mentioning it explicitly here. In Surah al-Baqarah, Allah clearly reminds us of this important aspect of the shahadah, the shahadah is not merely an affirmation but it is both an affirmation and a negation. Allah states,
“And he who rejects false deities and believes in Allah has grasped a firm handhold which will never break” (al-Baqarah: 256).
Perhaps Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) made this point even clearer when he said, “Whoever says there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and denies whatever is worshipped besides Allah, then his wealth and blood are protected and his accounting will be with Allah.” (Recorded by Muslim).
Although this condition should be obvious to everyone who says the words of shahadah, you can still find Muslims who say the shahadah and then make acts of worship for beings or things other than Allah. You will find them going to the graveyards and worshipping those in the graves. They will perform acts of worship, not for the sake of Allah, but for the sake of the dead “saints” in the grave. What kind of shahadah have these people made? Do you really think that their shahadah will mean anything on the Day of Judgment as long as they believe that acts of worship may be done for other than Allah?
(9)Adherence
This is must if the shahadah is to mean anything for you in the Hereafter. You cannot rest on your laurels of what you may have done in the past. No, indeed, the shahadah must be your banner until your death. Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said, ” A man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of Paradise and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire. And a man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of Paradise.” (Recorded by Muslim)
In another hadeeth, Rasulallah(sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam)said,
“By the One beside whom there is no other God, one of you does the actions of Paradise until there is just a hand span between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it.”
(Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
And Allah says in the Qur’an,
“O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims “O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]” [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]”
(al-Imran: 102).
these are the conditions of the shahadah. These are the aspects of the shahadah that each and every one of us should look deep down into our own hearts and ask ourselves:
“Is my shahadah meeting those requirements?”
“Am I saying it sincerely, honestly and out of love for Allah?”
“Am I saying it based on what it really means?”
“Am I denying all other false objects of worship?”
“Is there any part of my shahadah that is weak or missing?”
It is not enough to simply memorize these conditions and the answers to the questions as though we were on our way to class to take a “pop quiz.” We might meet Muslims or even the teachers themselves, who have totally memorized these conditions and their meanings so much so that they can recite every detail. But if we look to the way they act and the way they treat others, we know that the conditions are not having the right effect on them. This is proof that no matter how much a person knows, it only matters how much they live up to it. In the Next Life their knowledge of these conditions of shahadah will not benefit them in the least if they have not put them into practice. Actually, their knowledge will be proof against them because they clearly knew the conditions, yet they were not willing to live up to them in this life.
As Muslims we need to ask ourselves right now, before we die and go in front of Allah for His Judgment. We need to consider our answers carefully to these questions. If we are weak in certain areas of these important questions, then we should work hard to remove that weakness. So that in the Next Life our shahadah will be our “Key to Paradise” and the gates of the Paradise will open wide for us and we will be able to live forever in Allah’s Jennah with Him being please with us.
Furthermore, we should realize that this love is beyond the comprehension of the human mind,but not beyond the comprehension of the Heart. This love cannot be quantified nor articulated, for it transcends speech. It is narrated in a hadith that if mankind knew how much Allah (swt) loved them they would lose all their senses in ecstasy with happiness and as a result their soul would separate from their body. Allah (swt) loves us seventy times more than how much a mother loves her newborn child.
O Allah! place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my
sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light
above me, light below me, make light for me,” or he said:” Make me light.”
Therefore the love of a believer for Allah (swt) must be more intense, stronger and far more superior than all other variables of worldly attachment and attraction. The Holy Qu’ran states in Surah Baqarah (165) ‘The love of Allah in the believers is most intense’.TheTrue lovers of ALLAH never feel that they have fulfilled the rights of love and devotion to ALLAH and always consider themselves lower then what they actually are. TheTrue lovers of Allah (swt) never feel that they have fulfilled the rights of worship like He so deserves.Thus if one acquires nearness and love of Allah (swt) by means of performing religious obligations, supererogatory and voluntary prayers, Allah (swt) then becomes their special helper and protects their limbs and organs and does not let them work for His disobedience.
Narrated by S. Ali : They are the fewest in number, but the greatest in rank before
Allah. Through them Allah preserves His proofs until they bequeath it to those like
them (before passing on) and plant it firmly in their hearts. By them knowledge has
taken by assault the reality of things, so that they found easy what those given to
comfort found hard, and found intimacy in what the ignorant found desolate. They
accompanied the world with bodies whose spirits were attached to the highest
regard
(al-mahall al-a`la). Ah, ah! how one yearns to see them!(the Sahabah)To be with them! Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam)said You will be with those you Love!You will be with those you Love!You will be with those you Love! Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) and His Sahabah!(insha-allah). Faith is not wishes or pretence; rather it is what settles in the heart and is proven by actions.” You hearts can never taste the sweetness of faith until they shun worldly pleasures.” “If you cannot pray qiyam at night and fast during the day, then know that you are deprived. Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) said, “Faith wears out in your heart as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts.” (Hence the sincere believer has a heart like a burning coal). Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) when he said:
“There is no heart that does not have clouds like the clouds that cover the moon. When the cloud covers it, it is dark, and when the cloud moves away it shines.”
This was portrayed to us that believer’s heart may sometimes feel overwhelmed by clouds of sin. So the believer’s heart is sometimes a darken and its light is hidden, and it remains dark and lonely, but if he strives to increase his faith and seeks the help of Allah SWT, that would lighten his heart and starts to shine.
Hence one of the salaf said: “It is part of a person’s prudence to check on his faith and be aware of what affects it.” It is also part of a person’s smartness “that he recognizes how the Syaitan whispers to him.”
So he has to come back to faith. If you come back to faith and do as it requires, then you will achieve what you need in Faith and devotion.
If a person wants to know how he stands before Allah and how he stands in relation to His commands and prohibitions, let him look at himself and see what he is preoccupied with. If he is busy with Da’wah and with saving people from the Fire, striving to attain Paradise, helping the weak and needy, honoring his parents, then let him rejoice in the fact that he is close to the mercy of ALLAH. Allah does not help anyone to do good except those whom He loves.
But if he is has no interest in Da’wah, dislikes the da’iyahs and does not do good things, if he is preoccupied with this world and its gains, and with gossip and asking too many questions about things that is not his business , whilst not doing much or following his whims and desires, let him know that he is far from Allah’s pleasure and has been deprived of that which will bring him closer to the everlasting home! Paradise!, because Allah SWT says:
· “Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world); We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy).
· And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allah’s obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) — then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Allah)” [Al-Isra’, 17:18-19]
If one would like to have a high position in all kinds of good deeds, to be a devoted slave of Allah SWT and to honour your parents, and you are seeking the home in hereafter Paradise, then you have to do the following:
1- We have to revive the faith in our hearts. Faith is what will bring the Muslim people everything we are seeks in this world and in the Hereafter. Faith is the key to all goodness and locks the door to all evil. The means of reviving and strengthening faith in our hearts are many and varied, including doing a lot of acts of worship and righteous deeds.
2- We must turn to our Rabb sincerely, as it says in the report: “If My slave turns to me inwardly and outwardly, I will turn the hearts of My slaves to him with love and mercy.”
Allah has made worship the ultimate aim and loftiest purpose of man: “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” [Ad-Dhariyat, 51:56]
3- We should always set our sights on the highest degrees of righteous deeds, and make our goal in life to earn the pleasure of Allah, and strive to attain the victory of the Everlasting Paradise, or to attain the highest Firdaus. We should strive as hard as we can to achieve these lofty aims.
4- We need to Do a lot of righteous deeds which will bring us happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
5- Praying qiyamullail, supplicating do’a in the time just before dawn. Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) feet used to swell we should follow the ways of Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam)and His Sahabah, Taabi’een and righteous forebears (the salaf).
6- We should make the most of every minute, every moment and every heartbeat to use it in such a way as to increase our faith.
7- We should try to keep company with righteous people, because Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam)said, “A man will follow the religion of his close friend, so let each one of you look at whom he befriends.” Good friends are one of the best means of helping us to obey Allah and to avoid sin and error.
8-Because of His desire (Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) to be a thankful slave, even though Allah had forgiven His previous and future sins.
9- Persisting in reading a portion of Qur’an daily, and other dzikirullah that will helps us to think and ponder on the meanings of the Qur’an.
10- Striving to spread the word and carry out da’awah for the sake of Allah SWT, and working for Islam as much as possible.
If We want to reach the status of True devoted slaves for which we longfore, then be as Allah commanded His Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam):
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Solah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [Al-An’am, 6:162]
Being a devoted slave of Allah means declaring one’s devotion and belonging to our Rabb., which can only be achieved by applying this ayah, so that we are for Allah, the Rabb of the Worlds, in all our affairs.
Being a devoted slaves of Allah can only be fully achieved in that manner; it can only be achieved by worshipping Allah alone! in the fullest sense of the word, which means making our living and dying, and all our movements, for Him alone. So we only endeavour which is pleasing to Allah; we only do that which is pleasing to Allah; we focus our intention in these words and deeds only on Allah. Worship should not be reduced to merely raising and lowering our heads at certain times, or giving a few pennies every once in a while, or fasting a few days out of year, or moving our lips to say a few words and dzikir.
Hence the deeds that lead to this status – of being a devoted slave – are innumerable and may take many shapes in all aspects of our lives and the places where we live. This is by the bounty and mercy of Allah towards us and towards all people. Just look, in every place where we find ourself and every moment that comes to us, for that which will please Him(ALLAH), and what we think He wants from us, and do it. Then you will be a devoted slave. (insha-allah)
Finally, we ask Allah to accept the righteous deeds from us and from all of us , and to gather us all in His mercy with the Prophets, Siddiqin, martyrs and righteous, and those are the best of companions. We also seek Allah SWT that HE would make us steadfast in adhering to the Quran,to truth,and to the Sunnah of Rasulallah(sallallahu alaihi was salam) and to make our hopes come true, and to make us as of those who turn to Him and who know the truth, defend it and adhere to it in Islam.
So, Oh ! Muslims People, Make du’a, for steadfastness, and uprightness in the religion upto the end of one’s life.
Strive to persist in saying du’aa’ and beseech Allaah to make you steadfast in adhering to His(Din) religion, and to increase you in guidance and strength and righteousness, for this is the state of the believers, as Allaah tells us of them in the verse where He says
“(They say): ‘Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower’” [Qur’an Surah Aal ‘Imraan 3:8]
{Mahabbah- Ubudiyyah} those whom ALLAH Loves and those who Love ALLAH!(part1)
Submitted by k.ibrahim
Bismillah Ir-Rahman, Ir-Raheem. I begin with ALLAH’s auspiciousness,whose Name is the Best among all the names. All Revences, All Sanctities and All Worships are due to ALLAH alone. Ashahadu An Laa illaaha illal llahu
Wa Ash Hadu Anna Muhammadan Abdu Hu Wa Rasooluhu
”I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah
who is without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is the Rasool.”
“O Allah, Shower Your Peace come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have brought peace to Ibrahim and his family.
Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, Shower your blessing upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”. Iam Satisfied with Allâh as My Rabb and Cherisher,Iam Satisfied With Islam as My Din(religion) and I am satisfied with Muhammad as a Rasulallah (Messenger)sallallahu alaihi was salam) I seek Protection with ALLAH! With the Glorious and Noble Face of ALLAH! With the Complete and Perfect words of ALLAH! With the Exalted Attributes of ALLAH! From the Punishment of Hell; From chastisement in the Grave; From the Trial of Life and Death; From the Mischief of the dajjal. There is no power nor strength with (anyone) save Allah. ALLAH is Good and Only accept that which is Good. ALLAH is the Truth and only accept that which True. ALLAH is Pure and only accept that which is Pure. Ya ALLAH! ALL the praises are for You,You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are are the Substaner of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for you;You have the Possession of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for You; You are Light(Nur) of the Heavens and Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the Truth, And Your word is the Truth and the Meeting with You is true, And Parardise is True And Hell is true and All the Prophets(peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) is true,And the Day of Resurrection is True. Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your promise is the truth,Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your words is the truth, Ya ALLAH! You have promise and You are the Truth!. Ya ALLAH! You have created Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) to be the most truthful of men and what He(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) has said is the absolute truth! Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim ??? ???? ?????? ??????
The love of thoes who Love ALLAH)
must be unconditionally returned.
If you claim love for ALLAH!
yet oppose the Beloved,
then your love is but a pretence to love ALLAH.
You love the enemies of ALLAH
and still seek love in return from ALLAH.
You fight the beloved Friends of ALLAH.
Is this Love or the following of shaytaan?
True devotion is nothing
but total submission,unconditional surrender
of Heart, body and soul
to the One Love ALLAH.
We have seen humans claim to submit,
yet their loyalties are many.
They put their trust in everything excepted ALLAH, They put their trust here, and their hope there,and their love is without consequence.
A close consideration of the various types of acts of worship enacted in one’s heart and limbs reveals this state of need as being a common quality within them all.
al-‘Ubudiyyah The condition of being in absolute need of Allah is one of the most essential states of servitude [‘ubudiyyah]. It has been described to be its reality and the crux(A main central Feature or A most critical point). Allah says, ‘O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah whereas Allah is the Rich, the Praise-worthy [al-Ghani, al-Hamid].’He also cites Moses [Musa] as saying, ‘My Rabb! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me! Ibn al-Qayyim defines the reality of this lack of the necessary means of subsistence in the following manner, ‘That you are not for yourself and that nothing from you is for yourself in the sense that you are in entirety for Allah; if you are for yourself then you will find a prosperity and self-dependency that negates this destitution.’ He then said, ‘ True poverty is to be in continuous need of Allah in every circumstance and that a slave bears witness in every internal and external atom of his to a complete need of Allah, the Most High, from every angle’ This incessant need for Allah requires the slave to strip his heart of all its whims and desires and to turn to his Rabb with his total being, humble himself before Him, submit to His commands and prohibitions and connect, attach and bend his heart with His love and obedience. Allah says, ‘Say (O Muhammad) “Verily, my prayer, my service of sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Rabb of the worlds. He has no partner, and of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims”.’ One interpretation of the work nusuk is the concern for one’s inner self and expulsion of all save Allah from one’s heart.
A close consideration of the various types of acts of worship enacted in one’s heart and limbs reveals this state of need as being a common quality within them all. A slave’s measure of his need for Allah enacted in these acts of worship determines the extent of effect these acts have on his heart as well as their overall benefit for him in this world and the Hereafter. Consider the act of prayer; a Muslim’s greatest physical act of worship, the believing servant stands before his Rabb with serenity, he is fearful, humble and lowers his head. He fixes his eyes at the place of prostration and begins with the phrase, ‘Allah is greater [Allah Akbar]’. This indicates so clearly one’s glorification of Allah alone and forsaking of all circumstances, wealth and societal positions; everything and anything but Allah. Two superior positions expressing helplessness and need occur when a slave tilts his head further down assuming a bowing position and when he begrimes his forehead in prostration calling upon Allah and turning to Him. Bowing is the place for glorifying Allah whereas prostration is the place for beseeching Allah; Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)said, ‘As for bowing, glorify your Rabb when in that position and as for prostration, exhort your efforts in supplication, for it is very possible that you may be answered.’ This is exemplified in Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) practice; when bowing he would sometimes say, ‘O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I have believed and to You I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones, tendons and what my feet carry are humbled before You. Ibn Rajab comments, ‘This is an indication that Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) humbleness when bowing is manifested in all of his limbs, the greatest of them being the heart which is their king…a servant’s expression of humility and reverence for Allah comes to perfection when at the time of being humbled before Him during the act of bowing and prostration one describes his Rabb with attributes of magnificence, grandeur, greatness and loftiness; it is as if he is saying, “Meekness and reverence is my depiction whereas loftiness, greatness and grandeur is yours”. This dignified level that the heart arrives at is the secret of its vitality and the foundation of its devotion for its Rabb. A servant can develop this neediness through two matters: (i) realisation of the greatness and might of the Creator and (ii) realisation of the weakness and incapacity of the servant and creation.
Concerning the first matter, the more a slave gains in knowledge of Allah and of His names and attributes the greater will be his need for Him and his humility before Him. Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyad said, ‘The reverence a servant holds for Allah is dependent on how well-acquainted he is with Him’. Reflecting on the verses of the Quran and narrations [ahadith] that mention Allah’s most beautiful names and most lofty attributes causes one’s heart to be taken aback out of veneration of the Rabb, and awe of His power and omnipotence. Allah says, ‘Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living [al-Hayy], the Self-Sustaining Who sustains and protects all that exists [al-Qayyum]. Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who can intercede before Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (i.e., His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His footstool [kursi] extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them both. And He is the Most High [al-‘Aliyy], the Most Great [al-‘Adhim]. He also says, ‘They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!’ Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Allah will fold the Heavens on the Day of Judgment and then He would take them by His right hand and say: “I am the King; where are the haughty ones? Where are the proud ones?” He will then fold the earth with His left and say: “I am the King; where are the haughty ones? Where are the proud ones?’ Ibn al-Qayyim writes, ‘The Quran is Allah’s speech and Allah makes Himself known to His servants through His words and His attributes. At times He is revealed clad in awe, greatness and sublimity causing necks to bow, souls to subdue and Hearts to melt and voices to still and so pride dissolves just as salt does in water. On other occasions He is revealed with qualities of beauty and perfection, and He possesses perfect names, beautiful attributes and beautiful actions which signify a perfect essence. This causes love of Him to exhaust all the potency for love found in a servant’s heart. This is of course according to the comprehension a servant has of His beautiful and perfect qualities. So His servant becomes bare of all save love and Trust for Him; when someone or something else desires this love to be directed towards it, his heart and interior refuse that outright’. He then said, ‘The summary of this is that He, may He be glorified, That ALLAH may causes his slave at times to know him through his Attributes as the Creator . and at other times with attributes of a Rabb. Being cognisant and observing His divine attributes necessitate an exclusive Profound reverence, love,Hornor and Deep Respect; a longing to meet Him; a state of intimacy and bliss with Him; happiness in serving Him; competing in attaining His nearness and His pleasure; gaining His affection through obedience; constant remembrance of Him; fleeing from all of creation towards Him and that He alone and none else becomes his sole desire and intent. Being cognisant and observing His Rabb attributes necessitate one to rely upon Him, need Him, seek His help, and being Humble for Him , reverent and subjugated before Him. As for realising one’s inadequacy and inability, whoever truly knows the position of his own self and that with all the status, authority or wealth that can be acquired he still remains weak and with no definitive control will appreciate his insignificance, his pride will disappear, his limbs will humble and his need for His Rabb will greaten. He will seek refuge in his Rabb and plead profusely before Him. Allah says, ‘So let man see from what he is created! He is created from a fluid gushing forth. Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs. Verily, Allah is able to bring him back (to life)! The Day when all secrets will be examined. Then man will have no power, nor any helper.’
Ibn al-Qayyim focuses on both of these matters saying, ‘Whoever possesses total exaltation of Allah [al-Haqq] in his heart will find disobeying Him to be very grave because disobeying the Most Great [al-‘Adhim] is not like disobeying one less than Him. Whoever recognises his soul’s status and reality, its essential need for its true Rabb for every moment and breath he takes and its intense requirement for Him, the crime of disobeying One whom he has persistent need of at all times will be considered to be severe indeed. Furthermore, if he realises and recognize his soul’s insignificance in the Universe scheme of things, whilst recognising the immense, Boundless and immeasurable standing of the one whom he disobeys the crime will bear heavy on him and he will seek the forgiveness of ALLAH to get ridded of those sins.
Feeling in need of Allah therefore encourages steadfast adherence to piety and obedience. To help us develop this need within ourselves and cause it to flourish. (1) When ALLAH Loves someone he puts them under trials ( the more righteous they are, the harder the trials,He tests them and places them in difficulty) in order to purify them.The greater the hardship, or trial or tribulation the greater the reward. The greater the difficulty the greater the reward. The greater the trial or tribulation or difficulty that you are put through the greater the reward will be for you and for me from Allah (Tabarak wa ta’ala).Allah the Exalted states in Surah Baqarah : “We will test you with something of fear, and hunger and loss of wealth, and souls and vegetation. And give glad tidings to those who have patience. Those who if in any difficulty or trial, or tribulation occurs to them or happens to them, they say: ‘Verily We are from Allah and to Allah we return.’ They are those who will receive prayers from their Lord and Mercy and it is those who are guided.”The great reward is in accordance to how great ones trial, difficulty or test is. The greater the test and trial, the greater the reward. And everyone must have tests and everyone will have problems & trials and everyone will be put to difficulty, everyone will have moments of grief, moments of sadness moments when things are not as they feel or would like them to be. But the difference is the believer is patient, the believer believes in the decree of Allaah, the believer seeks the reward of Allaah (subhana wa ta’ala) at that time. (2)When Allaah loves someone, he gives them the “understanding” of the religion of islaam.
Once Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam)said to ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib: A person tries to get closer to Allah with various good deeds; get yourself closer to Allah with knowledge. The highest achievements come from the faculties of the mind, The heart and Spirit, because they can direct one to the right path and protect one from evil. This Is why Islam encourages us to acquire knowledge and to deepen our knowledge and understaning of the din so that our mind can learn to differentiate between good and bad and between right and wrong. Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam)said: Whomever Allah wants to reward with goodness He gives him an understanding of the din. The advantages of the learned over those who only worship is like my advantages over the lowest people among my companions. These advantages come from moral values and from the role of knowledge in deepening our faith and revealing the reality of the universe. The minds and Hearts of the awakened believers can differentiate between good and bad, right and wrong, lawful and unlawful, because such believers have an awareness that enables them to see everything through the light of Allah,the light of Din. Allah, the Almighty, has said: For any to whom Allah gives not light, there is no light? [Qur’an 24:40] Spiritual illumination can be extinguished only by iniquitous actions, by constantly remaining in a state of iniquity, and by deliberately committing sins and never repenting afterwards. Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) said: If a person commits sins, his spirit will be extremely alienated from him. If it were not because of the evils playing around the hearts of the sons of Adam, surly they could comprehend the governance of the heavens and the earth. In reality everything is contained in the Shariah. The Shaykh Ahmad Mustapha al-Alaoui (RA) gives a very profound analogy of this when he says: ‘Haqiqah, in reality, is the Essence of Shariah except that the Haqiqah is hidden in the Shariah, like the butter that is hidden in the milk, only with the churning of the milk will the butter appear.
In the same way that Haqiqah would only appear with the force of love, (Mahabba). When Nabi ‘Esa (AS) spoke of the great secret of love he said: ‘Allahu Mahabba’ Allah is Love. Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam)simplified this very deep expression in a way that was easier to understand when he said,‘The one who loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him’.The Haqiqah, that is the attainment of a spiritual consciousness or inner enlightenment that witnesses that all things ultimately come from and belong to Allah.) (3)Whomever Allaah loves, he removes them and their heart from disobedience and sins(Thus, when knowledge is actualized in the breast he would have the fear of ALLAH; and when the fear gets firm, he would take flight-Hijra, Migration-Escape ; and if he takes flight, he would attain salvation;is being saved or protected from harm,Deliverance,Redemption,from sin and its effects and its consequences,but not all sin,some sins ; and when the light of certainty shines on his heart, he would witness the grace of ALLAH, and when he is able to see the grace, he would become hopeful of the Mercy of ALLAH; and when he experiences the sweetness of {the state of} hope, he would seek;he would earnestly continue to seek the mercy and forgiveness of ALLAH ;and if he succeeds in seeking, he would find; he would find the Mercy and forgiveness with him.
When the light of recognition of the Mercy and forgiveness is disclosed to the heart the breeze of Trust and love for ALLAH is stirred up and when the breeze of love and Trust is stirred up, he would become honored with the special protection,of the Beloved, and prefer ALLAH over everything other than Him, and carry out His orders.
The parable of these three principles is that of the holy Sanctuary (TheHaram-Makkah), the sacred Mosque (al-masjid), and the Ka‘bah; whoever enters the Haram would be safe from the creatures; and whoever enters the masjid his limbs would be guarded from being employed by him in sinning; and whoever enters the Ka‘bah his heart would be protected from being occupied by the world with the remembrance of other than Allah.
Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) is related to have said, “Prophet Shu’ayb (‘a) wept out of love of Allah, the All-mighty, the Majestic, until he lost his sight…, so Allah revealed onto him saying, ‘O Shu‘ayb! If this was out of fear of the Fire, then I have protected you from it; and if it was out of eagerness for the Heaven, then I have permitted you {to enter it}.’ So he said, ‘O Allah, O my Master, You are aware that I did not weep out of fear of Your fire, nor out of eagerness for Your heaven, but {because} Your love has engaged my heart such that I cannot endure {it} until I see You.’ So Allah, the Majestic, revealed to him saying, ‘If this is the case, then because of this I will make the one who spoke to Me (kalimi), Musa bin ‘Imran, to be at your service.”)
Allaah’s loving his beloved servant, his Prophets and Messengers, this is muhabbah(Love and Affection )The Mahabbah of ALLAH is the Foundations of true Faith(the Love for ALLAH) . It is something additional to His Mercy, His treating them nobly and to His giving to them. All of these things are the effect and result of Allaah’s Love. So, because Allaah loves these people And they Love Him, then He grants them a great share of His Mercy, His being good to them and His fine treatment of them…This is due to their Ubudiyyah of their Hearts before ALLAH!.’Ubudiyyah is a comprehensive term that asserts the meaning of the ayah:”You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we seek for Help.” [Al-Qur’an 1:5]It comprises the slavery of the heart, tongue and limbs to Allah ta’ala. The slavery of the heart includes both the qawl (saying of the heart) and ‘amal (actions of the heart). The qawl of the heart is the belief (i’tiqad) in what Allah has informed about His Self, His Names and Attributes, His Action, His Angels, and that which He revealed in His Book and sent upon the tongue of His Rasulallah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).”The heart is inherently dependent on Allah in two ways: from the point of view of worship, which is the ultimate goal, and from the point of view of seeking His help and relying upon Him, which are the means to that end. The heart cannot be sound, or succeed, or find joy, or be happy, or feel pleasure, or be good, or be at peace, or find tranquility, except by worshipping its Rabb, loving Him and returning to Him. Even if it attains all that it can enjoy of created things, it will not feel at peace or find tranquility, because it has an inherent need for its Rabb, for He is the focus of its worship, love and seeking, and this is the only way to attain joy, happiness, pleasure, peace and tranquility …For if a person is helped to attain what he loves, seeks, desires and wants, but he does not worship Allah, he will never achieve anything but sorrow, regret and suffering. He can never be free of the pain and hardship of this life except through loving Allah sincerely, so that Allah becomes his ultimate desire and he loves Him for what He is the Creator and the Originator of all that exists, and he loves anyone or anything else only for His sake, and he does not love anything for its own except Allah. If he does not achieve this (level of love), he has not properly understood the true meaning of “La illaha ill Allah” or of tawhid or of ‘ubudiyyah or of loving Allah. There is something lacking in his iman(Faith) and tawhid, and he will suffer pain, regret and anguish accordingly.”
Loving Allah is the ultimate aim. Having attained the state of true love for Allah, each stage that follows it is one of its fruits and a branch from its roots – such as longing, intimacy and contentment. Each stage that precedes it – such as repentance, perseverance and doing without.
The most beautiful, the most sincere, the most elevated and the most exalted kind of love is most certainly the love of the One Whom hearts were created to love, and for Whom creation was brought into existence to adore. Allah is the One to Whom hearts turn in love and Devotion, exhalation and glorification, humility, submission and worship. Such worship cannot be directed towards other than Him. It is the perfection of love accompanied by complete submission(unconditional surrender) and humility. Allah is loved for His own sake in every respect. All except Him are loved for the love they give in return. All the revealed Books, and the message of all the Prophets, bear witness to the love that is due towards Him, as does the natural impulse He has created in all His servants and creatures, the intellect He has given them, and the blessings He has poured on them.
{Mahabbah- Ubudiyyah} those whom ALLAH Loves and those who Love ALLAH!(part2)
) Bismillah Ir-Rahman, Ir-Raheem. I begin with ALLAH’s auspiciousness,whose Name is the Best among all the names. All Revences, All Sanctities and All Worships are due to ALLAH alone. Ashahadu An Laa illaaha illal llahu
Wa Ash Hadu Anna Muhammadan Abdu Hu Wa Rasooluhu
”I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah
who is without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is the Rasool.”
“O Allah, Shower Your Peace come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have brought peace to Ibrahim and his family.
Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, Shower your blessing upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”. Iam Satisfied with Allâh as My Rabb and Cherisher,Iam Satisfied With Islam as My Din(religion) and I am satisfied with Muhammad as a Rasulallah (Messenger)sallallahu alaihi was salam) I seek Protection with ALLAH! With the Glorious and Noble Face of ALLAH! With the Complete and Perfect words of ALLAH! With the Exalted Attributes of ALLAH! From the Punishment of Hell; From chastisement in the Grave; From the Trial of Life and Death; From the Mischief of the dajjal. There is no power nor strength with (anyone) save Allah. ALLAH is Good and Only accept that which is Good. ALLAH is the Truth and only accept that which True. ALLAH is Pure and only accept that which is Pure. Ya ALLAH! ALL the praises are for You,You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are are the Substaner of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for you;You have the Possession of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for You; You are Light(Nur) of the Heavens and Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the Truth, And Your word is the Truth and the Meeting with You is true, And Parardise is True And Hell is true and All the Prophets(peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) is true,And the Day of Resurrection is True. Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your promise is the truth,Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your words is the truth, Ya ALLAH! You have promise and You are the Truth!. Ya ALLAH! You have created Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) to be the most truthful of men and what He(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) has said is the absolute truth! Hearts, as they mature, come to love whomever is merciful and kind towards them. So how much greater is their love for ALLAH from Whom all Goodness and kindness springs!Every good thing enjoyed by His creation is one of His limitless blessings, and He is One with no associates and no partners: “And whatever good you have – it is from Allah; and then, when misfortune comes to you, you cry to Him for help.”(Qur’an, An-Nahl 16:53)
And also:”And from among mankind there are some who take for themselves (objects of worship as) rivals to Allah, loving them as they should (only) love Allah. And those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.” (Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 2:165)
And also: “O you who believe, whoever of you becomes a rebel against his deen (know that in his place) Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, harsh towards the disbelievers, fighting in the way of Allah, and not fearing the blame of anyone who blames.”Qur’an, Al-Maidah 5:54) Loving Allah comes first of all (Al-Baqarah, 2:165). As a matter of fact, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)made it very clear that what is most desirable is ALLAH love, the love of people that He loves and the love of things that will take us closer to ALLAH’s love.The simplest and most direct sign of this is commitment to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and following his path. (Al-i Imran, 3:165) Our Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) is our foremost guide and teacher. If he presents to us as the prerequisite/condition of faith the will to want for others what is good and kind as much as one wants for himself and if he proclaims that believers are mirrors of each other, this means that he wishes us to establish our interpersonal relationships with humanity on the base of love and respect for the dignity of mankind.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has sworn that no servant truly believes until he, ( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) is more dear to that servant than his own child, father and all of mankind. (Related Bukhari, kitab al-Iman: 1/58 Muslim, kitab al-Iman, 2/15) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)also said to Umar ibn al-Khattab, “even until I am more dear to you than your own self”. (Related Bukhari, kitab al-Iman wa’n-Nadhur, 11/523)When it comes to what we love and what this entails, then is not Allah (Most Exalted is He), even more deserving of our love and adoration than our own selves? Everything that comes from Him to His servants whether it is something that they Dislike, directs us to love Him. His giving and His withholding, the good fortune and the misfortune that He decrees for His servants and His abasing them and elevating them, His justice and His grace, His giving life and taking it away again, His compassion, generosity and veiling of His servants wrong actions, His forgiveness and patience, His response to His servants’ supplications even though He is not in any need of His servants whatsoever – all this invites hearts to worship Him and love Him,and because He is the Best knower of all things , If a Human being were to do the smallest amount of any of these things to another, that person would not be able to restrain his heart from loving him. How can a servant not love, with all his heart, body and Soul, the One who is constantly Merciful and Generous towards him in spite of all his wrong actions? Allah seeks His servants friendship and love by means of His generosity towards them, even though He is not in any need of them. The servants, on the other hand, invites Allah’s anger through their disobedience and wrong actions, even though he is in need of His assistance.
Neither Allah’s mercy nor His generosity towards them the servants deter them from disobeying their Rabb. In the same way, neither the servant’s disobedience nor his wrong actions deter Allah from granting him His blessings.(Abu Huraira Radhiallahu anhu narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)} said that Allah 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 perfoming Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is (obligatory) till I love him, When I love him 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. Rasulallah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned that Allah said:-
Myself, Mankind and Jinn are in a great serious state. I create them, then they worship other gods that they make for themselves;
I bless them with my bounties, then they thank someone else for what I sent them;
My Mercy descends to them while their evil deeds ascend to Me;
I endear them with my gifts even though I have no need to any of them while they alienate themselves from Me with their sins even though they are desperate for my help.
Whoever returns to Me, I accept him no matter how far he is; and whoever turns away from Me, I approach him and call on him. Whoever leaves a sin for my sake, I reward him with many gifts and whoever seeks to please Me, I seek to please him.
Whoever acknowledges My Will and Power in whatever he does, I make the iron bend for his sake. My dear people are those who are with Me.
Whoever thanks Me, I grant him more blessings; whoever obeys Me, I raise him and endear him more. Whoever disobeys Me, I keep the doors of My Mercy open for him; if he returns to Me, I bestow him with My Love since I love those who repent and purify themselves for My Sake. If he does not repent, I still treat him by putting them in hardship to purify him. Whoever favors Me over others, I favor them over others. I reward every single good deed ten times over or seven hundred times over to countless times over. I count every single bad deed as one unless the person repents and ask for My Forgiveness in which case I forgive even that one.
I take into account any little good deed and I forgive even major sins.
My Mercy supersedes My Anger;
My Tolerance supersedes My Blame;
My Forgiveness supersedes My Punishment as I am more merciful with My slaves than a mother with her child. In the Glorious Qur’an, Allah informed us that He is pleased with righteous words and deeds. “If you disbelieve, then verily, ALLAH is not in need of you; He loves not disbelief for His servants. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you.” [Surah Al-Zumar, 39: 7] Accordingly, showing gratitude for Allah’s Bounties, devoting our worship to Allah and keeping away from major and minor Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) are all reasons for earning Alla’s Pleasure, as Allah says: “And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you.” [Surah Al-Zumar, 39: 7]
Moreover, Allah is pleased with our being grateful and devoted to Him and performing acts of worship in the best manner as made obligatory by Him. He (Exalted and Glorified be He) says: You (O Muhammad sallallau alaihi wa salam) will not find any people who believe in ALLAH and the Last Day, befriening those who oppose ALLAH and His Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam, even though they are their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit ( a proofs,a light and with true guidance) from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) underneath which rivers flow to dwell therein (forever). ALLAH is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of ALLAH. Verily, it is the Party of ALLAH that will be the successful. [Surah Al-Mujadalah, 58: 22]
According to this Ayah (Qur’anic verse), Allah informs us that He is pleased with those who give priority to the love of Allah over the love of anyone else including parents, sons, brothers, family and property. Moreover, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: “Say (O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to mankind: “If you (really) love ALLAH then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur‘an and the Sunnah), ALLAH will love you and forgive you your sins.” [Surah Al-`Imran, 3:31] Accordingly, Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) informs us that following the way of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is a means of earning Allah’s Pleasure. Furthermore, He (Exalted be He) says: “O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his Deen (Islam), ALLAH 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 ALLAH, and never fearing of the blame of the blamers.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 54]
The Highest Rabb Majesty – revealed the ayat about mahabbah (love): Say: “If you do love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you.” .”[Quran Surah Ali Imran ayat 31]. This ayat is also known as Ayaatul-Mababbah (the ayat about love). So this ayat indicates the proofs and evidences for love (mahabbah), and its fruits and its benefits. So from the proofs of love (mahabbah) and its clear signs is to follow Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam):and from its fruits and its benefits is: that Allah will love you. Our age is the final age in which He has sent Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as grace to all the worlds. In its nature the coming of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is not different from the expressions of divine love through earlier revelations but in its scope it is the greatest such expression.So whosoever does not seek to follow Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), then such a person will not attain the love of Allah.” The proof for Love being a condition of La Illaha IllAllaah is in Qur’an (2:165) where Allaah Subhanahu wa at ala states:
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals (to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah. But those who believe, love Allaah more (than anything else)……” True knowledge is the consequence of illumination (ilham), of a divine inspiration. Al-Ghazali says that “when ALLAH takes care of the heart . . ., the breast lightens and the mystery of the spiritual realm [malakut] is revealed, and the veil of error vanishes and the reality of divine things shines in the heart”Once the heart becomes owner of truth, the mind then obtains certainty: “the necessary truths of the intellect became once more accepted, as I regained confidence in their certainty and trustworthy character. This did not come about by systematic demonstration or marshalled argument, but by a light which ALLAH most high cast into my breast”The highest degree of love involves a full confidence in ALLAH: this is the meaning of tawakkul, such a complete trust in the Creator that the believer gives himself up to Him “like a dead man in the hands of a corpse-washer” the Qur’an also teaches that the establishment of a relationship with ALLAH, acquisition of faith and of good qualities and conduct are themselves gifts of divine grace that people who are to be saved receive. Thus in Islam man is saved by two acts of divine grace: one by which he acquires faith and the type of qualities and conduct which ALLAH loves, and the other by which any shortcomings, misjudgments or sins are forgiven and he is rewarded with paradise. The effort that the Muslim exerts in the way of doing good and obeying the Islamic Shari’ah or law is not, according to the Qur’an, an act of sheer will on the part of the Muslim but is a natural result of his the faithful muslim character, the type of heart and mind that he acquires as a result of the first act of divine grace. That is why much of what the Qur’an expects the faithful to do or not to do is stated not as commandments — you shall or shall not do this — but as descriptions of the characteristics of the faithful – believers are those who do or do not do such and such. Moreover, (1) The First test of sincerity is that a man should be willing to sacrifice his will to ALLAH’s, should cleave to what brings him nearer to ALLAH, and should shun what places him at a distance from ALLAH. (2)The second test is that the remembrance of ALLAH should always remain fresh in a man’s heart without effort, for what a man loves he constantly remembers, and if his love is perfect he never forgets it.) (3)The third test is that he will love the Qur’an, which is the Word of ALLAH, and Sayyidina Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), who is the Nabi of ALLAH ; if his love is really strong, he will love all men, for all are ALLAH’s servants, nay, his love will embrace the whole creation,) (4)The fourth test is, he will be covetous of retirement and privacy for purposes of devotion; he will long for the approach of night, so that he may hold covnversation with his Friend without let or hindrance.In truth, if the love of ALLAH really take possession of the heart all other love is excluded) (5)A fifth test is that worship becomes easy.When love of ALLAH is complete no joy is equal to the joy of worship.) in the Qur’an a code of law and adherence to it is not in the forefront. It is rather knowedge , faith and Practice, that will bring a close relationship with ALLAH, and doing of good deeds (‘aml saleh) that are generally mentioned in Qur’anic promises of salvation. These are the characteristics of those loved by Allah include their being humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never fearing of the blame of the blamers. Therefore, people as such are rightfully described as loving Allah and being loved by Him. In other words, Divine pleasure and love are earned by obeying Allah through doing that which He enjoined us to do and avoiding that which He forbade. By doing so, we will reach the stage of Awliya’ (pious people). In this regard, Allah (Exalted be He) says: “No doubt! Verily, the Auliys of ALLAH [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of ALLAH and fear ALLAH much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love ALLAH much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. Those who believed (in the Oneness of ALLAH ? Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear ALLAH much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by performing righteous deeds). For them are glad tidings, in the life of this world (i.e. through a righteous dream seen by the person himself or shown to others), and in the Hereafter. [Surah Yunus, 10: 62-64]…………. 10 Things That Bring The Love of Allah SWT. (1) Recitation of the Qur’ an with reflection and with understanding of its meanings. 2) Seeking closeness to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after having performed obligatory ones, for that leads one to the highest levels of love.3) Remembering Allah during every situation – with one’s time, heart and deeds, one’s share of that love is to the degree of one’s share in that remembrance. 4) Preferring what He loves to what you love when your desires are strong.
5) Allowing your heart to reflect on His Names and Attributes. 6) Reflecting on His many favors and blessings, both the apparent ones and hidden ones, for that leads to His love.
7) Having your heart softened as it is worshipping Allah.
8) Being alone with Him in worship when He descends during the last third of the night. And this means to invoke Him, to recite His Speech, to stand with all sincerity and with good manners and with good submission, and then to end that with repentance and with seeking His forgiveness.
9) Sitting with those who are truthful in their love of Allah.
10) Staying away from all that creates barriers between the heart and Allah.Yet obtaining Love for ALLAH is a process. It is something to be achieved. Someone said that One does not simply wake up loving ALLAH. Yes it is possible that one can just wake up Loving ALLAH! Because this person has come to the Realization in his Heart that ALLAH is Greater than All that He has created. (But once love of ALLAH has taken over the hearts of the Believers it is like no other type of love that has been experienced. Love of ALLAH causes one to enjoy life more fully. It causes the Muslim to realize that ALLAH is the only non-changing reality. He is the Sure Reality and Truth (al-haqq).But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah.” (Quran 2:165)Hence, faith is first mentioned as a necessary component of achieving Love for ALLAH. It is misplaced when feelings for created things, or beings, causes a diversion from focusing on the Conscious Reality that created all. The Conscious Reality that sustains all. Faith is the decision of the believer to worship that which is unseen and unseeable in this life. Developing love for ALLAH begins with the study of the divine. Science now tells us that there is a component in the brain that creates within humans the desire to believe in a higher power. When we intentionally work to develop that part of our being, new paths are created and opened within the person. The Muslim begins to feel the need to worship (Ibadda), pray (salat), and remember (Dhikr – a form of meditation) ALLAH. ALLAH begins to take precedence over the Muslim’s life. She/He begins to look on ALLAH with reverence and becomes a seeker on the path after ALLAH’s Greatness.Steps to Gaining Allah’s Love
The Qur’an details seven qualities that Almighty Allah loves and seven qualities that Almighty Allah does not love. Then, we-Muslims-have a way to explore the steps to gaining His Love.
Seven Qualities that Allah Loves
1. Tawbah (Repentance)
(Truly Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance) (Al-Baqarah 2:222)
Repentance is a form of detoxification – Sincere repentance cleanses and beautifies the Iman (faith).
We all commit sins but Allah loves those who after committing sins, seek forgiveness with deep sorrow and regret. …. 2. Taharah (Purification)
(…Allah loves those who purify themselves) (Al-Baqarah 2: 222).
This is the external purification. The secret to this is performing the acts with the intention of following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).The removal of filth from the body by performing wudu’ (ablution) and ghusl (ritual bath) and removal of filth from the garment, body and place of prayer. They are acts that purify the body and radiate the Iman. It is a means by which Almighty Allah will wipe out our sins and raise our ranks.
3. Taqwa (Piety)
(Surely, Allah loves Al-Muttaqun (the pious)) (At-Tawbah 9: 4)
The fear of Allah is the source of a pure soul – it is borne out of love and obedience. Thus, a pious person is constantly driven to do good only. 4. Ihsan (Goodness & Perfection)
(Verily Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good doers)) (Aal `Imran 3: 34).
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says,
“Ihsan is to worship Allah (SWT) as if you see Him and if you cannot achieve this devotion, then you must know that He sees you” (Al-Bukhari).
Ihsan goes beyond a noble trait; it is an integral part of Islam. It is the secret to an attentive heart – knowing that Allah is watching everything. This fills the heart with respect and veneration and one becomes too embarrassed to go against Allah’s commands. It promotes performance of good deeds for the sake of Allah and not for show-off or to gain praise or fame.
5. Tawakkul (Trust in Allah)
(Allah loves those who put their trust in Him) (Aal `Imran 3:159).
The secret and reality of trust in Allah is the reliance of the heart on Allah alone. Therefore trusting in Allah by wordof mouth is different from trusting in Him by the heart. … 6. Qist (Justice)
(Verily, Allah loves those who act justly) (Al-Ma’idah 5:42).
Justice is a prerequisite to peace which is missing in our contemporary society. It involves giving other people the right we give ourselves, treating people the way we would like to be treated. …
7. Sabr (Patience)
(And Allah loves As-Sabirin (the patient)) (Aal `Imran 3:146).
Patience is one of the most noble of virtues and traits. It is to endure what one dislikes with a sense of acceptance and submission and anticipating Allah’s reward
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