Checkout

Friday Talks
faheemfb@gmail.com

69

    

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

Loving Allah

 

Written by:  Sk Younis Salih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

 

22 Rajab 1424h

21 March 2003. 

 

Dearly beloved,

 

All thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon His messenger Muhammad.

 

Dear believers, Today’s talk is about is about another condition of being a Muslim or another condition that is associated with the testimony of: “No God but Allah”. This condition is: the love of Allah. For the greatest thing a human can get in this life; or the next life is to be loved by Allah. That is the ultimate aim for which all true and sincere strivers are competing for. To be loved by Allah; is heaven on earth. It is the joy, strength and life of the heart. Hearts will only do well, and can have joy, pleasure, peace and tranquility, only by knowing Allah. Knowing Allah is through love of Allah.

 

Love of Allah is the light, the recovery, the health and the happiness. Love of Allah is what carries people to lands they wouldn’t otherwise be reaching except with great effort and fatigue. Love of Allah elevates people many levels for which without they can not reach. Believe this: those who got the love of Allah got the best of this life and the next.

 

The messenger (PPBU) said: {Three features; whoever possessed them will find the taste of faith: (1st) That Allah and his messenger are more loved to him/her than anybody or anything else, (2nd) and to love someone for no reason other than for Allah’s sake. (3rd) and would hate to go back into being a disbeliever, after being saved by Allah, as one would hate to be thrown into a fire.}

 

Allah created all creatures to worship Him. And worship can only be through loving Him, and submission to Him and abiding by His commands. Ebn-AlKay-yem said: “rightfully, worship is: loving Allah. In fact; it means specifically distinguishing Allah with love. All the love should be to Allah, and no one else is to be loved except Him. You only love others for Allah or for the sake of Allah. Just as one would love the prophets and angels; One’s love for them is a complement of loving Allah, but is not the same as loving Allah”

 

Love is an inspiration to worship. Allah created all hearts naturally to be in peace and in love with Him alone. This who loves anything or anyone else as he/she loves Allah; then they would have taken a peer or a rival or an equal or an associate with Allah. Loving other than Allah is an ultimate sin of making association with Allah (or Shirk). Allah says: {and some people make peers with Allah, love them as they love Allah; while the faithful have greater love to Allah} 2:156. This shows that loving Allah is one of the main required conditions of faith. Loving Allah is the root of faith and its main foundation. Indeed, it is the root of all acts of faith and religion. Again Ebn-Taymiah said: “one of the reasons that would generate the love of an individual to Allah is all the thinking of all graces and mercies which Allah bestows upon him or her”. The more the individual pursues and investigates the seen and unseen mercies of Allah; the more love for Allah one will have in his/her heart. All the good that occurs to an individual only comes from Allah. In fact Allah’s goodness to His slave happens in each and every moment of the human’s life, and with each breath he/she takes. {All thanks be to Allah}.

 

One of the factors which will achieve the love of an individual to his God is reciting, studying and meditating the magnificent Koran. In fact there is nothing more beneficial than reciting the Koran with thoughts and analysis put into it. Reciting and loving the Koran is a cause which leads to the love of Allah towards His slave. One of the companions of the Messenger; kept reciting the chapter “Al-Ikhlas” in the Koran. He loved it. The messenger (PPBU) said: {Tell him that Allah loves him.}

 

Another factor that brings Allah’s love to His slave is to constantly utter or speak His name. The messenger said: {Allah (May He be exulted) says: I am with my slave wherever he/she speaks of Me and whenever his/her lips move with Me}. Allah also says: {Speak of me and I will speak of you, and give thanks to me and do not be disbelievers.} 2:152. So, you can see that your share of Allah’s love is directly relative to how much you speak of Him.

Another way for the slave to win Allah’s love is through the voluntary prayers (Nafilas). The messenger (PPBU) said: {Allah says: This who carries enmity to a supporter of mine then consequently I am in a declared war against him. And My slave continues making offerings to me with voluntary prayers until I get to love him (or her). And if I love him then I become the hearing with which he hears, and the sight with which he sees, and the hand with which he fights, and the foot with which he walks. If he asks me, I definitely give, and if he asks for my help I definitely help}

 

Another factor that brings the love of Allah to the individual is following and conforming to the messenger’s example in words, deeds and general living. Allah; talking to His messenger (PPBU) says:  {Say if you did love Allah then follow me; and Allah will love you, and He will forgive your sins; For Allah is forgiving and merciful} 3:31. The love of Allah to His slave is conditional to following the guidance of the messenger in public and privacy, external visible acts or internal within the heart, and believing in what he says, and obeying his orders, and responding to his call. One is not considered to love the messenger if they do not live by his example. And consequently Allah will not love such a person. Remember that the reward is of the same type as that of the act.  

 

Every person who is disobedient to Allah, who disobeys His commands, and commits His prohibitions can not claim love for Allah. If he make such a claim then it is definitely false. Allah has put as a condition for loving Him is to show evidence of that. The evidence is obeying Him. Logically and legally, if no evidence is made to support a claim then it remains just a claim.

 

All love, praise and thanks be to Allah.

We ask Allah to give us knowledge which will be of benefit, and a good accepted deed. And all thanks be to Allah.

 

 

Notes:

  1. Adhan - The call to prayer.

  2. Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

  3. Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

  4. Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

  5. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

  6. Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  

  7. Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa) 

  8. Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

  9. Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.  

  10. Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life. 

  11. Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

  12. Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

  13. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

  14. Fiqh - Religious law.

  15. Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

  16. Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

  17. Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.

  18. Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

  19. Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.

  20. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

  21. Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

  22. Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

  23. Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

  24. Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

  25. Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  

  26. Iman: belief or faith

  27. Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

  28. Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

  29. Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

  30. Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

  31. Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels.  They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

  32. Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

  33. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

  34. Khutbah  - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

  35. Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

  36. Koran - Also spelled Qur'an.  The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel.  Koran literally means "the recital."  It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

  37. Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

  38. Masjid - A center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque.

  39. Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

  40. Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

  41. Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

  42. Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

  43. Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations.  He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

  44. Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

  45. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

  46. Nasara - Christians.  Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

  47. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

  48. Paradise - Another word for heaven.  A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live  in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

  49. PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

  50. Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

  51. Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

  52. Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

  53. Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

  54. Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

  55. Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

  56. Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

  57. Shirk - Associating another god with Allah.  Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.  

  58. Siam  or Soam- Fasting

  59. Sunni: is a the title of  those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

  60. Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

  61. Surah - A chapter of the Koran.  

  62. Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

  63. Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

  64. Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

  65. Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

  66. Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

  67. Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

  68. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

  69. Zaboor - The Psalms

  70. Zakat - The third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

 

 

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com