Love.Test. Fear
Asalaam Wa Alykum Wa Rahmat Allah Hi Wa Barakat
L.O.V.E is a word which makes the world still revolving. One’s love for his/her parent, siblings, spouse, kids etc. is commonly seen. However, how many of you have seen someone’s love for Allah and His Messenger? As Muslims we all say that we love Allah and the Prophet (PBUH) but lets be honest, how many of us really mean it? I mean if we were to love Allah and the Prophet (PBUH) the way we should, then none of us would be missing our Salah and other faraids. Love must be translated in action, attitude and behavior; otherwise it is just a word without meaning.
Are we truly relating to Allah in our prayers? How many of us recite Faatihah in the right manner? How many of us, when we prostrate to Allah, we feel in our hearts, humility? We enter Salah, when the Imam says 'Allahu Akbar', we remember, at this moment, all the affairs of the world and we forget Allah. We remember our food, friends, needs etc when we go to prayer. Are we really loving Allah then?
If we want ‘khushu’ in our worship and behave like a Muslim should, it is important for us to have Allah’s love in our heart. This love for Allah should be more than the love we have for our parents and ourselves. Same goes for the love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Love for the Prophet (PBUH):
The strength of love for the Messenger (PBUH) is connected to the Muslim’s faith. When his/her faith increases, his/her love for the Prophet (PBUH) increases.
It was narrated that Anas said: The Prophet (PBUH) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him that his father, his child and all the people.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 15; Muslim, 44)
We should realize that he suffered trials and difficulties in order to bring Islam to us. We should remember that the Messenger (PBUH) was persecuted, hit, slandered and insulted; the closest people to him disowned him and accused him of being a mad man, a liar and a sorcerer. He fought the people in order to protect the religion so that it could reach us; they fought him, expelled him from his people and homeland, and gathered armies against him
We should follow the example of his companions who loved him deeply. They loved him more than wealth and sons, and more than their own selves. How do I know that? From the hadiths of course:
It was narrated that Anas (RAA) said: “On the Day of Uhud some of the people fled and left the Prophet (PBUH), but Abu Talhah stood before him covering him with a shield. Abu Talhah was a powerful archer who broke two or three bows that day. When a man passed by carrying a quiver containing arrows, the Prophet (PBUH) would say: Give them to Abu Talhah. Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) raised his head to look at the people, Abu Talhah would say: O Prophet of Allah, may my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, do not raise your head lest you be struck by an arrow shot by the enemy. My neck is before your neck.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3600; Muslim, 1811)
The wrath of Allah and the Fire of Hell are the things that we fear the most, and we cannot be saved from them except at the hands of the Messenger (PBUH). The pleasure of Allah and the garden of Paradise are the things that we want the most, but we cannot attain them except at the hands of the Messenger (PBUH).
The Prophet (PBUH) referred to the former when he said: “The likeness of me and you is that of a man who lit a fire and grasshoppers and moths started falling into it, and he tried to push them away. I am seizing your waistbands and trying to pull you away from the Fire but you are trying to get away from me.” (Muslim, 2285, from the hadeeth of Jaabir; a similar hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3427 from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: “All of my ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me has refused.” (Al-Bukhaari, 7280, from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah.)
Hopefully reading that would increase some love for the Prophet (PBUH) in our hearts.
Love for Allah:
Loving for the sake of Allah is a sign of the perfection of faith, but loving something alongside Allah is the essence of shirk. The difference between them is that a person’s love for the sake of Allah is connected to his love of Allah; if this love becomes strong in his heart, this love dictates that he will love that which Allah loves. If he loves that which his Lord loves and he loves those who are the friends of Allah, this is love for the sake of Allah. So he loves His Messengers, Prophets, angels and close friends because Allah loves them, and he hates those who hate them because Allah hates those people.
The entire religion revolves around four principles: love and hatred (and stemming from them), action and abstinence. The person whose love and hatred, action and abstinence, are all for the sake of Allah, has perfected his faith so that when he loves, he loves for the sake of Allah, when he hates, he hates for the sake of Allah, when he does something, he does it for the sake of Allah, and when he abstains from something, he abstains for the sake of Allah.
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah” [al-Baqarah 2:165--interpretation of the meaning]
Tests of Allah:
A wise person will always choose his friends carefully. Allah being the wisest and most Prudent of all, tests us to see if we meet the necessary criteria to deserve His friendship. Not because Allah is unaware, but because through this process of testing and trial, anyone who is true in his faith is shaped and uplifted to become worthy of His highest rewards and honors. The scholars agreed that there are 4 common criteria where Allah tests us.
1) Wisdom and understanding: You should possess the proper understanding. You should be able to conclude from all evidence around you that Allah alone is your Creator and Lord. No one can sustain you, hear your prayers and help you except Him. You should be able to recognize the revelation and the message which has come from Him. You should be able to distinguish between true prophet and false claimant to prophet hood and follow the true prophet.
2) Moral strength: To show you have the necessary moral strength you must demonstrate that, after accepting and recognizing truth and righteousness, you have the will to live by them and renounce the ways of false hood and evil. You must further prove that you are no more slaves to your own physical desires, nor do you blindly follow the practices and customs of your ancestors and families. Neither should you knowingly accept anything contrary to Allah’s guidance nor reject anything it tells you. If you fail this examination then you are refused admission into Allah’s party, for He picks only those whose definition is:
“So whosoever rejects false Gods and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the most firm handle which shall never break” [Surah Al Baqarah 2: 256---interpretation of the meaning]
3) Obedience and dutifulness: This time your obedience and sense of duty are put to test. Here you are told: Whenever We call you, you must come. Give up the warmth and comfort of your sleep, but come and present yourself before Us. Interrupt your work, but come you must to Our work. On Our command remain hungry and thirsty from morning till evening and abstain from gratifying your physical desire.
Allah’s summons must be answered no matter whatever the odds, whatever the temptations. If you pass this, you will have shown that you can be expected to obey all the laws which have been given to you by Allah in all circumstances.
4) Sacrificing wealth: This test decides that you are not like those who make big claims of love and true friendship but when required to part with their wealth for the sake of the so called friend, they fall back and begin to make excuses. While anyone with tiny bit of common sense would not befriend a selfish ‘money-worshiper’, a large hearted person would not even like to sit next to such a creature. Then how can the Most- generous Allah, who showers His treasures lavishly on His creatures, admit you to His friendship?
“Never shall you attain piety unless you spend {in the way of Allah} out of what you love” [Surah Al Imran 3: 92---interpretation of the meaning]
You may say “I’ve seen the pious and the righteous also fall into calamities. Is it that Allah doesn’t love them?”
For calamities to befall the believer is better than punishments being stored up for him in the Hereafter. How can it be otherwise when he is raised in status and his bad deeds are erased thereby?
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “When Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He wills bad for His slave, He withholds his sins until he comes with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.)
“Allah gives worldly provision to those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, but He gives religion only to those whom He loves. So whoever is given religion, Allah loves him…” (Narrated by Ahmad, 3490; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 714).
It says in the hadeeth “The people who are most sorely tried are the Prophets, then those who are closest to them, then those who are next closest.” (Ahmad, 26539; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 1165).
According to another version, “A man will be tested according to the level of his religious commitment, and the trials will keep affecting a slave of Allah until he is left walking on the face of the earth with no burden of sin whatsoever.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4013; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, 3249).
Further signs that show Allah loves a person who is righteous can be found in Hadith Qudsi:
“Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him” i.e., his du’aa’s are heard and his requests are granted.
“and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it” i.e., he is protected by Allah from all things…
Fundamental qualities of those who are Allah’s friends:
Do you have the fundamental qualities in order to pass these tests from Allah? This is the question whose answer lies in your heart only. There are a minimum of 6 qualities you need to possess in order to join His party. I like to call these the qualities of a TRUE Muslim and it becomes even more essential for those living in a non Muslim country to possess these qualities so that the non Muslims may get impressed and change their negative opinion about us.
1>>Large-heartedness—the misers have no place in Allah’s party. Only the large-hearted who give willingly and abundantly in His way deserve to be admitted.
2>>Generosity of spirit—you must be noble by a greatness of heart that rises above every feeling pertaining to yourselves. If someone causes you harm or grief, you must still not, for the sake of Allah, refuse him fool and clothing nor should you hesitate to help him when he is in trouble.
“Let not those of you who possess bounty and plenty among you swear not to give to the kinsmen and the poor, and those who have emigrated in the way of Allah. Let them pardon and forgive and show indulgence. Yearn you not that Allah should forgive you? Allah is All forgiving and the Mercy giver” [Surah Al Nur 24: 22---interpretation of the meaning]
This verse was revealed when a relative of Abu Bakr (RAA) took part in an accusation against his daughter, Aishah (RAA) and Abu Bakr (RAA) stopped helping him financially. When this verse was revealed Abu Bakr (RAA) sought Allah’s forgiveness and again began helping the man who had caused him so much mental agony.
3>>Selflessness—you must be selfless, seeking no reward, placing no burden.
“They give food, for the love of Him, to the needy and the orphan and prisoner,{saying}: we feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks” [Surah Al Dahr 76: 8-9---interpretation of the meaning]
How many people do you know who would do a favor on you seeking nothing from you? In fact, would you do that for others?
4>>Purity of heart—you must have such purity of heart that you give away, in the cause of Allah, only your most treasured possessions, realizing full well that they are His and not yours.
5>>Giving in Affluence—in prosperity too you must not forget Allah. While living in luxury and comfort you must remember Him and spend your wealth in His way.
“O believers! Let not your possession neither your children divert you from Allah’s remembrance; who so does so, it is they who are the losers” [Surah Al Munafiqun 63: 9---interpretation of the meaning]
6>>Giving for Allah Alone—whatever spent in the cause of Allah is never wasted. You should, therefore, spend to earn the pleasure of Allah only. Whether people know about your generosity or not, whether someone has thanked you or not, should not matter at all.
“Whatever good you spend, it is for your own good. And spend not but only for seeking Allah’s countenance. Thus whatever good you spend shall be recompensed in full and you will not be wronged” [Surah Al Baqarah 2: 272---interpretation of the meaning]
Allah invites us to ‘give Him a loan’, that is whatever we spend in His cause He will treat as a loan which He will return with huge growth in our original investment. Does this mean, for example, that Allah is your dependant (God forbid)? No. When He asks for a loan what He purports to say is this:
This expenditure is made in My cause and I accept it as My obligation to repay it. The needy of your communities have no way of repaying you, so I will do it on their behalf. When you help your poor relatives, the obligation to repay is not on them but on Me; I will recompense you for this favor. Whatever you give to orphans, widows homeless etc. will be entered against My account. If your borrower is unable to pay you back, do not threaten them, do not make their wives and children homeless by evicting them, your debt is not owed by them but by Me. If they return the capital I will pay interest on it, and if they cannot even do this, I will pay you both capital and interest. Indeed every time you spend something for your social welfare, for the betterment of your fellow beings, I shall consider it as a favor to Me-even though you yourself will benefit!
However, when you give a charity, give in as secret a manner as possible so that your act of charity does not run the risk of being soiled with hypocrisy and showiness. Although there is no harm in giving openly, it is far better to do so secretly.
“If you do a deed of charity openly, it is well; but if you hide it and give it to the poor, that is even better for you and it will acquit you of your evil deeds” [Surah Al Baqarah 2: 271---interpretation of the meaning]
FEAR Allah:
You may be thinking “This guy is confusing me, first he writes about loving Allah and now about fearing Him :S” lol.
Well no. I’m not trying to confuse anyone here. We all love our parent right? At the same time we avoid behaving in an unpleasant manner in front of them because we fear their anger. Similar is the case between us and Allah.
The more a person knows Allah, the more he will fear Him, and the fear of Allah will make him refrain from sin and prepare to meet the One Whom he fears. The people who fear Allah are the ones who will be honored by Him, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord” [al-Bayyinah 98:8]
If you do not fear Allah then how is it possible for you to refrain from sins? So fear of Allah and Him alone is also a necessary part for a Muslim’s faith to increase even more.
Love for other Muslims:
A person will think of the hereafter of someone he/she sincerely loves.
Believing men and women are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, perform prayer and give alms, and obey Allah and His messenger. They are the people on whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. [Surat at-Tawba, 71---interpretation of the meaning]
Conclusion:
If you love to play, but your father tells you not to play at certain times because of your studies, what would you do? If you truly love your father, you will do as he asks, even though you love to play.
If you are afraid that your father will punish you, and you know that he punishes the one who does not listen to what he says, then you will stop playing and go study.
If you expect a gift or a reward from your father when you study or do well, then you will stop yourself playing sometimes, and you will put up with the trouble of studying, because of the reward you hope to earn.
Said all that, I can easily sum up the whole thing by just saying this---- Fear Allah for it is necessary to protect us from waswaas, Love Allah for it is necessary to establish khushu during worship. Doing this will also increase our faith and trust in Allah too.
Your friend is only Allah, His messenger, and those who believe: those who perform prayer, give alms, and bow [in prayer]. [Surat al-Ma’ida, 55---interpretation of the meaning]
As for those who make Allah their friend, and His messenger, and those who believe: It is the party of Allah who are victorious! [Surat al-Ma’ida, 56---interpretation of the meaning]
Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: 1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else. 2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah's sake. 3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire." (Book #2, Hadith #15)
May Allah fill our hearts with His and His Messenger’s love---Ameen!
References:
Mawdudi, S. A. A, 1995, Let Us Be Muslims, ed. Murad, K.
www.harunyahya.com/books
www.islamworld.net
www.islamqa.com
