DEVELOPING LOVE FOR ALLAAH

Ibn al-Qayyim (d.751H)- rahimahullaah - said: "People have discussed about mahabbah (love of Allaah); its causes and what brings it about, its signs, its fruits, and its rulings. The most comprehensive saying about this is what Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee - rahimahullaah - relates about al-Junayd (d.279H).

Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee (d.322H) said: "A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah during the Pilgrimage month. The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this matter, and al-Junayd was the youngest of them. They said to him: O 'Iraaqee, what do you have to say? So he bowed his head and tears were flowing from his eyes, then he said:

"A servant should overcome his soul;
And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord;
Establishing the rights of his Lord;
Focusing upon Him with his heart;
The late of fear letting ablaze his heart;
Whilst drinking from the vessel of true love;
And certain realities become unveiled for him.
So when he talks, it is due to Allaah.
When he speaks, it is from Allaah.
When he moves, it is by the Command of Allaah.
And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah.
He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah, and is with Allaah."

So the Shaykhs started to weep and said: How can that be increased upon. May Allaah reward you with good, O crown of the knowledgeable ones!"[1]

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullaah - further said: "The rearons which cause mahabbah (love of Allaah) to develop are ten:-

Firstly: Reciting the Qur'aan, reflecting upon it, and understanding its meanings.

Secondly: Drawing closer to Allaah through the performance of optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.

Thirdly: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah - in all circumstances - with the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah develops and intensifier.

Fourthly: Giving precedence to what Allaah loves - when being overcome with desires - over what one personally loves and desires.

Fifthly: Causing the heart to contemplate over the Names and the Attributes of Allaah, being a witness to what they necessitate, and causing the heart to be enlivened in the garden of this realisation.

Sixthly: Witnessing the blessing and favours of Allaah; the apparent and the hidden.

Seventhly: Subduing the heart and humbling it before Allaah, causing it to be in awe of Him.

Eighthly: Being in seclusion during that time in which Allaah decends to the lowest heaven; reciting the Qur'aan, and finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah's forgiveness and sincerely repenting to Him.

Ninethly: Sitting in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of Allaah; reaping the benefits of their teachings, and not speaking except when you know that there is benefit in doing so, and that such speech will increase you in goodness and benefit others as well.

Tenthly: Keeping clear of all there matters which will cause the heart to distance itself from Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic.

So there are ten matters which causes the lover to reach the station of true love for Allaah, so that he may then reach Allaah - his Beloved."[2]