Foundations
of True Faith
Shaykh
‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Hasan aalush-Shaykh
(d.1285H)
– rahimahullah
Love for Allaah
Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan
ibn Hasan said:
“Allaah – the Most High – says:
“Say: If you do love Allaah, follow me, and Allaah will love you.”
This aayah is also known as Aayatul-Mahabbah (the aayah
about love). Some of the Salaf
have said: “The people claimed that they loved Allaah, so Allaah – the
Most High – revealed the aayah about mahabbah (love):
“Say: If you do love Allaah, follow me, and Allaah will love you.”.”
So this aayah indicates the proofs and evidences for mahabbah,
and its fruits and benefits. So
from the proofs of mahabbah and its clear signs is: to follow the
Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; and from its fruits and
its benefits is: that Allaah will love you.
So whosoever does not seek to follow the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam; then such a person will not attain the love of
Allaah.
Characteristics of True Love
Allaah – the Most
High – also says:
“O you who believe! If
any of you turns back from his religion (then wait) Allaah will create a
people who will love Him and He will love them, who will be soft and
gentle with the believers and harsh against the disbelievers, who will
fight in Allaah’s path, and will not be afraid of the blame from the
blamers.”
Here, Allaah has mentioned four characteristics of those who love Him:
Firstly and Secondly: they
are gentle and soft towards the Believers.
It is said that this means: to be merciful, compassionate and kind.
‘Ataa (d.114H) – rahimahullah – said: “A
Believer’s gentleness for another Believer is like that of a child
towards his father, or a slave towards his beloved master; and against the
disbeliever, it is like that of a lion towards its prey: “Strong against
the disbelievers, and merciful towards each other.””
Thirdly: Jihaad
in the path of Allaah with the soul, the hand, the tongue, and with wealth
and property. This is the
characteristic by which true mahabbah is ascertained.
Fourthly: they are not
afraid of the blame and reproach of the blamers.
This being truest characteristic of mahabbah.
If the one claiming mahabbah, whilst loving his beloved, fears the
blames and reproaches of other, then this in reality, is not considered to
be true mahabbah. Allaah
– the Most High – says:
“Those whom they call upon, themselves desire the waseelah
(means of approach) to their Lord as to which of them should be nearest.
They hope for His mercy and fear his punishment.”
Here, three levels which are linked to mahabbah have been
mentioned: [I] Love: which is desiring to seek nearness to Him.
[II] At-Tawassul: (seeking the means of approach) to Him,
through righteous and correct actions.
[III] Hope and Fear: A proof of desisting the means of
approach to Him through righteous and correct actions is that such actions
are done hoping in His mercy and also fearing His punishment.
And it is known with certainty that seeking nearness (to Allaah) can only
be achieved when there is a desire and love for this, and the desire and
love for seeking nearness (to Him_ stems from love of Him.
Indeed, true love for Him necessitates desiring to draw near to
Him. However, with the Jahmiyyah
and the Mu’attilah, none of this has any value.
Since, in their (false) view, Allaah does not draw near anyone, nor
does anyone draw near to Him, nor does He love anyone.
So they deny life for the hearts, bliss for the souls, coolness for
the eyes, and the highest delights of this world and the Hereafter.
And due to this denial their hearts became hardened, and between
them and Allaah there became barriers and obstacles preventing them from
knowing Him and loving Him. They
do not know Him, nor do they seek to love Him, nor do they do they mention
Him – except by denying and negating His Names and His attributes.
They criticize and condemn those who make mention of the perfect
and majestic Names and the Attributes of Allaah, accusing them with that
which is more fitting to be attributed to themselves!
And sufficient is it for one possessing knowledge and possessing a
heart with life, that they view the sayings of such people with harshness,
contempt and hatred; knowing that such people have dissociated themselves
from the love of Allaah – the Most High – and from knowing
and understanding His Uniqueness and Oneness (with respect to His Names,
Attributes and Actions).
A Comprehensive Definition
Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H)
– rahimahullah – says:
“There can not be a
clearer recognition of mahabbah than this, and this recognition in
itself increases love for Allaah. And
people have discussed (at lengths) about mahabbah – its causes,
its signs, its fruits, its supports and its rulings.
The most comprehensive of what has been said about this is what Abu
Bakr al-Kataanee relates from al-Junayd (d.297H):
Abu Bakr al-Kataanee said:
A discussion about mahabbah
took place in Makkah, during pilgrimage season.
The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this topic, and al-Junaydbeing
the youngest of them. They
said to him: What do you say, O ‘Iraaqee?
So al-Junayd lowered his head and tears were gushing 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
light of fear setting ablaze his heart,
Whilst
drinking from the vessel of pure love,
And
certain hidden realities being unveiled for him.
So
when he talks, its 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.”
Upon hearing this, the Shaykhs all started weeping, and they said:
There is nothing left to
add to that, may Allaah reward you O Crown of the Knowledgeable Ones.”
Developing Love
for Allah
Ibn al-Qayyim – rahimahullahI
– says:
“The reason which cause mahabbah of Allaah to develop, are
ten:
Firstly: Reciting the Qur’aan, reflecting and understanding its
meaning and its intent.
Secondly: Drawing closer to Allaah – the Most High –
through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligational duties.
Thirdly: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of
Allaah, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs – under all
circumstances. The more continuant the dhikr, the more muhabbah
develops and intensifies.
Fourthly: Giving precedence to what Allaah loves over personal
loves, when being overcome by desires.
Fifthly: Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and
Attributes of Allaah.
Sixthly: Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of
Allaah – both manifest and hidden.
Seventhly: To be humble and submissive before Allaah – and this
is the greatest matter.
Eighthly: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur’aan, during that
time in which Allaah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last
third of every nigh), finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah’s
forgiveness and repenting to Him.
Ninthly: To sit in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of
Allaah, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if
there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you
in goodness and that it will benefit others as well.
Tenthly: To stay clear of all those causes which distances the
heart from Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic.
So these are the ten reasons which cause the person to develop true love
for Allaah and to reach the rank of al-muhabbah, by which he
reaches his Beloved.”
