Love of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala
Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
Ibn al-Qaiyim mentioned ten causes that result in Allah's love for His slave and the slave's love for his Lord. [These ten are:]
First, reciting the Qur'an while pondering over its meanings and what is meant by it.
Second, getting closer to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after completing obligatory deeds. This is as is stated in a Hadith Qudsi: "My slave continues getting closer to Me by performing voluntary deeds until I love him." [al-Bukhari]
Third, continual remembrance of Allah under all circumstances, with one's tongue, heart and actions. The extent of one's love of Allah is determined by this.
Fourth, giving precedence to what He loves over what you love when you are overtaken by your desires.
Fifth, the heart being avid of Allah's Names, and Attributes and the heart roaming in that garden of knowledge.
Sixth, observing Allah's kindness, goodness and bounties, both hidden and open.
Seventh, and this is the most wonderful, the heart being soft, subdued and meek before Allah.
Eighth, being alone with Allah during the time when the Lord descends during the last portion of the night while reading His Book and ending that by asking for forgiveness and repenting.
Ninth, sitting with the beloved and sincere, benefitting from the most fruitful of their speech. And not to speak unless speaking is more beneficial and you know that it will improve your state and be beneficial to others.
Tenth, remaining away from every cause that comes between the heart and Allah.
These ten causes take the lovers to the station of true love and bring them to their Beloved.
Love for the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam
Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
It is related in the Sahihain of al-Bukhari and Muslim, rahimahumallaah, from Anas, radhiallahu `anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all of mankind."
And in the same sources we find that `Umar ibn al Khattab, radhiallahu `anhu, said to Allah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, "O Rasoolullah, you are more beloved to me than anything except my own self." Allah's Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, then told him, "No, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, not until I am more beloved to you than your own soul." `Umar then told him, "By Allah, now you are more beloved to me than my own soul." Allah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then told him that now he had the complete and correct faith.
Ibn Rajab says about love of the Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam:
Love for the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam is at two levels.
The first level is obligatory. This is the love that requires one to accept whatever the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam brought from Allah and to receive it with love, pleasure, esteem and submission, without seeking guidance from any other source whatsoever. This is then followed by excellent following of him in whatever he conveyed from his Lord and to affirm whatever he has reported of obligations, to remain away from anything he has prohibited of forbidden acts, to give support for his religion and to strive against those who oppose him according to one's ability. All of this are necessary components that one must possess and a person's Faith is not complete without them.
The second level is superior [and not an absolutely necessary component of Faith]. This type of love requires following his example in an excellent way and fulfilling the following of his Sunnah with respect to his behavior, manners, voluntary deeds, superogatory actions, eating, drinking, dressing, excellent behaviour with his wives and other aspects of his perfect manners and pure behavior.
It also includes learning about his life and days. It also includes the heart trembling when mentioning him, saying prayers and blessings upon him often out of what resides in the heart of love for him, esteem for him and respect for him. It also includes loving to listen to his words and preferring them over the words of others of the creation. And one of the greatest aspects of this love is to follow him in his abstinence of this world, his being suffices with a little and his turning to and desiring of the everlasting Hereafter.
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As salaam alaikum Dear Brother. I can see, you've been hard at work, mashALLAH! I've read your articles and they are brilliant, very informative and uplifting. I will spread the word on fb about your blog, although you are all over the place on fb, still I am sure there are others who hasn't read your materials. Please continue to teach brother. During this time when darkness seems to be spreading all over the place, light is such a blessing and you are definitely shinning a bright light.
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