24 th June 2012. MahabatAllah The Love of Allah Sister Eman al Obaid www.alhudasisters.wordpress.com What is your goal? Your goal should be something ever lasting, never discontinues, Paradise, the Pleasure of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. In life we have so many goals, success in my career, success in my life etc. but they are mini goals. But the goal for Paradise should be infront of our eyes. Is the way to Paradise easy or difficult? A straight line. Sometimes it will be easy and sometimes it will be difficult according to your reliance on Allah subhana wa ta'ala. When you rely on yourself it will be very difficult. Depending on your might and power it will be too difficult to fulfil the obligations, to avoid the haram, to control your desires, to resist the sins. If you are relying on Allah subhana wa ta'ala to take you to Paradise He will make it easy and smooth for you. Siratul mus taqim (the straight path) when you rely on Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Chapter (1) sūrat l-fātiḥah (The Opening) 1:5 It is You we worship and You we ask for help. I cannot worship without relying on Allah subhana wa ta'ala to help me to do the Ibadat. People who revert are told all the rules, the obligations and the haram. They will feel how can I do all of this and abstain form all of that, it will be a burden when you don t know about Allah subhana wa ta'ala and don t rely on Him. The life with Allah subhana wa ta'ala in your heart will be very smooth and straight. The life without Allah subhana wa ta'ala will be crooked, very difficult. The love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala is one of the attributes of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Knowing Allah through His Names and Attributes will make it easy for you to deal with Him. You are dealing with the One, worshipping the One Who has attributes. You need to know how Allah subhana wa ta'ala is dealing with you. People want the love and seek love from human beings. When you seek love from Ar Rabb it will be perfect and eternal, this love never discontinues. The relationship between the believer and Allah subhana wa ta'ala. If you love Allah subhana wa ta'ala, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will love you more then you will love Allah subhana wa ta'ala. The more you love Allah subhana wa ta'ala then He will love you more and more. You cannot get this joy and satisfaction in an earthly relationship. This is a divine relationship. Who loves you anyway, the Creator, so imagine how beautiful is this love. 1
When Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves Allah subhana wa ta'ala will answer you du a, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will guide you through out your life, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will make all your affairs easy. Then the acceptance will be spread on the Earth towards that person. The key I want Allah subhana wa ta'ala to love me. Initially I want to obtain the Love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. How to attain Allah subhana wa ta'ala s Love? I need to do certain things, certain deeds, have a certain character. Only Allah subhana wa ta'ala can tell you the means to obtain Allah subhana wa ta'ala s love. Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam cannot say anything from his own mind. You need to deal with Allah subhana wa ta'ala with truthfulness and show your sincerity, that you want that Love. When you are longing for that Love in your heart Allah subhana wa ta'ala will make it easy for you to do the things to obtain Allah subhana wa ta'ala s Love. THE MEANS TO OBTAIN ALLAH S LOVE 1. Love somebody for the Sake of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Love your family, your friend, your sister who you don t know for the Sake of Allah subhana wa ta'ala and you will get the Love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala, the Love without any conditions. A divine relationship is to love without conditions. 2. Follow the Prophet ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam Chapter (3) sūrat āl ʿim'rān (The Family of Imrān) 3:32 Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers. One of the signs of Allah Loving you - If you love Allah subhana wa ta'ala you will love everyone who Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves. 2
You need to follow the Sunnat of Nabi ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam. Some people say if it is Sunnah I will not do the Sunnah. Our attitude towards the Sunnah is that we should be more serious, yes I will do it. The followers of the Sahabah, the Tabareen were selective in their actions, doing the fard and neglecting the sunnah. The Sahabah never distinguished or differentiated between the fard and the Sunnah. What will encourage you to perform the Sunnah? You want Allah subhana wa ta'ala to love you, you follow Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, follow the Sunnat an Nabi ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam. If you see the love, you will follow Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam. So think about the Sunnah, the fruits of following the sunnah is the Love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. 3. You need to among the Muttaqun The Pious. Chapter (9) sūrat l-tawbah (The Repentance) 9:4 Except those of the Mushrikun with whom you have a treaty, and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor have supported anyone against you. So fulfill their treaty to them to the end of their term. Surely Allah loves Al- Mattaqun (the pious - see V.2:2). 3
Taqwa means to guard yourself, to make a barrier between you and Allah subhana wa ta'ala s anger and wrath. You will not do anything before asking yourself will Allah subhana wa ta'ala be pleased with this or angry with this. Taqwa is guarding and protecting yourself from falling into sin it is not just fear. You need to be taqwa to Allah subhana wa ta'ala by obeying Allah subhana wa ta'ala, never disobey Him. You need to remember Allah subhana wa ta'ala and never forget Him. Be grateful and thankful to Allah subhana wa ta'ala, not to be unthankful and ungrateful. Everyone has different levels of taqwa according to their knowledge. Don t ever say it is too much for me. Start with the small deeds as if you are guarding yourself and it will lead to Allah subhana wa ta'ala s love. Allah subhana wa ta'ala will love you, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will protect you and protect you from falling into sin. Allah subhana wa ta'ala will not burden you with more than you can take. Allah subhana wa ta'ala knows the best for you, what is good for you. Dealing with Allah subhana wa ta'ala is easy, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will account you according to you ability. Hadith: Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the slave rich in heart. Rich in heart in one who even though he maybe poor is so contented and satisfied, he is poor but he feels so rich, the richness is in the heart. He is not looking at people and comparing himself to them. 4. As Sabirin The Patient Ones Chapter (3) sūrat āl ʿim'rān (The Family of Imrān) 3:146 And many a Prophet (i.e. many from amongst the Prophets) fought (in Allah's Cause) and along with him (fought) large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost heart 4
for that which did befall them in Allah's Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. And Allah loves As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). Allah loves the patient, those who Rely on Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Some people are born with patience. For some people the patience is inborn, it is their character. Most of us have to practice patience, adopt it. People have good and bad character. To be patient means no matter what you are going through, in your heart you feel something, but you hold yourself from reacting. You want to be angry but you are holding yourself from reacting i.e. back biting or complaining etc. Patience does not mean just with big things, a calamity. We need to train ourselves to be patient in small things before the bigger things i.e. when in traffic. Allah subhana wa ta'ala is nurturing you in your life to be patient. When Allah subhana wa ta'ala decrees something for you it is for good i.e. your child, the neighbours, at work someone irritating you. Think of it in a positive way, Allah subhana wa ta'ala decrees something for you as training to be patient. When you know the result you will be patient. To go to Paradise you need to have a good character. You are patient, when you understand your decree is nurturing. If you are not patient you will be angry, it will show on you, you will affected. When patient you will get the Love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. The reward is Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the patient, so Allah subhana wa ta'ala make me among the sabirin. I will do it for Allah subhana wa ta'ala as Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the sabirin. On the Day of Judgement people who went through a difficult time in their life, Allah subhana wa ta'ala will reward these sabirin, who maybe did not do so much ibadah, they will have a mountain of good deeds. Chapter (39) sūrat l-zumar (The Groups) 39:10 Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." 5
You will get abundant, multiple rewards. Isn t it worth going through this nurturing? Even the situations where you feel you can t be patient, think of the reward, the Love of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. 5. Al Muhsinun The Good Doers Chapter (3) sūrat āl ʿim'rān (The Family of Imrān) 3:148 So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the gooddoers - see the footnote of V.3:134). Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the Muhsinun from ahsan (better), Ihsan is do everything in your life with excellence. Allah loves the one doing everything the best that you can do not perfect. Those doing the best in their ibadah, the best in their salat, the best when reading the Qur an, when giving charity you will do the best. Also in everything in your life you need to do the best - taking care of yourself, doing the best when ironing, the best when studying, when writing your notes, even with this Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the best. Not the best because people will see, but you do the best for the Sake of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. We tell our children to do the best because you will be better than your friends, cousins etc. we should tell our children to do the best because Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the muhsinun. Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the Muhsinun so always do your best even if people do not appreciate it. I am not doing the best for people. When you make an effort and do the best no one appreciates it because people have moods and you feel hurt. Even when you are home alone take care of yourself. Take care of your house. How will you drive, the best. How 6
will you eat, the best for the Sake of Allah. How will you talk, the best, because Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the muhsinun. Hadith: Abu Ya la Shaddad ibn Aus, radiyallahu anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said: Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (ihsan) with regard to everything. So, when you kill, kill in a good way; when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way; so everyone of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably. When slaughtering an animal for food the slaughter should be the best, the knife should be sharp and do not slaughter an animal infront of another animal. 6. The one who repents to Allah subhana wa ta'ala Chapter (2) sūrat l-baqarah (The Cow) 2:222 And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." Repentance means someone who was a sinner before comes back to Allah subhana wa ta'ala. They need encouragement to come back to Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the people who repent to Him. Human beings, if you make a mistake they will hold it against you for the rest of your life, remind you again and again. People are ascribing a son to Allah subhana wa ta'ala, worshipping other than Allah subhana wa ta'ala, as soon as 7
they repent will Allah subhana wa ta'ala hold it against them? No, even though they are insulting Allah subhana wa ta'ala. As soon as Allah subhana wa ta'ala opens their heart to Islam and they repent to Allah subhana wa ta'ala, they return back to Allah subhana wa ta'ala; - Allah subhana wa ta'ala will erase all their sins and - Allah subhana wa ta'ala will replace their sins with good deeds, - Allah subhana wa ta'ala conceals their sins, - Allah subhana wa ta'ala will pardon them. - Allah subhana wa ta'ala will never hold it against them. But people will always remind you of your mistakes. Allah subhana wa ta'ala is the One Who accepts the repentance. If you are a sinner and everyone has forsaken you Allah subhana wa ta'ala s door is always open 16. Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari reported: The Prophet ṣallallāhu alayhi wa sallam said: Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west. [Muslim]. If you are a sinner there is only one door open to you, the door of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. Just to seek Allah subhana wa ta'ala s repentance you do not even have to humiliate yourself. To seek forgiveness from people you have to humiliate yourself. Allah subhana wa ta'ala will make you to quit that sin, you will regret and you will not commit that sin again. Allah subhana wa ta'ala will be happy that you are repenting to Him. Allah subhana wa ta'ala wants everyone to go to Paradise. But the people themselves are not doing anything. Even the sinner has a chance whether it is from disbelief to belief, or an obligation I need to do. Among those who came before you was a man who killed 99 people. He then asked to be guided to the most prolific worshipper from the inhabitants of the earth, and he was directed to a monk. He went to him and told him that he had killed 99 people, and he asked whether it was possible for him to repent. The monk said, No. The man killed him, thus making him the 100th victim. He then asked to be directed to the most knowledgeable of the Earth s inhabitants, and he was guided to a scholar. He went to him and told him that he had killed 100 people, and he asked whether it was possible for him to repent. The scholar said, Yes, and who will stand between you and repentance. Go to such and such land, for in it dwell a people who worship Allah, so go and worship Allah with them. And do not return to your land, for it is indeed a land of evil. He left, and when he reached the halfway point of his journey, he died. The angels of Mercy and the angels of Punishment disputed with one another [in regard to his case]. The angels of Mercy said, He came to us repentant, advancing with his heart towards Allah. The angels of Punishment said, Indeed, he never performed any good deeds. Then an angel came in the form of a human being, and both groups of angels asked him to be the judge between them. He said, Measure the distance between the two lands. Whichever land he is closer to is the land that he is closer to [in terms of being of its people]. They then measured the distance and found that he was closer to the land that he was heading towards, and so it was the angels of Mercy who then took his soul. [al-bukhaari: 3470 ; Muslim: 2766] Allah subhana wa ta'ala forgave his sins, expiated his sins and Allah subhana wa ta'ala admitted him into Paradise even though he didn t perform any good deeds. Just he repented truly to Allah subhana wa ta'ala. If you are really sincere in your repentance Allah subhana wa ta'ala can change your life for you. Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the tawab. They left the dark light and they wanted the good light, they wanted to stop so Allah subhana wa ta'ala will appreciate that from them. Hadith: Allah subhana wa ta'ala will be happy if his slave and servant repents to him. 8
Not only love but Allah subhana wa ta'ala will also be happy when someone repents to Him. The more you repent the more Allah subhana wa ta'ala will love that person. 7. Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves the ones purifying themselves Purification means being clean. There is outer purification and Allah subhana wa ta'ala will love you if you do this. There is also purification of the heart i.e. from jealousy, hatred, arrogance, proudness etc. In Islam the emphasis is on cleanliness, cleanliness on the outside and on the inside. What will encourage you towards that purification? When you know Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves Al Mutatahreen. When you tell your children to take a bath or for you to make wudu before sleeping, or to always be in a state of wudu, what will encourage you to do that? When you know Allah subhana wa ta'ala loves that. Allah loves the ones purifying themselves. We ask Allah subhana wa ta ala for His forgiveness and His Mercy. Anything that is good from these notes is from Allah subhana wa ta ala. Any mistakes & misrepresentations are my own. I ask Allah subhana wa ta ala for His forgiveness and to put forgiveness in the hearts of those who read them. JazakAllah Khairan. 9