About Love (2)

The white dove, silence, then humming,

Love, what is love?
Asking, unintentionally
Love, soul sacrifice
Elegant, fragrant, signify
O, is it love?
Love, o sacred love
Don't disgrace it!

She continued, "As for the low rank of love, is to prefer the love of family and kinsmen above love of Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ), and fighting in His way. This type is classified into several kinds.

Love of idols. In this regard Allah, the Almighty declares,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّتَّخِذُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ اَنۡدَادًا يُّحِبُّوۡنَهُمۡ كَحُبِّ اللّٰهِؕ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡٓا اَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّٰهِ ؕ وَلَوۡ يَرَى الَّذِيۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡٓا اِذۡ يَرَوۡنَ الۡعَذَابَۙ اَنَّ الۡقُوَّةَ لِلّٰهِ جَمِيۡعًا ۙ وَّاَنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِيۡدُ الۡعَذَابِ

"And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah . But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah . And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment." [QS. Al-Baqarah(2):165]

Love of Allah’s enemies, Allah, the Almighty declares,

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَتَّخِذُوۡا عَدُوِّیۡ وَ عَدُوَّکُمۡ اَوۡلِیَآءَ تُلۡقُوۡنَ اِلَیۡہِمۡ بِالۡمَوَدَّۃِ وَ قَدۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِمَا جَآءَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡحَقِّ ۚ یُخۡرِجُوۡنَ الرَّسُوۡلَ وَ اِیَّاکُمۡ اَنۡ تُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ رَبِّکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ خَرَجۡتُمۡ جِہَادًا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِیۡ وَ ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِیۡ ٭ۖ تُسِرُّوۡنَ اِلَیۡہِمۡ بِالۡمَوَدَّۃِ ٭ۖ وَ اَنَا اَعۡلَمُ بِمَاۤ اَخۡفَیۡتُمۡ وَ مَاۤ اَعۡلَنۡتُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّفۡعَلۡہُ مِنۡکُمۡ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ السَّبِیۡلِ

"O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves [only] because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have come out for jihad in My cause and seeking means to My approval, [take them not as friends]. You confide to them affection, but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way." [QS. Al-Mumtahanah(60):1]

Intense love of sex. The Qur'an declares,

زُیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّہَوٰتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَ الۡبَنِیۡنَ وَ الۡقَنَاطِیۡرِ الۡمُقَنۡطَرَۃِ مِنَ الذَّہَبِ وَ الۡفِضَّۃِ وَ الۡخَیۡلِ الۡمُسَوَّمَۃِ وَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ وَ الۡحَرۡثِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ مَتَاعُ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ عِنۡدَہٗ حُسۡنُ الۡمَاٰبِ

"Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return."[QS.Ali-Imran(3):14]

Preferring the love of family, relatives, and one’s homeland above the love of Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ), and fighting in His way. The Qur’an declares,

قُلۡ اِنۡ کَانَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ وَ اَبۡنَآؤُکُمۡ وَ اِخۡوَانُکُمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجُکُمۡ وَ عَشِیۡرَتُکُمۡ وَ اَمۡوَالُۨ اقۡتَرَفۡتُمُوۡہَا وَ تِجَارَۃٌ تَخۡشَوۡنَ کَسَادَہَا وَ مَسٰکِنُ تَرۡضَوۡنَہَاۤ اَحَبَّ اِلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ جِہَادٍ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِہٖ فَتَرَبَّصُوۡا حَتّٰی یَاۡتِیَ اللّٰہُ بِاَمۡرِہٖ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ

"Say, 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.'"[QS. At-Tawbah(9):24]

Love of prejudice and submission to one’s evil self. The Qur'an declares,

اَفَرَءَیۡتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ اِلٰـہَہٗ ہَوٰىہُ وَ اَضَلَّہُ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی عِلۡمٍ وَّ خَتَمَ عَلٰی سَمۡعِہٖ وَ قَلۡبِہٖ وَ جَعَلَ عَلٰی بَصَرِہٖ غِشٰوَۃً ؕ فَمَنۡ یَّہۡدِیۡہِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ
"Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah ? Then will you not be reminded?" [QS. Al-Jāthiyah(45):23]

Love of Satan and submission to his incitements. The Qur’an declares,

أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

"Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan - [for] indeed, he is to you a clear enemy"

وَأَنْ اعْبُدُونِي هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ

"And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path."

وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ

"And he had already led astray from among you much of creation, so did you not use reason?"
[QS. Ya-Sin(36):60-62]

Certainly, the true believer does not submit to love of idols, love of disbelievers, love of Satan, love of sex, love of prejudice, but he should submit to his Creator and Maintainer, Allah Ta'ala, His Messenger (ﷺ), and the sincere believers. Allah Ta'ala says,

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَنۡ یَّرۡتَدَّ مِنۡکُمۡ عَنۡ دِیۡنِہٖ فَسَوۡفَ یَاۡتِی اللّٰہُ بِقَوۡمٍ یُّحِبُّہُمۡ وَ یُحِبُّوۡنَہٗۤ ۙ اَذِلَّۃٍ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ اَعِزَّۃٍ عَلَی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ۫ یُجَاہِدُوۡنَ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا یَخَافُوۡنَ لَوۡمَۃَ لَآئِمٍ ؕ ذٰلِکَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ یُؤۡتِیۡہِ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ

"O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah ; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing."

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

"Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]."

وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allah - they will be the predominant.
[QS. Al-Ma'idah(5):54-56]

O my brothers and sisters, Islam acknowledges love, and regards it as an indispensable matter, which was created for a purpose which only Allah knows.
The phenomenon of love that has been inculcated in man, contains important aims. No one can understand it save those who have sound minds and deep knowledge. These purposes or aims are as follows.

Love is a hard and bitter exam for man ’s behavior. This exam is represented in the type of love he chooses. Will his love be pure or impure? Will he be moderate or extreme? Will he be disciplined or unrestrained? These questions will be answered after he passes the exam!

Love is one of the most important incentives behind populating the world, a motivation to develop civilization, and discipline for the affairs of life. It also prompts mankind to realize their aims i .e. establishing civilization and glorifying Allah. So we can say that without love, there would be no activity, creativity, modernization, or urbanization.

It is a major factor in the reproduction of mankind, to become acquainted with others, to utilize other cultures, and to study the sciences related to the cosmos, life and man.
It strengthens family ties, unifies society, establishes affinity among people, security, stability, peace among nations, and mercy and affection all over the world.
Human love that is based on Divine love makes wonders, establishes the edifice of glory and dignity, and sets up a great state, like that which was set up by our pious predecessors, who developed the best society known in the history of the world.

The true believer is the one, who prefers the love of Allah above all worldly interests in order to establish an Islamic society and propagate Islam, which is his only aim. Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) recommended and advised his colleagues and friends saying,

Do good deeds and forgive others, because you will harvest the results of your actions.
Be moderate when you love, because you do not know the time of hale and quarrel.

Be moderate when you hate, because you do not know the time of love.

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Reference :
- 'Abdullah Nasih 'Ulwan, Islam and Love, Translated by Khalifa Ezzat Abu Zeid, Dar Al-Salam.

About Love (1)

The white dove, humming,

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

Then she said, "Praise be to Allah by Whose Grace and Mercy, all good deeds have been accomplished. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who was sent as a mercy to all the worlds, upon his household, companions, and his followers until the end of time.

O my brother and sisters, when the word "love" is mentioned, the human soul feels refreshed and quivers, enjoying noble emotions, and wafts of sweet perfume. The word 'Lover' also raises the soul of man above the sky, cleansing him with purified water, joining his beloved inside the circle of this perfume, and flying as if within a soft cloud.

There is an old saying, ’’Whoever tastes love, knows its value." Those who have tasted love and walked along its paths, will calls for it. Some people in this age of materialism, interpret love as a matter consisting of a lover and a bed. They have forgotten that there are other types of love such as love of Allah, love of His Messenger (ﷺ), love of parents, love of sons and daughters, love of brothers and sisters, and finally love for the sake of Allah, which is preferred above all material wealth. They have forgotten the types that are chaste and instead they chase after prohibited love that leads to adultery, either in brothels or in any open space like the promiscuous generations of today, who know neither modesty nor decency.

Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. There are a lot of opinions about love. One of it said that love is an intuition; a sense of the heart through which the hearts of the two lovers attract and relate together emotionally. It is also a deep- rooted, indispensable part of the nature of man. Sometimes it is controlled by one's will if a lover chooses the pure and chaste love and wills to live the life of those who are pious.

Islam, with its reality, which is represented in its nature, morality, and legislation, acknowledges the importance of love that is rooted in man’s entity. Allah said,

قُلْ اِنْ كَانَ اٰبَاۤؤُكُمْ وَاَبْنَاۤؤُكُمْ وَاِخْوَانُكُمْ وَاَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيْرَتُكُمْ وَاَمْوَالُ ِۨاقْتَرَفْتُمُوْهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ اَحَبَّ اِلَيْكُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلِهٖ وَجِهَادٍ فِيْ سَبِيْلِهٖ فَتَرَبَّصُوْا حَتّٰى يَأْتِيَ اللّٰهُ بِاَمْرِهٖۗ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفٰسِقِيْنَ

"Say, 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.'" [QS. At-Tawbah (9):24]

According to this verse, love is classified into three types: high rank of love, middle rank of love, low rank of love. These types have existed and have been practiced throughout the whole world. Indeed, they will exist until the end of time.

The high-ranking love is the love of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, His Messenger (ﷺ), and striving in His way. Undoubtedly, love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), and striving in His way is preferred, in the sight of pious men, above all other types of love, as love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) is a requirement of faith and a condition of being a true Muslim. It is also the only way to support Allah's religion, spread the message of Islam and establish the edifice of Islam throughout the world.

Certainly the believer, who tastes the joys of belief, inclines more and more to the love of Allah, as he knows that Allah is the Most Glorified, the Most Great and the Most Perfect, no one can multiply or describe this perfection and glory. He also believes that divine law should be followed, because it is comprehensive and free from bias and imperfection. Therefore, he endeavors truthfully and determinedly to establish this law because he realizes that Allah is surely the Owner of the world and the Controller of all creation. This Owner manages His creatures’ affairs in the way He decides and chooses. Man as one of these creatures, submits to this Owner and Controller.

He also recognizes that Allah is All Knowing and so He legislates laws that are suitable for His creatures’ circumstances and interests. He is also sure that the Exalted Allah is Ever-Wise in His judgement. His wisdom means that He puts things in the right place to achieve interest and prevent loss. The believer also knows that Allah is the Only law-Giver and that man is absolutely incapable of enacting laws for himself because he is affected by his environment, emotion, sentiment, religion, bias, and the party which he follows.

Since Almighty Allah alone is the only Owner, the Controller of mankind, the Omniscient, the Ever-Wise, and the Omnicompetent, the believer inclines with heart and soul to the love of Allah , and endeavors wholeheartedly and truthfully to carry out His orders. He believes that his personality will be incomplete unless he follows Allah’s guidance.

Undoubtedly, the believer who tastes the joys of belief, loves Allah's Rasuul (ﷺ). The believer finds in his personality the best example, because Allah described him (ﷺ) with this quality, which is represented in his deeds, sayings, and traditions. He regards him (ﷺ) as the ideal, since Allah preserved him (ﷺ) from error and sin. He also regards him (ﷺ) as having a magnificent character as Allah is He who gave him (ﷺ) this attribute.
It is natural for a believer to be attracted to the love of the Prophet (ﷺ) after he recognizes his (ﷺ) status in the side of Allah. He also loves him (ﷺ), because he finds him (ﷺ) the ideal human being and the best example. Therefore, he strives to follow his (ﷺ) way in all worldly and religious affairs, as his companions (رضى الله عنه) did during his lifetime. They loved him (ﷺ) so much that they felt sad if they did not see him (ﷺ).

Undoubtedly, the believers, who feel love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), are attracted to the love of striving in Allah’s way, and protecting Islam despite any hardships and difficulties they might meet. The Believer is attracted to the love striving in His way or Jihad, since Allah created him along with other believers to bring people out from the worship of idols to the worship of Allah, from the temporary world to the permanent Hereafter, and from the injustice of other religions to the justice of Islam.

The word “Jihad” appears to have become the scariest word in the world these days. “Jihad” does not mean “to wage holy war,” or “to kill the infidel,” or “to commit terrorism.” The word “jihad” means “to struggle.” Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said the best jihad was to speak words of truth “in front of a tyrannical leader.” Not violence. Not terrorism. The Quran describes three types of jihad or struggles, the jihad against ourself, the jihad against Satan — which are called the greater jihads — and the jihad against an open enemy — known as the lesser jihad. Zero of them mean or permit terrorism.

The Quran clearly defines who is an “open enemy,” “Open enemy” is not our government, people of another faith or our fellow citizens. Instead, the Quran permits Muslims to fight in this lesser jihad when five strict conditions are met: self-defense; when they are being persecuted for their faith; have fled their homes and migrated to a different country to preserve peace; are targeted to be killed for their faith; and to protect universal religious freedom. So whatever our jihad, make it a true jihad of peace, education, and protection of people of all faiths.

The middle rank of love, is a sentiment of the heart and stems from psychological feelings reaching from a man whose heart relates with another e,g. the relation with religion, family, kinship, and friends. Affection, mercy, loyalty, and sympathy strengthen this relation. Through this type, believers come to love each other, parents love their children and vice versa, a husband loves his wife and vice versa, a person loves his relatives and vice versa, friends love each other...etc.
Islam regards this type of love as a noble and sublime feeling. However, it occupies a second rank after the love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), because there is no other love equivalent to that of Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ) and striving in His way. In addition, love of Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ), and striving in His way holds great status and honor in the sight of Allah. Influences resulting from this type are as follows: without mutual love between the spouses, there is no family, no offspring, no care, no education, and no nurturing; without love being inculcated in the hearts of children, there are no parent-child relationships, no family coherence, and no cooperative relationships with relatives; without love, there are no social relations, no acquaintances, and no happiness among mankind.
Thus, middle love is necessary to achieve the interests of individuals and societies. It is not strange to find that Islamic teachings strengthen the love of parents to their children and vice versa, the love of a husband to his wife and vice versa, and the love of a man to his friends, relatives, and mankind in general.

Now, the question arises, "To what extent should middle love remain?" In this context, we have mentioned that middle love is a principle of Islamic law, because it strengthens the relations between individuals and groups. Consequently, this love should remain forever. Is there a religious reason or cause urging us to overcome or restrict this type of love?
As long as a Muslim is pious and righteous, he should not be boycotted. Consequently, as we know, there should not be any dispute, quarrel, or discord between two Muslims beyond three days. Islam mentioned this period so that they may regain their minds, become sincere towards each other, and shake hands. If a boycott goes beyond three days, a sin will have been committed.

Islam teaches us to advise and guide our colleagues and friends in private, calling them to the right path of belief, and showing them the consequences resulting from committing sins mid evil deeds. If he does not accept advice and guidance, the adviser should estrange his relation with him for the sake of Allah, just as he loved him for the sake of Allah, even if he is a relative or a friend. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“Indeed the strongest bond of faith is to love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hasan by Al-Albani]

[Part 2]

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