Part 2

Ñ Desiring to mention Allaah, whereby the persons tongue never tires from His mention, nor does his heart ever feel burdened by it. One who loves Allaah desires to worship Him and mention His name. Allaah Has commanded us to mention Him, even in the most terrifying and dangerous situations, when He says:

enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allaah much…" [Al-Anfaal: 45] Another proof of a person's love of Allaah is when he mentions His name as soon as he wakes up and just before going to sleep - and this reflects the importance of maintaining and memorising these particular supplications.

Ñ Crying when remembering Allaah in isolation. Allaah says:

which means: "The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely." [Al-Anfaal: 2]

Ñ Becoming enraged when the limits of Allaah are violated, or when people slight His prohibitions. Therefore, those who love Allaah the most will always try to stop such prohibitions from being committed.

Ñ Loving the Words of Allaah (i.e., the Qur'aan). If one wishes to know how much he loves Allaah, let him analyse how much he loves the Qur'aan and how much he enjoys reciting, listening to and pondering over it.

Ñ Regretting acts of worship that one failed to perform, or time that has passed without him mentioning Allaah. Those who truly love Allaah are keener to mention and worship Allaah than they are to protect their wealth from being squandered or stolen.

Ñ Belittling the acts of worship that one has performed and considering them insufficient and insignificant, as well as fearing that one did not perform them correctly and in a manner that would be befitting to his beloved. This is why we ask for Allaah's forgiveness immediately after concluding our prayers and after pilgrimage. Allaah says:

which means: "And they [are the true believers] who give what they have while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord." [Al-Mu'minoon: 60]

What are the means of instigating the love of Allaah in oneself?

Ñ Reciting the Qur'aan whilst pondering upon its meanings. Allaah says:

Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [Saad: 29] Pondering upon its meanings and having a heart that reacts to such recitation is the objective of reciting the Qur'aan. Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: "I offered the optional night prayer with the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam one night. Within it, he began reciting Chapter Al-Baqarah; I thought that he would bow after reciting one-hundred verses of it, but he continued reciting. Then, I thought that he would perhaps recite the whole Chapter in a Rak`ah, but he continued reciting (after the Chapter had ended) by reciting Chapter An-Nisaa'. Then, I thought perhaps he would bow upon completing the Chapter; he then began reciting (Chapter) Aal-`Imraan, and his recitation was unhurried. [During his recitation] when he recited verses that mention to the Glory of Allaah, he glorified Him (by saying Subhaan-Allaah - (i.e., 'My Lord, the Supreme, is far removed from every imperfection')); when he recited the verses that mention supplication, he would supplicate; when he recited the verses that mention seeking refuge in the Lord, he would seek refuge with Him. [Muslim] Reciting the Qur'aan while reflecting upon its meanings increases the love of Allaah in one's heart, as well as making him feel hope, fear, contentment and gratitude; it also makes one increase in his reliance upon Him and causes one to repent sincerely to Him. Moreover, it is a means of shunning dispraised qualities that lead to the ruin of one's heart.

Ñ Performing optional acts of worship is another means for one to achieve the lofty rank of loving Allaah. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Allaah the Exalted has said: 'I will declare war against he who shows hostility to any pious worshipper of Mine; and the most beloved thing with which My slave draws closer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave continues to draw closer to Me through the performance of optional deeds (e.g., prayers and other acts of worship which are additional to those which are obligatory) until I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) of Me, I (will certainly) give it to him, and if he asks My protection (or refuge), then I will protect him." [AlBukhaari]. This narration clarifies that Allaah's love of a slave is attained by the slave doing two things: Performing obligatory acts of worship; and drawing close to Allaah by performing optional acts of worship in addition to the obligatory acts. When one becomes beloved by Allaah, this love pre-occupies him and keeps him away from everything except that which would please his beloved; in fact, such a person would not even have time to think about such matters.

One might argue that most Muslims do indeed perform optional acts of worship, but they also commit sins and have shortcomings regarding their obligatory acts. We say that this is true, but the solution for them is not to abandon their optional acts; rather, they should maintain them because they make up for the shortcomings in their obligatory acts. However, they must work on improving themselves and maintain and increase whatever obligatory acts they are currently performing. The narration in rank after the obligatory prayers are the optional night prayers. Almost every obligatory act of worship has a corresponding optional one that can be performed, so if one falls short in any of them, he can find a way to compensate for the shortage, but this does not mean that one should busy himself with optional acts of worship whilst neglecting the obligatory ones.

Ñ Favouring Allaah over one's desires, especially when the desires are intense. There are two indicators of this in the slave: One is when he does what pleases Allaah, even if it entails doing what he dislikes, and the other is when he hates what Allaah hates, even if this entails shunning something he loves. One should struggle against himself in this matter in order to reach the exalted rank of love. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Allaah tests the slave by making him crave to fulfil his desires in order that he may then struggle and sacrifice to overcome this for the sake of his beloved (i.e., Allaah) which then becomes a means preventing him from following his desires." One only gives up something that he desires for something that is more desirable or dearer to him.

Why are the righteous higher in rank than the angels? The answer is because the angels do not have any desires, nor do they follow their lusts; they are by their nature obedient to Allaah; they praise and glorify Him, never becoming burdened or tired by it; but as for man, he has to struggle against his lusts and desires which may divert him and make him give up his mentioning and obedience of Allaah. So, when man disobeys himself and resists his desires, he becomes better and higher in rank than the angels. It is for the very same reason that some women of this world are superior to those of Paradise - due to their voluntary sacrifice and struggle.

Ñ Thinking about the kindness and bounties of Allaah. People by their nature love those who are kind to them and hate those who are evil or cause them harm. It is an undeniable fact that there is none kinder than Allaah; this is proved by the fact that the slave of Allaah alternates from one favour of Allaah to another - for the entire duration of his life. Being able to breathe is just one example of His great favours, but man does not give it its due importance; some people have calculated how many breaths man makes in a single day and found that it is an average of twenty four thousand! If this is only one favour, then what about all the other favours of Allaah? Allaah says:

which means: "…And if you should count the favour [i.e., blessings] of Allaah, you could not enumerate them…" [Ibraaheem: 34] This is not to mention the harm that Allaah protects man from, as He says:

which means: "For him [i.e., each person] are successive [angels] before and behind favours despite the shortcomings of man. Allaah tolerates man's evil and provides for him regardless of that; indeed it is enough that Allaah provides for those who attribute a son to Him.

Ñ Having a heart that acknowledges and is attentive of the names and attributes of Allaah, as well as knowing their implications. One who knows the names and attributes of Allaah and their implications will undoubtedly love Allaah and it is only the devout that have such knowledge - these are the people who truly love Allaah. The more one learns about the qualities and attributes of Allaah, the more Allaah becomes glorified in his heart, which in turn leads to him increasing in his love for Allaah. Nobody could ever thank Allaah or praise Him appropriately. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was the most knowledgeable of Allaah; he also loved Allaah the most - more than all of mankind - yet one of his supplications was: "I am not capable of enumerating Your praise - You are as You have lauded Yourself." If the slave was to ponder upon just one of the attributes of Allaah, it would cause him to totally and comprehensively love Allaah; if this is the case then how would it be if he were to ponder upon all His names and attributes? Moreover, man's knowledge of Allaah consists only of what he knows via the texts from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, so how much more would man love Allaah if he were to see him in Paradise? People's love of Allaah differs according to how much knowledge they have of Him; and this is why the scholars love Allaah the most - because they are, of course, the most knowledgeable of Him. This love is materialised by believing in and affirming these names and attributes as mentioned in the Islaamic texts, not negating them, not altering their meaning, not resembling them to any of Allaah's creation and not negating their meanings.

Ñ Humbling oneself before Allaah and acknowledging one's dire need of Him. Submitting to Allaah and admitting one's guilt to Him makes one worthy of the support of Allaah. The hearts that love Allaah the most are those that are the most humble and submissive before Allaah, because this is the essence of servitude.

Ñ Calling upon Allaah during the times which He descends, in a way which befits His Majesty, and reciting His words during such times, as well as repenting to Him and asking His forgiveness and pardon. Allaah says:

which means: "Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend." [AsSajdah: 16]

which means: "…And do good; indeed, Allaah loves the doers of good…" [Al-Baqarah: 195] The slave of Allaah rushes towards doing good because this entitles him to the love of Allaah.

which means: "…Indeed, Allaah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." [Al-Baqarah: 222] This refers to inward as well as outward purity.

which means: "…And Allaah loves the steadfast." [Aal 'Imraan: 146]

which means: "…Indeed Allaah loves those who rely [upon Him]." [Aal 'Imraan: 159]