LOVE FOR ALLAH

10 Ways of developing love for Allah

 
Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim (rah) says: “The reason which cause mahabbah (love) of Allaah to develop, are ten: 

First:

Reciting the Qur’aan, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent. 

Second:

Drawing closer to Allaah – the Most High – through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties. 

Third:

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. 

Fourth:

Giving precedence to what Allaah loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires. 

Fifth:

Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allaah. 

Sixth:

Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of Allaah – both manifest and hidden. 

Seventh:

To be humble and submissive before Allaah – and this is the greatest matter. 

Eighth:

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 night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him. 

Ninth:

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. 

Tenth:

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.

Adapted from Shaykh Ibn Qayyim's (rah) Madarij-us-Saalikeen

HATRED

A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game.

The kindergarten teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates. So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes.

The kindergarten teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for one week. Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The kindergarten teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go. Then the kindergarten teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game.

The kindergarten teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?"

Moral: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take. "Learn to Forgive and Forget."

Remember what Allah (SWT) teaches us in Surah Al-Araf (7:199-200):

"Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant (don't punish them). If a suggestion from Satan assails your mind, seek refuge with Allah; surely He is Hearing, Knowing (all things)."

THE AADAAB OF ZIKRULLAH

The 'Ulama had stated the following rules to be observed when making Zikrullah:
 

The place wherein the Zaakir wishes to make Zikr should be free of things which will distract his attention.

The Zaakir should be sincere and humble when making Zikrullah.

He should clean his mouth thoroughly before making Zikrullah. It is best to use a Miswak before any form of remembrance of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.

The place which he chooses for Zikrullah should be clean and Taahir (clean).

Taahir body. The Zaakir must be in Wudhu! The body must also be free of impurities.

Tahir clothes. The clothes must be free of impurities!

The clothing of the Zaakir must be in accordance with Shari'ah.

Zikr should be made while facing Qiblah.

He should be imbued with the qualities of khushoo and khudoo (i.e. peace and composure).

He should be aware of the meaning of the words he utters in Zikrullah.

He should not be hasty when making Zikr.

When making Zikr, at least the Zaakir should be able to hear what he utters or says under his breath. The mere thinking of the words or reading them in the mind will not render the Zikr valid.

The recitation of the Holy Qur'an is the most excellent form of Zikr.

Zikrullah is not confined to verbal devotions only. Any physical form of ibadah is also regarded as Zikrullah such as Salaat, etc.

When a person endeavours to recite all the Du'as which Sayyidina Rasulullah (SAS) recited on various occasions, he will be categorized under those who remember Allah abundantly (as mentioned in Holy Qur'an).

When adopting any form of Zikr on a regular daily basis, the Zaakir should ensure constancy. Doing it for a number of days, then leaving it could prove to be detrimental.
 

REMEDY FOR PRIDE

Meditate at least once daily that i am the lowest of all Muslims presently. (though I am punctual on Deen but there may be something in me which is disliked by Allah and that Muslim who is a great sinner outwardly may have some such quality which is loved by Allah.) And that i am the lowest and worst of all animals and non-believers with regard to the time of death. ( for i have no guarantee that I will die on Imaan and the non-believer may accept Imaan and die on Imaan, then the animals are also better than me.) 

THE VALUE OF TEARS SHED IN PRIVACY

If one sheds a few tears in privacy during Zikr, these will be a positive means of acquiring the shade of Allah's Arsh (Throne) on the day of Qiyaamat, as is mentioned in the Hadeeth.Khwajah Saheb says tears shed in solitude while remembering ALLAH and tears shed due to the love of ALLAH are the very envy of the stars. What then is the position of a sinful servant who cries and begs for forgiveness? what is the value of his tears and abject appealing in the court of Allah.

THE BELOVEDNESS OF TEARS OF REPENTANCE

It is stated in a Hadeeth-e-Qudsi that Allah Ta'aalaa says: the crying and lamenting of sinners, their abject appeal, their heaving sighs, their moaning and mourning while seeking forgiveness, is more beloved to ME than the Subhaanallah ofthe reciters of tasbeeh.

Maulana Roomi (rahmatullaahi alaih) says:

ALLAH TA'AALAA IN HIS INFINITE SPLENDOUR HAS EQUATED THE TEAR OF REPENTANCE TO THE MARTYR'S DROP OF BLOOD.

Maulana Roomi elucidates this point by saying that these tears of regret are not merely water shed by the eyes, but are the tears of the heart. the blood of the heart afflicted with the fear of ALLAH becomes water, which is then transformed into torrential tears, that turbulently cascade down one's cheeks.

IF YOU PLANT........

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.

If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.

So watch what you plant...

THE DEFINITION OF TAQWA

Taqwa means that one has the urge to disobey and one prevents oneself from doing so. One undergoes the pangs of not sinning. This grief creates the light of piety. Had there been no substance of disobedience, then one would not have prevented the soul from desires. Allah Ta'aalaa says: " He prevented the nafs (soul) from desires". the one who does this is considered as pious and entitled to enter Jannah. When one has to prevent desires, the exixtence of desires is essential. The close servants of Allah Ta'aalaa prevent their soul from becoming embroiled in desires. they endure the grief of abstention because the nature and food of the nafs is sin. Due to this abstention, piety is being created. Had the substance of disobedience been absent, no one would have become pious.

THE EVIL EFFECTS AND HARMS OF SINS

The types of sins

Sins have been categorized in various ways. According to one classification, there are two types of sins; leaving out commands such as fard (obligatory) acts, waajib, and sunnah muakkadah acts (highly emphasized practises of Rassoulullah (s.a.w) ) and doing those acts which Allah or his Rassoul forbade us from doing, irrespective of whether they are sins related to speech or action, sins which are related to a person's inner self or outer sins, major or minor sins. the reason for this is that minor sins become major sins if a person takes them lightly and persistenly engages in them. It is extremely dangerous for a person to consider these minor sins as insignificant and express happiness after committing them. 

The causes for a person falling into sin.

There are many reasons for a person commiting sins despite possessing Imaan.

(1) A person's yaqeen (conviction) and Imaan is weak. His conviction has become weak on the fact that Allah Ta'aalaa is watching, has full power over us, and can send his punishment upon us at any time.

Allah Ta'aalaa says: "Do not become like those people who forgot Allah, so Allah make them forgot their own selves. Those are the transgressors."