LOVE IS PROVISION Love is an essential element of our lives. It stems from mercy that Allah SWT has characterized Himself with, and spread amongst us. Allah SWT has referred to Himself as Ar-Rahman (The Merciful) and Al-Wadood (The owner of love and compassion.) The Real Love is the one which Allah SWT has for His slaves and has spread amongst them. So the example of true love is Allah SWTs love for those blessed ones who receive it. Allah (SWT) shares with us His attributes because His are the loftiest of all qualities and we are supposed to inculcate them in our manners. In doing so, Allah SWT becomes our role model and after that His beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW- the most perfect human ever to walk on earth. It is a sign of Allah SWTs love that He has shown us ways of reaching His approval, and in turn jannah. We, as Muslims, are supposed to learn His qualities and attributes and implement them in our lives. This is a sign of belief, respect, and mutual love in the relationship between the Creator and His creation. This is the kind of love that only aims to benefit and create goodness. It is pure Love without obsession, ownership, without any limitations and expectations of benefit, revenge or anger. This love protects the lover from hurting the beloved even by heedlessness and negligence. It is an infinite love without any boundaries that continues to grow and can lead us to the ultimate goodness: The pleasure of Allah SWT. The Journey of love starts with very small steps like the beginning of a sapling. Allah SWT then takes it, develops it, strengthens it, enhances it and allows it to grow into a strong fruitful tree in the form of love of Allah SWT in our hearts. Do you not consider the love of Allah as Provision? Is it not something that we are guided towards just like we are guided towards other types of provisions? Is it not a blessing just like food, wealth, vision, wisdom and other qualities? If so, what kind of provision is it: material provision (Sufli) or spiritual provision (Uluwi)? Actually, this is the highest provision you can get! Lets analyze the difference between the style of love that Allah has bestowed upon us and expects from believers, versus the style of love we claim we have for one another. We can examine something very small yet significant from our lives. Sometimes people claim to love each other as brothers or sisters in Islam. If one of them receives a blessing from Allah, which is really a provision-whether material or spiritual, he is often scorned at by others; even those who claim to love him. He might receive silent treatment from his so called brother or sister, or even be shunned. Do you know what it means? It means that their brothers success in material life or gaining some good quality or even being involved in doing good deeds for Sabeelillah hurts them. They feel upset and jealous to the point that they cant even hide it! Shaytan creates a volcano of anger in their chests to the point they succumb to backbiting and start talking behind their brothers back about his faults, or generate rumors just to satisfy their jealousies. We as believers should ask ourselves how we would behave if we see someone around us succeed, whether materially or spiritually. Would we celebrate their success and pray for the continuity of their blessings or burn in the fire of jealousy and deny the goodness of Allah upon us? Every believer has a duty to protect himself against this possibility by inculcating true faith in his heart and being vigilant of any signs of jealousy and envy. This also requires knowing what real love is since this is the only way a person can try to develop it. Below are a few signs of true love that will help you monitor yourself when a situation arises that trials the sincerity of your love: If I receive any good news about you or see the blessings bestowed upon you, I should be very happy even if I gain nothing of what you have.This feeling, if real, will be reflected on my face, my smile and my duafor you. I would love to see you receiving goodness even if this goodness makes you reach a higher place in Jannah (Paradise) than me.I would be eager to support you toward further success.I would envy you; the beautiful envy- the one recommended by Allah and His Prophet. This is the envy which motivates one to struggle to gain the same quality as his brother. It is recommended and desired by Allah and his Prophet SAW to imitate each other in goodness for the sake of Allah.I would spread the good news about you and would ask people to make dua for you. I would love you more and ask Allah to increase His provision and bounty upon you. Now you can see that real love generates pure and beautiful goodness. It generates compassion, mercy, humility, healthy competition toward spiritual achievements and most of all, leads people to the attainment of love of Allah SWT. What can be more beautiful than wanting the best for your brother and sister even if you dont have it? What can be more pure than desiring the success and happiness for your brother and sister that you, yourself have not achieved? What can be healthier than being involved in a competition to receive more of Allahs blessings by competing in good deeds and being happy with each others success?
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:53:06 +0000