Spiritual Poverty

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If we love our worldly ties and comforts, profits and pleasures, more than we love Allah, we will be left with spiritual poverty, bereft of grace and guidance: "for Allah guides not the rebellious". It is no wonder that some people can listen to music for hours or dance all night but they can't stand listening to a few minutes of Qu'ran or stand a few minutes in prayer. They memorize songs and sing them beautifully but they won't learn how to read the Qur'an and read the Qu'ran, the words of Allah. These people and the like, they better watch out.

قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّـهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ

Say: 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your clan, your possessions that you have gained, commerce you fear may slacken, dwellings you love -- if these are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and to struggle in His way, then wait till Allah brings His command; Allah guides not the rebellious.' (Qur'an At-Tawba 9:24)

The greatest acts of Faith is loving and hating for the sake of Allah. You love and don't love someone is based on what Allah loves and doesn't love. So, for example, you love this so-and-so because he is righteous and you don't love this so-and-so because he is not righteous, regardless of his riches, fame or beauty/looks.

How is it possible for someone to overcome his own desires and replace them with what Allah loves? The scholars said it is not possible without love of Allah itself as the guide. So, love of Allah is both a goal in religion and a means to attain closeness to Allah.

The one who loves Allah obeys Him. He will not get bored or feel bored of doing good deeds and acts that Allah loves, that will draw them closer to Allah. He always seeks and strives to do good deeds and acts and he does them only for Allah's pleasure. His heart is purified and he always remembers Allah.

O Allah I ask You that You love me and the love of those who love You and to enable me also to love every act and deed that may bring me closer to You. (Prophetic du'a)

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam