Fall in Love with Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Ibn Mashish, one of the great spiritual masters (died 622 A.H), on being asked to recommend spiritual practices for a seeker, said, "Am I a Prophet? The commands and prohibitions are all known, perform the obligations of the Law and avoid sin. Keep your heart aloof from all temporal attachments. Accept and be content with everything that Allah sends to you and fall in love with Allah."

The love for Allah is the only pole around which good deeds turn. Let your tongues speak of nothing but Allah, instead of occupying themselves with the things of this world. [Imam Mashish]

Abu’l Hasan al-Shadhili, his student and a great spiritual master (died 656 A.H) said, "Whoever directs you to action alone, tires you. Whoever directs you to worldliness, cheats (deceives) you. Whoever directs you to Allah has been of sincere counsel to you."

Strive to nurture ourselves with the love for Allah, the One who gives our very lives and all that are precious to us. Try to change the nature of our relationship with Allah and with His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Those who believe are more intense in their love for Allah.

مِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّـهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّـهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ ﴿١٦٥

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. (165)

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:165]

Try to connect with this reality of love. Our love for His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is from the intensity of love for Allah.

Love is easier to claim but difficult to realize. When people say they love Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is it love? Not sure.

True love is constant inclining with the heart that overcomes by that which you love. If the love of Allah becomes firm in the heart, its traces are then manifest on the limbs in terms of striving in obedience of Allah, finding within oneself the eagerness and keenness to serve Him and the avidness to seek His pleasure, finding sweetness in addressing Him and solace in being alone (in spiritual seclusion or night prayers), finding worldly attachment leaving one's heart and fleeing one's heart from people, finding contentment with respect to His destiny and longing to meet Him, finding intimacy in His remembrance and a sense of alienation from other than Him, and loving all that is beloved to Allah.

Thankfulness is a bridge to love of Allah. Thank Allah for everything. When you bite into your favorite chocolate ice cream cake, or put on that slippers, or turn on the tap, thank and praise Allah for it. There are millions of people who never saw ice cream in their lives; there are millions of people who don't have nice slippers to walk around (many walk around barefooted); there are millions of people who don't have running water. Don't take all these things and all the things you have for granted. When you open the pantry and see all these choices of cereal for your breakfast, thank Allah and praise Him.

Being grateful and praising Allah has tremendous consequence.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' " (7)
[Qur'an Ibrahim 14:7]

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٣

And indeed, your Lord is full of bounty for the people, but most of them do not show gratitude." (73)

[Qur'an An-Naml 27:73]

May Allah make the love for Him a reality for us. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam