Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Secret To Be Loved

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah Almighty says in Surah Kahf:

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7)

[Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:7]

The secret of getting people to love you is not to compete with them in their beloved world (dunya). If people feel that you come to them for a share of their dunya, their guard will go up. People love people who are genuine and sincere-- those who do things for the sake of Allah and use the dunya for the sake of the next life.

A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which if I do it, (will cause) Allah to love me and people to love me." He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered: "Be indifferent to the world and Allah will love you; be indifferent to what people possess and they will love you."

أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ إِذَا أَنَا عَمِلْتُهُ أَحَبَّنِيَ اللَّهُ وَأَحَبَّنِيَ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّكَ اللَّهُ وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ يُحِبُّوكَ

[Ibn Majah]

One thing that brings us closer to Allah and to be loved by Him is al-zuhd (the indifference towards the world). Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked one day if someone owns one thousand dinar, can he still be a zahid? He replied yes, if he does not feel rejoice if the money increases and he does not become sad if it decreases.

We must not become slaves to our worldly possessions. Instead we should work our worldly possessions for the worship of the One who bestow them to us--we use and spend them sincerely for Allah's sake only.

The dunya is cursed because it distracts people from Allah. It is a test for us. We either use it in the right way and be rewarded or we use it in the wrong way-- compromise principles and indulge in disobedience-- and fail the test.

‏اللهم إني أسألك حبك، وحب من يحبك، والعمل الذي يبلغني حبك، اللهم اجعل حبك أحب إلى من نفسي، وأهلي، ومن الماء البارد‏

O Allah! I ask You for Your Love, the love of those who love You, and deeds which will cause me to attain Your Love. O Allah! Make Your Love dearer to me than myself, my family and the cold water.

Ameen

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam