Love of ALLAH

2. Signs indicating Allah's love of His slave

* Caring for him since childhood; instilling faith in his heart; enlightening his mind; choosing him to be amongst those who are beloved to Him; busying him with worship by occupying his tongue with His mention and his limbs in acts of obedience to Him. Therefore, Allaah makes such a person perform all that which pleases Him and shun all that which displeases Him. Allaah facilitates matters for him without him needing the assistance of others in any way and so his only concern becomes how to attain the love of Allaah.

* Kindness towards him by enabling him to perform the best deeds and act in the finest manner.

* Instilling acceptance in people's hearts for him; people therefore become inclined towards him and praise him, as in the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, who reported that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "When Allaah loves a slave, He calls out to Jibreel and says: 'I love so-and-so, so love him'. Then Jibreel loves him. After that, he (i.e., Jibreel) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that: 'Allaah loves so-and-so, so love him'; then the inhabitants of the heavens (i.e., the angels) also love him and they then make the people on earth love him too." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

* Afflicting him with trials, as in the narration of Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "The more one is afflicted the more he is rewarded and when Allaah loves a people He afflicts them, so whoever is content will gain the pleasure of Allaah and whoever is discontent will get the wrath of Allaah." Allaah afflicts people with trials so that He may thereby eradicate their sins and free their hearts from being concerned with this life, because Allaah wishes that His slaves busy themselves with nothing except Him; and thus when a slave is afflicted, he finds no time to busy himself with the concerns of this life. Allaah afflicts His slaves in order to witness real sacrifice on their part, as He says:

ولنبلونكم حتى نعلم المجاهدين منكم والصابرين ونبلوا أخباركم

which means: "And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allaah] and the patient, and We will test your affairs." [Muhammad: 31] This trial and affliction will be in proportion to the strength of faith that the slave has in his heart, as well as the amount of love that Allaah has for His slave. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, once asked the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "O Messenger of Allaah! Which people face the sternest trials?" He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam answered: "Those who face the sternest trials and hardships are the Prophets, then those who are nearest to them (in terms of faith). Moreover, people will be tested according to the strength of their faith." [At-Tirmidhi]

* Taking his soul whilst he is performing a righteous deed, as the Prophet sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam said: "When Allaah loves a slave, 'Assalahu." So people asked: "What does 'Assalahu mean?" He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam replied: "He (i.e., Allaah) enables him to perform a righteous deed just before his death, so that all those around him and his neighbours become pleased with him." [Ahmad & Al-Haakim]

Qatadah bin An-Nu'man narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "When Allah loves a slave, He prevents him from the world, just as one of you prevents his sick from water." (jamiat tirmidhi)