Love of ALLAH

3. Signs indicating a slave's love of Allaah

Thus, It becomes evident that striving to worship Allaah consists of various ranks and the one who comprehends this will be able to reach the highest of them, which would then make worshipping Allaah very easy for him. One who reaches this level hates to waste any time; indeed, he finds this abhorrent and very painful, and such feelings can only be achieved by having love of Allaah. This is why those who have reached this level suffer when they become sick, but they do not suffer due to their sickness; rather, they suffer due to the fact that they have been prevented from worshipping in the manner that they have become accustomed to.

* Persevering through hardships. Endurance is a necessary characteristic of the one who loves Allaah; it is the means to distinguish true and sincere love from false claims, because one who endures and perseveres though hardships for the sake of his beloved will thereby prove his truthfulness and sincerity. Many people despair and become discontent whenever they are tested by Allaah and afflicted with hardship, which reflects the falsity of their claim to love Allaah. Allaah commands the most beloved to Him to endure and persevere when He says: "And be patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allaah. And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire." [An-Nahl: 127]

* Not favouring anything that is dear to one over one's beloved, as the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "None of you will be a true believer until I am more beloved to him than all others." 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, heard this and replied: "O Messenger of Allaah! You are dearer to me than everyone except myself." The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "No! (you will not truly believe) until I am more beloved to you than your own self." So he, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Now you are more beloved to me than myself." Upon hearing this, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Now O 'Umar! (i.e., now you have achieved true belief)." One should not give preference to anyone or anything over Allaah or His messenger, be it his parents, children or desires. The one who favours anything or anyone over Allaah is sick-hearted while the one who favours Allaah over everything else has fought his desires and will be consistent in worship. Therefore, if one sins, that does not necessarily mean that he does not love Allaah, but it does mean that his love is not perfect, because he who has no love for Allaah at all in his heart is a disbeliever, as in the narration in the book of Imaam Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, where An-Nu'aymaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, was brought to the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam drunk, so he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam applied the legal punishment for consuming intoxicants on him; while this was happening, a man in the gathering cursed him, to which the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam replied: "Do not curse him, for he loves Allaah and His Messenger." This means that love was present in his heart, but it had decreased due him sinning. Also, it is known that penal laws expiate sins.

* Desiring to mention Allaah, whereby the persons tongue never tires from His mention, nor does his heart ever feel burdened by it. One who loves Allaah desires to worship Him and mention His name. Allaah Has commanded us to mention Him, even in the most terrifying and dangerous situations, when He says:

يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا لقيتم فئة فاثبتوا واذكروا الله كثيراً

which means: "O you who have believed! When you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allaah much..." [Al-Anfaal: 45] Another proof of a person's love of Allaah is when he mentions His name as soon as he wakes up and just before going to sleep - and this reflects the importance of maintaining and memorising these particular supplications.

* Crying when remembering Allaah in isolation. Allaah says:

إنما المؤمنون الذين إذا ذكر الله وجلت قلوبهم وإذا تليت عليهم آياته زادتهم إيماناً وعلى ربهم يتوكلون

which means: "The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely." [Al-Anfaal: 2]

* Becoming enraged when the limits of Allaah are violated, or when people slight His prohibitions. Therefore, those who love Allaah the most will always try to stop such prohibitions from being committed.

* Loving the Words of Allaah (i.e., the Qur'aan). If one wishes to know how much he loves Allaah, let him analyse how much he loves the Qur'aan and how much he enjoys reciting, listening to and pondering over it.

* Regretting acts of worship that one failed to perform, or time that has passed without him mentioning Allaah. Those who truly love Allaah are keener to mention and worship Allaah than they are to protect their wealth from being squandered or stolen.

* Belittling the acts of worship that one has performed and considering them insufficient and insignificant, as well as fearing that one did not perform them correctly and in a manner that would be befitting to his beloved. This is why we ask for Allaah's forgiveness immediately after concluding our prayers and after pilgrimage. Allaah says:

الذين يؤتون ما آتوا وقلوبهم وجلة

which means: "And they [are the true believers] who give what they have while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord." [Al-Mu'minoon: 60]