One of the teachings of the Islamic doctrine that tells us how to demonstrate our belief in the oneness of Allah is by loving Allah and asking Him to love us. We love Allah and expect Allah to love us. Our relationship with Allah should be based on love. Even when we fear Allah, we are not afraid of Him as we are afraid of tyrants. For Allah does not persecute or wrong anyone. We are afraid of Allah as we are afraid to lose the love of someone whom we love. In that case, we would try not to do anything that might offend him, and we would rather do everything that he likes to ensure that this love will go on and will keep getting stronger.
Thus, we fear Allah by not disobeying Him, for we are afraid to lose His love, and consequently His compassion and forgiveness.
Allah has told us in the Holy Quran about how to love Him. He said: "And of the people are some who take other than Allah as equals. They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:165). They take other people as equal to Allah and obey them. But those should know that Allah alone is worth this kind of love. After all, we might love people because of their beauty, knowledge, strength, or because they were good to us. If we turn to Allah, we find out that He is the one Who created us and gave us life, beauty, strength and graces. He is the source of all strength, beauty, wealth, etc., and those who are strong or beautiful and the like have gained their attributes from Allah.
Therefore, if we want to love other people because of certain traits that they possess, we should love Allah more, for He is the One Who created them and gave them these traits. Therefore, praise belongs to Allah alone, and we love other people because they are nearer to Allah. We love the prophets because they are the beloved messengers of Allah. Thus, love is for Allah alone, and any love for others is associated with the love of Allah. But how do we love Allah?
Loving Allah could only be manifested by obeying Him and His Messenger. For the Messenger’s instructions are those of Allah; aren’t we commanded in the Quran to take what the Messenger gives us and refrain from what he prohibits us? If you abide by this rule, then you love Allah, for if you love someone you would obey him.
Let us now read some of the texts that teach us how to love Allah, and who are those that Allah loves and those that He does not. When Jesus Christ (p.) was asked about what could be done to make Allah love us, he said: “Hate this world, you will be loved by Allah”. But Jesus (p.) did not mean that we ought to leave the world and stop earning our living. What he meant was that we should not let this world be our only concern in such a way that happiness in this world is the only happiness and misery in this world is the only misery.
Allah, the Most Exalted, told Muhammad (p.) while he was ascending to the sky that Allah loves all those who love Him and love each other and depend on Him. He also told His Messenger that Allah’s love has no end or goal.
Moreover, Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) said that Allah said: “There is no way that My servants can show their love to Me better than performing the duties I ordained.” The Messenger also told us that Allah loves those who are prudent and forgiving when they are angered. Imam Al-Baqir, on his part, warned us that we cannot love Allah unless we hate and confront His enemies. He also said: “Who always mentions death will be loved by Allah”, for he remembers always that he is going to meet Allah. The Messenger told one of the believers who asked about how to become one of these loved by Allah and His Messenger that he should love what Allah and His Messenger love and hate what they hate.
Allah loves those who "spend in the cause of Allah and do not follow up what they have spent with reminders of their generosity or with injury." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:262). Be good to people and learn the joy of giving. Allah loves those who like to give. He also "loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:222). If you sin, remember to turn to Allah for forgiveness, for He loves those who repent and promise never to go back to disobeying Him. He also loves those who fight for His cause and do not become weak if they meet hardships. "How many a prophet fought, and with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allah, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allah loves the steadfast." Surah Al-Imran (03:146). Allah also loves those who endure whatever happens to them and who are always patient.
He also loves those who are merciful and good hearted. He says to His Messenger in the Holy Quran: "So by mercy from Allah, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude in speech and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely upon Him." Surah Al-Imran (03:159). By putting your trust in Allah, Allah means that you have to do all that you can to ensure that you will reach good results, and then if you become wary of the future, you should depend on Allah and put your trust in Him.
Thus, putting your trust in Allah does not mean that you sit at home and wish that everything you want will be sent to you. It is to be a hard worker who does everything possible and then trusts that Allah will reward his work with the best results.
Allah also loves the just. "And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:42). And justice is absolute; it should be applied on all, even one’s parents: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives." Surah An-Nisa (04:135), even if it were with your enemies: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness." Surah Al-Ma'idah (05:08). Allah also loves those who uphold their unity: "Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a single structure." Surah As-Saff( 61:04). He wants the nation to freeze all its differences and be unified in any battle it fights against its enemies.
Imam Zein al-Abideen (a.s.) says: “Allah loves all those who have sorrow in their hearts because of their sins; and every thankful worshipper”. Allah loves those who do good, especially those who give charity in secret.
Those whom Allah does not love are the aggressors: "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:190). He loves not those who engage in usury: "Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:276). But He loves those who give in charity: "The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains." Surah Al-Baqarah (02:261). He does not love the wrongdoers: "But those who believe and do righteous deeds - He will give them their rewards in full, and Allah does not like the wrongdoers." Surah Al-Imran (03:57).
The wrongdoers are anyone who behaves with others or even with himself in a way that offends their rights.
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “There are three kinds of wrongdoing: one that is forgivable, one that is not forgivable, and the third kind is the one that could not be left unpunished (as though nothing happened). The one that is forgiven is the trivial wrongdoing that one hurts himself with. The one that is not forgiven is ascribing partners to Allah; while the third kind is the wrongdoing of others.”
Imam Ali says: “Never try to wrong anyone who does not have anybody to support him except Allah”.
Allah also does not love the treacherous: "And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a treacherous sinner." (Surah An-Nisa 4:107). And the boastful: "Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful." Surah Luqman (31:18).
Our prophet Muhammad (p.) says: “Allah loves most those who do good to others”.
Thus, Allah wants us to be faithful to Him and to love Him by obeying Him and refraining from committing sins.
Furthermore, our love for Him should be manifested by loving fellow men and benefiting them. When Christ (p.) says that Allah has made me blessed wherever I go, he meant that wherever I went I benefited people.
Let us use our energy and potentials in this life; we should not let it die with us, but we should give it to those who need it.
Let us work: "Soon will Allah observe your work and His Messenger and the believers." Surah At-Tawbah (09:105).
Exerpted from a Friday Sermon
dated: December 21,2001 A.D - Shawal 6,1422 AH