Love for Allah (SWT), Love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief

Love for Allah (SWT), Love for God is the foundation of
Islamic belief
The Noble Qur'an says: "The believers are stronger in
their love for Allah." (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:165)
According to Islamic teaching, the minimum
expectation from believers is that God should have
the first place in their heart, in the sense that no
other love may override one's love for God; God
should be the highest and foremost object of love.
The Noble Qur'an says:
Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren
and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which
you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which
you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to
you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His
way, then wait till Allah brings about His command:
and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
(Surah Al-Tawba, 9:24)
This verse clearly indicates that one's love for God
has to be superior to one's love for everything else
that one may come to love in one's life. This
superiority shows itself when the love for God and
for His religion comes in conflict with one's love for
one's personal belongings. In this case, a believer
should be able to sacrifice his personal favourite
things for the sake of God. For example, if God asks
us to give our lives to protect innocent lives or our
territorial integrity or the like, we should not let
our love for this world or any other distraction i.e.
family, wealth, power, etc. prevent us from striving
in His way. And nothing should come into conflict
with our love for God. The Noble Qur'an says:
Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his
(one) body. (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:4)
Imam Ali (as) would always spend time with his
children. Once he was sitting in his house with his
young children. Sayyida Zainab (sa) then asked,
"Dear, father, do you love me?" Imam Ali (as) said,
"Yes, of course, my children are like a part of my
heart". On hearing this, she said, "You also love
Allah (SWT). How can two loves be in one heart of a
true believer, the love of Allah (SWT) and that of
children?"
Imam Ali (as) smiled and replied, "Love Allah (SWT)
and for the sake of His love, you love His creatures;
children and fellow beings too. I love you for the
sake of Allah (SWT)."
Hence love for God is the foundation of Islamic
belief, the foundation on which man is to establish
the principles of his faith (Iman). Hence with one
heart one cannot choose two beloveds.
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said once, "The heart is
the sanctuary of God, therefore do not settle
therein anything but God."
Hadith Qudsi says, "Neither [the vastness of] My
earth, nor [that of] My heaven can contain Me.
Indeed it is the heart of the man of faith which can
contain Me."
Urdu Couplet says: Kaba Kitna Khush Kismat Hai, Ke
Yeh Allah (SWT) Ka Ghar Hai, Lekin Is Mein Allah Nahi
Rehta, Momin Kaba Se Bhi Ziada Khush Kismat Hai,
Jis Ke Dil Mein Allah (SWT) Rehta Hai.
The history of Islam is full of memories of those
who embodied a sincere and overwhelming love for
God and His religion. One of those who full-heatedly
devoted himself to Islam was Bilal al-Habashi , a
black slave. The pagans of Quraysh in Makkah
subjected him to torture asking him to mention
names of their idols express his belief in them and
disbelieve in Islam. They tormented him under the
burning Sun by laying him on scorching sand and
putting heavy rocks on his chest. Abu Bakr, a rich
companion (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (saw),
was passing by when he heard the cry of Bilal. He
went close and advised him to hide his belief, but
Bilal was not prepared to do so; since "love was ever
rebellious becomes deadly."
Another example love for Islam is Imam Hussayn ibn
Ali (sa), who said: "Oh God, I have left the world in
Your love. Am ready to make my children orphans in
Your love. My heart could not divert towards
anybody but You. Even if You cut my body into
pieces in Your love."

From: ezsoftech
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