The Real Life is that of the Lovers of Allah The Almighty
It is true that there is no real life except that of those whose eyes are comfortable with their Beloved. Their souls find rest with Him, and their hearts are reassured with Him. They enjoy being close to Him and are delighted with His love. Indeed, there is a need in the heart that is not satisfied except by loving Allah, craving for him, and returning to Him in repentance. Nothing else can make a person comfortable. If a person does not attain this, he will lead a life of worries, sadness, pain and sorrow. If he is a motivated person with high ambition, his soul will waste away in regret for this worldly life as his soul cannot be content with such an inferior status in life. However, if he is mean and base, he will foresake this treasure like the lowest of animals. Indeed, eyes find no comfort except in loving Allah.
Examples of True Lovers
Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, was at the head of the Ummah (Muslim Nation) with his love of Allah The Exalted: Bakr Al-Muzani said, “Abu Bakr did not excel among the Companions of Muhammad due to plentiful fasting or prayer; rather, he was superior to them due to something that had settled firmly in his heart.” Ibraaheem reported that he was informed that Ibn ‘Ulayyah commented on the Hadeeth mentioned above, saying, “What had settled in his [Abu Bakr’s] heart was the love of Allah The Exalted and giving advice to His creation.”
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would ask for the love of Allah: Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would supplicate to Allah The Almighty on the mountains of As-Safa and Al-Marwah and during other rituals of pilgrimage, saying, “O Allah! Make me among those who love You, love Your angels, love Your messengers and love Your righteous slaves. O Allah! love me and make Your angels, Your messengers and Your righteous slaves love me.”
Allah’s Love was the motto of Hakeem ibn Hizaam, may Allah be pleased with him: Hakeem ibn Hizaam, may Allah be pleased with him, would circumambulate the Ka‘bah, saying, “No one is worthy of worship but Allah, the Good Lord and the Good God. I love and fear Him.”
Signs of True Love
Loving Allah is like a blessed tree whose roots are firmly fixed and its branches are high in the sky. It produces its fruits in the heart and on the tongue and organs. Allah The Almighty describes those who love Him with several qualities; He Says (what means):
• {O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing.} [Quran 5:54]
• {Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”} [Quran 3:31]
Thus, Allah The Almighty describes such believers as having five characteristics:
1- Humbleness, leniency, modesty, and mercy and compassion towards believers.
2- Dominance against disbelievers and disassociation from them.
3- Making Jihaad in the cause of Allah with their lives and wealth to support Islam and bring people back to it.
4- Endeavoring to please Allah The Almighty and paying no attention to people's rebuke or criticism.
5- Following the Prophet and obeying him.
Another characteristic that distinguishes such people is the desire to meet Allah The Almighty in Paradise and to gaze at His Face.
Ibn Rajab said, “The aspiration of the righteous, knowledgeable Muslims who love Allah and yearn to see Allah in the Hereafter is to gaze at His Face in Paradise and be closer to Him.”
We ask Allah The Almighty to endow us with His love and that we may look at His Noble Face in Paradise.