How do we fully embrace and earn God's special love? The Qur'an makes it very clear on how to love God. It is to follow and love the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
"Say to them: If you love God, follow me, and God will love you." The Qur'an, Chapter 3 verse 31
Following and loving the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is necessary because embodied in his life, teachings and actions is the path to God. His life reveals the application of the Qur'an and its teachings, through which we attain God's love.
Through the teachings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we are taught how to worship and have a relationship with God. He taught that worshipping God involves loving, knowing and obeying Him. Worshipping God includes praying five times a day, fasting, reading and pondering over the meanings of the Qur'an, remembering God, giving charity, taking care of others and loving for others what we love for ourselves. These acts of worship are categorised as obligatory and supererogatory. Essentially they are spiritual tools that facilitate closeness with God and Divine love. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that God said:
"My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the religious duties that I have imposed upon him; and My servant continues to draw closer to Me with supererogatory works so that I would love him." [5]
God is telling us that to come close to Him and love Him we must worship Him. Understanding how to worship Him requires that we follow the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, following the Prophet is a gateway to God's special love.
The fourteenth century theologian Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"There is no doubt that perfect servitude to God is part of perfect love, and perfect love is connected to the perfection of the Beloved in and of Himself, for Allah, may He be glorified, is completely and absolutely perfect in all aspects, and could not possibly have any imperfections whatsoever. For one who is like this, nothing can be dearer to people's hearts than Him; so long as their basic nature and reason are sound, it is inevitable that He will be the dearest of all things to their hearts. Undoubtedly love of Him leads to submission and obedience to Him, seeking His pleasure, doing one's utmost in worship of Him and turning to Him. This is the best and strongest motive to do acts of worship." [6]
Following God's guidance by following the Prophet ﷺ is therefore a means to paradise, eternal bliss and Divine mercy. A man once asked the Prophet ﷺ about the Day of Judgment saying:
"When will the hour be?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied,
"What have you prepared for it?"
The man replied,
"Nothing, except that I love God and His Apostle."
The Prophet ﷺ said,
"You will be with those whom you love." [7]
Hence, faith cannot be complete without loving the Prophet ﷺ more than anything in this world:
"No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self." [8]
How can we not love the man that is the means to Divine love and eternal happiness? Fundamentally, how can we not love a man that God loves?
To love God we have to love what He loves.
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Who do you love?
Spiritual"Love is an activity, not a passive effect; it is a "standing in," not a "falling for". In the most general way, the active character of love can be described by stating that love is primarily giving, not receiving."[1]
