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Islam is frequently portrayed as a religion of peace, love, and devotion to Allah’s (s.w.t.) will. In Islam, love has a deeper and more extensive meaning that encompasses every aspect of life, not just romantic relationships or bonds to one’s family. It is a guiding principle that affects our relationships with Allah (s.w.t.), the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w. ), and ourselves. We will explore the idea of love in Islam in this blog, with particular attention to love for Allah, love for the Prophet, and love for oneself.
Love for Oneself: Self-Compassion in Islam
“Self-love in the perspective of Islam is taking care of yourself, loving others, and increasing your self-worth.”
– Sheikh Wael Ibrahim
Islam encourages self-love through the practices of self-compassion, self-respect, and self-care. This form of love is not rooted in selfishness but rather in recognising one’s worth as a creation of Allah. Every soul is honoured in the Qur’an, and every human being is given dignity:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ
وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا (٧٠)
Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them
good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:70)
To love oneself is to take care of one’s health, mind, and soul while maintaining one’s balance. The necessity of looking after oneself was underlined by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w. ), who said:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr:
Once Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) said to me, “No doubt, your body has right on you.”
(Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhari 1153)
In Islam, loving oneself also entails pursuing knowledge, developing one’s spirituality, and trying to better oneself. It involves being kind to oneself, asking for forgiveness, and refraining from being excessively harsh. Since Allah is Ar-Raḥmān, the Most Merciful, we ought to make an effort to show mercy to ourselves as well.
Love for Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.): Following the Best Example
One essential component of a Muslim’s faith is love for the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٠٧)
We have sent you O Prophet only as a mercy for the whole world.
(Surah Al-Anbya, 21:107)
The Qur’an describes the Prophet as a mercy to the world who embodied the purest forms of kindness, love, and compassion. Following the Prophet’s Sunnah and imitating his behaviour in our day-to-day existence is a sign of loving him.
It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:
“The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: ‘None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his child, his father and all the people.'”
(Ṣaḥiḥ Sunan Ibn Majah 67)
This love is more than just emotions; it is demonstrated by deeds, such as sharing his message with others, honouring his legacy, and adhering to his teachings. Studying the life of the Prophet reveals that his love was for everyone, including animals and the environment, in addition to his followers. His love was universal and merciful, and a beacon of hope for all Muslims.
Love for Allah (s.w.t.): The Ultimate Love
The love of Allah (s.w.t.) is the central theme of Islam. It is the basis of a believer’s relationship with their Creator and the purest and most profound kind of love. All of creation is covered by Allah’s limitless love, and His mercy outweighs His anger. The Qur’an says that Allah says:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ (٣١)
Say, O Prophet, “If you sincerely love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:31)
To truly love Allah is to submit to His will in every way, to have faith in His wisdom, and to be grateful for all of His blessings. Our source of solace, purpose, and peace in life is this love.
Seeking intimacy with Allah (s.w.t.) through worship, supplication, and deeds of kindness is what it means to love Him. We are actually able to love ourselves and others because of this love. It is the source of all genuine happiness and contentment.
A Journey of Love
In Islam, the path of love starts with realising our own value, honouring the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), and ending with pursuing closeness to Allah. Islam is a religion of love; love for Allah gives us purpose and tranquillity; love for the Prophet directs our deeds; and love for ourselves teaches us to appreciate ourselves as creations of Allah. We can live meaningful lives full of compassion and a close relationship with our Creator by nurturing these three aspects of love.
Allow this love to direct our actions and thoughts, serving as a constant reminder that true fulfilment arises from loving for the benefit of Allah (s.w.t.), ourselves, and others.
A Lover’s Pursuit
Dr. Muhammad Salah, Sheikh Wael Ibrahim, and Mufti Menk explore deeper into the subject of love in their book “A Lover’s Pursuit.” The essence of Islam’s love is beautifully conveyed in this book, which leads readers through the profound relationship between love for Allah (s.w.t.), love for oneself, and love for Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). This book examines how real self-love is enhanced by imitating the Prophet and how it starts with an awareness of one’s role as Allah’s servant. It highlights how we can achieve clarity, purpose, and peace in our lives by developing a strong love for Allah and allowing our hearts to accept the beauty of Islamic teachings.
That is all for this blog. Spread the love by sharing this blog, and don’t miss out on grabbing our book to dive deeper into the beautiful essence of love in Islam. Catch you in the next post, insha’Allah!
