Ibn Al-Qayyim Speaks on Love

Excerpt from the book:

"The Garden of the Lovers and the Excursion of Those Who Yearn"

(Rawdatul Muhibbeen) by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, Translated by Khalal Abu Asma

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Chapter: Concerning the Desire for Allah and the Signs of the One Who Knows Allah As for the desire for Allah (raghbah), wanting Him (lit. His Countenance) and yearning for the meeting with Him, then it is the capital of the slave, the foundation of his affair, the basis of his life of goodness, the source of his (true) happiness, success and bliss, and it is the coolness of his eye. For this reason he was created and for it he has been commanded. The messengers have been sent and the books have been revealed also for this purpose. There is no rectification or bliss for the heart unless its desire is solely for Allah, alone, Mighty and Majestic is He. Hence, He alone should be his desire, what he seeks out and his goal. As Allah, the Exalted, has said,

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"So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allah's worship. And to your Lord turn your desires and intentions"

(Quraan 94:7-8 ).

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And He, the Exalted, has also said,

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"Would that they were contented with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said, 'Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His Bounty, and so will His Messenger. We implore Allah'"

(Quran 9:59 ).

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Those who desire are three types:

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Those who desire Allah,

Those who desire what Allah has

And those who desire other than Allah.

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So the lover is the one who desires Allah. The one who is concerned with works is the one who desires what Allah has. And the one who is satisfied with this life, in neglect to the Hereafter, is the one who desires other than Him. The person whose desire is for Allah alone, Allah with suffice him from every concern, take on all of his affairs, deflect from him what he is not capable himself to deflect, protect him like the protection of a father to his child and preserve him from all afflictions. And whoever prefers Allah to all others, Allah will prefer him to others. And whoever is for Allah, Allah will be for him where he is not even there for his own self. Whoever knows Allah, nothing will be more beloved to him than Him and no desire will remain in this type of person for anything other than Him, except that which will bring him closer to Him or assist him in his wayfaring to Him.

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From among the signs of experiential knowledge (maârifah) of Allah is veneration and awe (haybah). As the slave's experiential knowledge of his Lord increases, so to does his veneration and awe increase. As Allah, the Exalted, has said,

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"It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah"

(Quran 35:28 )

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meaning, those who are knowledgeable concerning Him. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

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"I am the most knowledgeable of you concerning Allah and I am the most intense in awe and reverence of Him"

(Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

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So whoever knows Allah (has maârifah) his livelihood will be pure, his life will be sweet, everything will revere him and all fear of created things will leave him. He will find intimacy with Allah and will have an aversion for (common) people. Knowledge of Allah (maârifah) will bequeath to him shyness in front of Allah, veneration and reverence of Him, vigilance (concerning His vision), love, trust in Him, turning to Him, pleasure in Him and submission to His ordinances.

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It was said to Junayd, may Allah have mercy upon him, "There are a group of people here that claim that they can attain righteousness by leaving all movement." He responded, "Such ones have spoken of the removal of all action, and this is something very immense. The one who fornicates and steals is in a better state than the one who says that (as far as I am concerned). For verily, those who have experiential knowledge of Allah (the ‘ârifûn) have taken their actions from Allah and they have returned to Allah in them. If I were to live one thousand years I would not decrease in performing righteous works." He also said, "One who knows Allah does not really know Allah until he becomes like the earth; the feet of the righteous and the unrighteous tread upon him. And (until he becomes) like the rain that waters what it likes and what it doesn't like."

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Yahya ibn Muadh said, "The one who knows Allah leaves this world (at the time of death) and he has not had his fill of two things: crying over his self and yearning for his Lord." Others have said, "One who knows Allah will not really know Allah until if he is given a dominion like the kingdom of Solomon it would not distract him from Allah for even the blink of an eye." It has also been said, "The one who knows Allah has found intimacy with Allah and has an aversion for other than Him. He has realized his poverty in front of Allah, so Allah has enriched him from His creation. And he has humbled himself in front of Allah, so He has ennobled him amongst His creation."

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Aba Salyman Ad-Daanar said, "While (resting) in bed, the one who has experiential knowledge of Allah has openings that do not even come to the one who is standing in prayer!"

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Dhun-na (Al-Misrar) said, "For everything there is a punishment. And the punishment of the one who knows Allah (the arif) is being cut off from the remembrance of Allah."

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In summary, the life of the heart is with Allah and there is no life for it without that, ever. So when the heart is in agreement with the tongue in its dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and the heart is in agreement with what the Beloved wants from it; when he (the servant) belittles the many works and statements that he has made and regards even Allah's subtle generosity and kindness as great; when he embraces obedience and leaves off disobedience, and has left all of it for the sake of his Beloved, so that nothing of it remains; when his heart has become full with reverence, awe, preference and pleasure in Him and his patience in yearning for Him has reached its last straw; when he cannot find repose except in His remembrance, desire for Him and yearning for the meeting with Him; when he cannot find (true) intimacy except in His dhikr, while maintaining His ordinances and preferring Him to others. Then this, this is the true lover (muhibb).

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Junayd said, "I heard Al-Harith Al-Muhasibar say: "Love (mahabbah) is your inclination to something with all of your being. Then, your preference to that thing over your own self, your soul and your possessions and wealth. Then, your being in accordance with that thing inwardly and outwardly, privately and publicly. Then, realizing your shortcomings with regards to your love of it."

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It was said, "Love (mahabbah) is a fire that burns in the heart. It burns everything other than what the beloved wants from the lover." It was also said, "Nay, it is exerting all efforts in pleasing the beloved. And that could never be so until one no longer sees the 'love' anymore, but only witnesses the beloved." It is mentioned in some of the Hadith Qudsi, "My servant, I am, by your right, a lover of you. So, be you, by my right upon you, a lover of Me."

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Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak said, "Whomsoever is given something of love and is not given its equivalent of awe and veneration (khashyah), then he is deceived."

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Yahya ibn Muadh said, "A muster seed's amount of love is more beloved to me than seventy years of worship without love!" Abu Bakr Al-Kattaar said, "An issue concerning love (mahabbah) came up in Makkah during the days of the Pilgrimage. The sheikhs spoke on the matter. Junayd was present and he was the youngest amongst them. So they said to him, 'Give us what you have O Iraqi!' He lowered his head in humility and his eyes shed tears, and he spoke: '(How great is) a slave who has left himself, connected to the dhikr of his Lord, upholding His rights, witnessing Him with his heart. The lights of His Essence have burned his heart and his drink is pure from the cup of His pure love. If such a one speaks, it is by Allah. If he utters, it is from Allah. If he moves, it is by the command of Allah. If he remains silent, he is with Allah. So he is by Allah, for Allah and with Allah.' So the sheikhs cried and said, 'There is nothing that can be added to this. May Allah rectify you, O Taj Al-a arifarn (crown of those who know Allah)!'"

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It was said that Allah revealed to Dawud, peace be upon him, "O Dawud, I have made it prohbited (haram) for the hearts to contain the love of Me and the love of others at the same time."

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Those who know Allah (the arifaun) have all agreed that love is not acceptable without compliance (with the Sacred Law), so much so that some of them said, "The reality of love is being in accordance with what beloved wants, concerning what pleases him and what makes him angry." The People (of the Science of Purification; Al-Qawm) have also agreed that love is not acceptable without Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah).

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It was related that there was a man who claimed that he was overwhelmed by the love of a certain person. So one day this certain person said to him (the lover), "How can this be, when my brother over here is much more attractive and more perfect in beauty?!" The man looked over to him and then the person pushed him and said, "Someone who claims that he loves us and then looks at other than us?!"

A Meeting With Allah...

Reflecting on Ramadan

Assalamu alaykum

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While reading a book ok the bad consequences of the tongue I came across the following

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'Ubyda RA the freed slave of the Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam reported that someone came and showed the Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam two women who were fasting and siad that they were dying of thirst. The Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam turned away silently refusing to give permission for them to break their fast. Therefore, the man begged him again mentioning that the women were on the verge of death. The Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam the said: "Bring them to me nd bring along a bowl." When they came to him, he turned to one and told her to vomit in the bowl. She comlied spitting up a mixture of vomit, blood, pus and pieces of flesh that half filled the bowl. He turned to the other woman and had her do the same. after the bowl was filled, he said,

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"Verily these two have fasted what Allah has made halal for them and broke fast from what Allah has made haram. They spent their fast eating the flesh of others." collected by Ahmad and Baihaqi.

(see tafseer suarh al-Hujarat Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips page 105)

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Who among us actually completed their fast by gaurding our tongues? Who are the real fasting people? Ibn Rajab al-Hanabli said,

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"Those good people are the fearful ones who guard their tongue from evil speech, backbiting abd slaundering. As for tjose who are higher than them yhen, they are Siddiqoon (the truthful ones). They re the ones who actually make their hearts fast such that nothing enters it except love and pleaseure for their Lord. therefore, thier hearts are fasting for Him. I ask Allah to make our hearts like them."

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Subhnallah it just made me think about my fasting in Ramadan, has it been excepted, Ya Allah except our humble efforts. The effects of the tongue is so great and so easy to fall into sin, I wounder what its effect has been in Ramadan.

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Its been 20 days since Ramadan ended, so I looked at my routine and assesed how much of it has gone back to 'normal' and how much did I really change. I ask you to do the same. Ask yourself, what has changed in my life, do I still have the same khusho, the concentration I had in my salah during those taraweeh prayers in the masjid? Have I gone back to my binge eating ways? Is the Quran put back in its rightful place, high up on the shelf for dust to gather 'til next year? Has my character changed? Have we stopped teaching the children in out lives the importanence of being Muslim.. I wounder... what has changed...

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Our Shield of Ramadan has gone, Subhnallah, our beloved Ramadan has passes, how I miss it so much.

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Rasoolullah Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam said "Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the fire" Shahih Hadith, reported by Ahmad

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Just as before the gates of hell are open and the Shayteen are let out, and they begin once more to spread mischief on the Earth, and the results are plain to see, the masjuds are empty, the scaves are off or back to the stylish head gear, the beards are shaven off or go back to thier designer hair styles on the chin.

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But Alhamdulilah there is still hope, there is still the mercy of Allah which is plain to see, those sisters who have begun to waer hijab (good on you sisters :D), the barakah of are homes is now more vibrant then ever. Mashallah the presece of Allah in our lives and how it can make a persons face light up. That great feeling that you feel in Ramadan, during those long taraweeh salah, the late nights and early morning, all worth it because you earn so much spiritual time, and are now revitailsed for the rest of the year.

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Alhamdulilah Ive had my Ramadan recharge.. how was yours :D

Overwhelmed by the Love of Allah.

Assalamu alaykum

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Overwhelmed!.... in reflection of the last couple of weeks I've had....that is the word that comes to mind.

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Subhnallah... I am just sitting here in awe of Allah! In awe of those who have been blessed with the high levels of Ehsaan, Subhanallah, how i wish to be one of those who are experiencing the true love for Allah (Ishq Haqiqi).

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"The face of one who sincerely loves Allah ('ashiq) glows with the spiritual radiance (nur) of love for Allah. The knotted hearts of ordinary people become untied when they glanced upon such a face".

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These people who - when they are seen - Allah is remembered.

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Ive been reading book which was given to me by a beloved sister of mine, (Jazakallah khair sis, you know you have a special place in my heart, that's 'Ishq Majazi;)). The book is called "Love for Allah" by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad, translated by Brigadier Ashfaq Ashraf.

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The book covers the following: 1) The importance of Love for Allah 2) The effects of love for Allah 3) The conditions of the lovers of Allah in this world 4) A comparison between love ('ishq) and intellect ('aql) 5) True love ('Ishq Haqiqi) and metaphorical love ('Ishq Majazi) 6) The condition of the lovers of Allah when dying 7) The condition of the lovers of Allah in their graves 8) The conditions of the lovers of Allah on the Day of Judgment 9) The signs of a sincere lover 10) Love for Allah in the present times 11) How to attain love for Allah 12) The difference between a Murid and a Murad

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Although this book is small and relatively light in appearance... appearances can be deceiving! I have found this book to be a eye opener and more importantly a heart opener!

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"Traveling the path becomes difficult if one's footsteps follow the dictates of the intellect alone. The path leading to Allah has many points where the intellect falters, causing one to stumble. However, if one rides the mount of love, one easily races along the path. And, endeavors that a person deems impossible are rendered possible by Love."

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One leap of love has completed the journey,

I had thought this Earth and sky to by boundless.

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The simplicity of the way the book is written by a person who is a person deeply in love with his most Beloved, Allah. His words emanate from the heart, such that it effects the heart of the reader immensely.

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"When an ordinary person says something it has no effect on others. When spoken to a person imbued with love for Allah, the same words penetrate the innermost recesses of the heart."

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Words which come from the heart

Have an incredible effect.

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The entire book effected me a lot and put a lot of things into perspective. The book begins by explaining the importance of love and the role of love in a person's heart

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"The human body is composed of limbs and organs, each with a unique trait: seeing is the trait of the eye; listening is the trait of the ear; and smelling is the trait of the nose. Similarly, loving is the trait of the heart; the heart is always in love with someone"

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Be it with a stone, God, or anyone else

There comes not tranquility without loving

The heart is the ocean of love; love is its act,

Guard it a thousand ways; it will still fall in love.

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Subhanallah, the author mixes his knowledge with love and his love with poetry, but I cannot but dream of words which would be better for such a immensely fantastic topic.

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Another point which made me reanalyse my own condition was the difference between True love ('Ishq Haqiqi) and metaphorical love ('Ishq Majazi).

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"To love those among creation that Allah has commanded to love is in truth a completion of love for Allah. A hadith states that the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) used to supplicate;

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O Allah, I ask of You Your love and the love of those who love You.

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Therefore, to love the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) is in reality to love Allah. Similarly, love for the noble Companions (Sahabah) AS, the family of Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam), and the friends (awliya) of Allah also falls in this category. In addition, love for one's shaykh is also due to love for Allah. There are certain limits to these loves of creation and to exceed these limits, or to fall short of them, is considered a sin, In essence, to have love for the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) is a condition of one's faith (Iman). While, to love one's shykh, parents, children, spouse is the completion and perfection of one's love for Allah. Thus, true love ('ishq haqiqi) is to love both Allah and those among His creation that He has commanded us to love"

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How to attain such a blessed unique quality is hard to those only whose hearts are not opened to Allah.

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"The foremost condition of attaining love for Allah is to sincerely crave for such love. A person may acquire the material world (dunya) passively, but true love ('ishq) is a treasure; therefore it cannot be acquired unless one actively seeks it.

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I am humbled by my abaseness, and in awe of Your exaltedness,

Yet, what can I do of my heart, still it desires to reach you.

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So we must be yearning for Allah, be sincere in wanted to meet Him.

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I'm off to read the book again... you can never get enough of a good book! I haven't touched on half the things that the author has, and I haven't done justice to it, so please get a hold of a copy and read it.

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wassalam

Keep me in your duas