Photo: Paul Oka

Names of Allah Series:  Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX | Part XXI | Part XXII | Part XXIII | Part XXIV | Part XXV | Part XXVI | Part XXVII | Part XXVIII | Part XXIX | Part XXX | Part XXXI | Part XXXII | Part XXXIII | Part XXXIV | Part XXXV | Part XXXVI |Part XXXVII | Part XXXVIII | Part XXXIX | Part XXXX | Part XXXXI | Part XXXXII | Part XXXXIII 

This article was originally posted on August 15, 2012 and has been modified.

Sometimes we make a mistake or commit a wrong that other people know about. We may have given up the sin, or it may have been a one-off, but we just wish that we could erase the memory of that mistake from the minds of those other people. Similarly, when we commit a sin only Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), knows about, even when we repent and hope for His forgiveness, we wish we never committed the wrong to begin with. We wish it would just disappear. Allah (swt), who is closer to us than our jugular vein, knows this. And so He has given us way of starting anew, insha’Allah (God willing).

The Last Ten and Pardoning

Subhan’Allah (glory be to God)—the last 10 days of Ramadan have begun. One of these nights will be Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) insha’Allah—a time for intensified reflection, worship and giving. Aisha radi allahu `anha (may God be pleased with her), realizing the magnanimity of this time, asked the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?” He said: “Say:

اللهم إنك عفوتحب العفو فاعف عني

Allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhib al-`afwa fa`fu `anny

O Allah, You are the One who pardons, and You love to pardon, so pardon me.” (Bukhari)

Out of all of the things the Prophet ﷺcould have advised, he taught us to ask for ‘afw. ‘Afw is sometimes translated as ‘forgiveness,’ but so is maghfira [i.e. when we say astgahfirullah, I seek forgiveness from God]. Unfortunately, there is something that is lost in translation, because ‘afw is more expansive than maghfira—and here we will see why.

Meaning

One of the meanings ‘afw is the complete removal of something—removing its traces. For example,

هذه أرضٌ عَفْو

“This is a land with no traces on it, i.e. it is untouched.”

So what does this have to do with the du’a (supplication), “O Allah you are ‘afw, and You love al-’afw, so have ‘afw on me”?

When we ask for maghfira, we are asking for Allah(swt) to cover up our sin for us and to protect us from the effects of our sin. We ask Allah (swt) that even though we committed that sin, that He not punish us for it. When we ask for ‘afw, we are asking Allah (swt) to completely erase the sin, such that its traces are also removed. This means that our slate is literally wiped clean—there will be no questioning for those sins on the Day of Judgment insha’Allah. 

The Prophet ﷺteaches us about this difference in two ahadeeth (narrations). In the first hadith, the Prophet ﷺtells us about a person who is questioned by Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment. Allah tells His servant, “O my servant, do you remember when you did such and such a sin?” and the servant will lower his head in shame, nodding, thinking that surely he will be of the people punished. Then Allah (swt) tells him, “I concealed these sins from people in dunya (world), and I will not shame you here. I have forgiven you (ghafartu lak).” (Ahmad)

That is maghfira.

In the second hadith, the Prophet ﷺis told that 70,000 of his ummah (global community of Muslim believers) will enter jannah (paradise) without reckoning because:

عفا الله عنهم

“Allah has pardoned them.”

And then the Prophet ﷺasks for more, so with every thousand people of those pardoned, Allah will pardon 70,000 more. And Allah is Al-‘Afuww’- He name Himself this to let you know that indeed He is the One that completely erases your sin. He knows everything we do, yet He chooses to wipe our slate clean.

Laylat al-Qadr and ‘afw

Sufyan ath-Thawri said, “During this night [i.e. Laylat al-Qadr] the most beloved thing for me to ask for is what the Prophet ﷺtold us to ask for.”

This is a night of ambition. We don’t simply ask for forgiveness, but for removing even the traces of our sin. We ask for a clean slate. The Prophet ﷺtells us of a person who goes to the Eid prayer after Ramadan and he does not have one sin in his book—it was all pardoned.

When Allah (swt) tells us about ‘afw in the Qur’an, it is usually with something major—as if to tell us, there is no sin too great. It can all be wiped away.

When the Children of Israel worshipped the calf, Allah (swt) tells us:

“And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him, while you were wrongdoers. Then We forgave [pardoned/‘afawna] you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.” (Qur’an 2:51-52)

Allah pardoned, wiped away the greatest sin—the sin of shirk (polytheism). So if you come to Allah (swt) sincerely in these last 10 nights, if you come to the One who loves to pardon, then insha’Allah He will erase that sin you are so worried about, and those many sins for you.

O Allah! You are the One who pardons, and You love to pardon, so pardon us!

—

Source: Lecture by Amr Khaled

He was describing Asma and Aisha radi Allahu `anhuma (may God be pleased with them). Abdullah, the son of Asma and the nephew of Aisha, explained: “Their generosity was different. Aisha (ra) used to gather things, and after they had been collected, she would give them out. Asma (ra), on the other hand, would not keep anything for the next day.” (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)

Immediately, we notice how their expressions of generosity were the exact opposite; one woman waiting until she gathered a large amount to give, while the other gave as soon as she received. Yet one method of giving was not favored over the other. Both forms of giving were equally seen as virtuous.

Among the many virtues we know of our Mother Aisha (ra), the one she received a nickname for was charity. She was called Umm al-Teeb (the mother of fragrance). Using “umm” or “mother” in Arabic emphasizes that this person is the source of something or that this is a particular characteristic of the person or object.  Aisha (ra) was called Umm al-Teeb because she used to spray perfume on the money she donated. When asked why she did this, she explained that charity reaches Allah before the receiving person’s hand ((This means that the reward for this charity is recorded by Allah (swt) first, thus “reaching” Him. It does not refer to the tangible donation.)) so she wanted it to smell nice. She did this so often that it became her trademark and earned her this nickname.

Asma (ra) was known for her strength and resilience. She was the older sister of Aisha (ra) by ten years. As a young woman, she walked miles until she reached the cave outside of the city where her her father, Abu Bakr (ra), and the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) were hiding on their pilgrimage to Medina, in order to bring them food. For her creativity in bringing them supplies, the Prophet ﷺ personally gave her a nickname. She became known as Dhat an-Nitaqayn, which means “she who has two belts.” To hide the supplies she was carrying, Asma (ra) tore her belt in two and secured the packages under her clothes. A part of this story that is not well-known was that Asma (ra) was recently married and pregnant at the time.

This brief glimpse into their lives shows us how these women embodied generosity. What can we specifically learn from this narration?

Firstly, we learn that there are benefits and challenges to both ways of giving, but that both methods can make you among the most generous of people. Asma’s method teaches us that we should be in the constant habit of giving as we receive. Giving as soon as you receive can make you among the most generous of people. Aisha’s case, giving after accumulation, may seem harder. We live in a society which encourages accumulation and collecting things. When you have one thing in your hand, it may be easier to give rather than collecting a large amount and giving it all at once. But the bottom line is that we should be giving. The question is: how can we adjust this giving to fit our circumstances and make us better people?

In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) when speaking of Maryam (as) describes her as being among the most devout worshippers. He (swt) did not specify ‘devout female worshippers,’ highlighting that her devoutness was not related to her being a woman; it transcended gender. She, and all of us, are first and foremost worshipers of Allah. Similarly, Abdullah (ra) did not say these two women are the most generous women, but in his eyes, they were the two most generous people he knew.

Abdullah (ra) also noted the difference between the amount of giving (Aisha) versus the frequency of giving (Asma). Despite this stark contrast, he recognizes that either/or, both forms of giving embody generosity. It does not matter which way you follow as long as you give. Abdullah (ra) did not share what his mother and aunt actually gave, and from this we can understand that they did not only give money but assorted items.

If you were to look up “charity” in any hadith (Prophetic traditions) database, you would come up with hundreds upon hundreds of narrations and examples of charity. Allah (swt) and His Prophet ﷺ teach us that giving charity and being generous are important and noble traits of a believer. Yet, they did not give us only one way to practice generosity. An act which embodies a general virtue such as honesty or kindness can be practiced many ways. Asma (ra) and Aisha (ra) teach us two of the many ways we can be generous people.

An important lesson from this narration is that we should personalize our worship. We know that there are acts of worship which have specific conditions and practices which we cannot deviate from, such as prayer or fasting. But doing general good, which is considered worship, can be molded to fit our personalities. We all have unique gifts Allah (swt) has blessed us with. We should use these talents to worship Allah and to benefit ourselves and those around us. We should be creative and find our own unique ways of doing good, under the greater umbrella of virtuous deeds. Islam does not remove our personalities or qualities. Instead, Islam should accentuate our personalities. Dr. Sherman Jackson sums it up wonderfully by saying, “Let us not think that greatness can only be by becoming a religious scholar. Many of us don’t find greatness because we don’t find ourselves. We are too busy trying to be someone else and their greatness. Because we don’t focus on Allah we can’t see the greatness that Allah wants us to achieve. When we find that path, the talents and ingrained values will find their fruition.” ((Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGsUGrojUqU))

You can be generous in many ways, based on your circumstances and personality, because Islam accommodates this. Sometimes we take very grand virtues and present a linear and restrictive definition of how to act upon them. For example, we all know that honesty is a virtue. But does honesty only mean to speak the truth? Doesn’t honesty include honesty in earning a lawful income or honesty in eating from pure and good sources? Generosity is not just to give money nor is it to only give something when you get it. Yes, giving money is part of generosity but it can also be to give people your full attention when speaking to them. It can be to spend time with family. It can be showing hospitality to your guests. When we restrict a virtue, we end up restricting ourselves and our Islam. If we try to manifest these virtues in everything we do, if we go beyond the linear definition, then we move past Islam as being a series of acts and rituals and instead work towards truly embodying Islamic virtues in all aspects of our lives.

This short narration from Abdullah (ra) at a cursory glance may teach us simply that generosity is a virtue. Taking a closer look allows us to see how two great women embodied generosity and how we can be creative in our worship.

Our mother, Khadijah, radi Allahu `anha (may God be pleased with her), was an amazing role model for all the women who came after her. She was loved by the Prophet ﷺ and was loved by the Almighty. Khadijah was a business woman, taking care of the financial matters during the time in which the Prophet was spreading the message of Islam. She was a mother, and the only woman to whom the Prophet was married who bore him children. She gave birth to and raised another perfect woman, the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima. She was a business woman, a mother, and a giant part of our history.

Her daughter Fatima, may God be pleased with her, had a special place in the heart of the Messenger ﷺ. Not only was she the daughter of our beloved, but she was also the wife of Ali (ra) and the mother of Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein. She was known to be extremely forbearing and caring with people in need. Hussein (ra), said that he would find his mother absorbed in her prayer from dusk until dawn. He said that her generosity and compassion for the poor was so immense that no poor person or beggar ever walked away from her door without being attended to.  She was a mother and a wife, and one of the most inspirational women in our past.

The next woman that was mentioned was Maryam `alayha as-salam (peace be upon her). Maryam’s story is as unique as they get. She attained perfection and was granted many miracles by God including being provided for in ways that were strange to others, such as receiving fruits out of season. But of course the great miracle in her life is universally known, her being the virgin mother of Jesus alayhi as-salam (peace be upon him). It is at this time that we should take a moment and put this into perspective. Maryam was unmarried and a single mother. Her story is one of the most well-known stories of history despite the fact that she wasn’t married. She attained perfection because of who she was not because of who she was married to or a lofty status in the community. Her perfection came from within.

Aasiyah  (as) was also an inspirational figure that can never be forgotten. She was the wife of the Pharaoh, one of the most oppressive men of history. In essence, she was a victim of domestic abuse. But her situation didn’t stop her from becoming the best she could be. She continued to push her relationship with God and called out to Him in her despair asking for a house in Jannah (Paradise). She attained perfection and was granted one of the greatest honors, being spoken about in the Qur’an for all of humanity to read about for the rest of time.

Lastly, but definitely not least, our Mother Aisha, may God be pleased with her. Aisha was not a mother, nor was she a business woman. Aisha was a wife, and a scholar. She was one of the greatest scholars of all time, hands down. Her focus was not to be an amazing housewife; rather her main focus was being a woman of knowledge and standing up for the rights of women. She was not a weak, timid woman. She spoke up whenever she felt the need and was not afraid to fight for her rights. She wasn’t a mother, yet she was one of the women who was known to have been held to high esteem by Allah and the Messenger himself.

These five women were nothing short of amazing based on the most important criteria, the criteria set forth by Allah and spoken to us by his Messenger ﷺ. They were amazing because of who they are. There was no set cookie cutter for them to fit into. They were amazing despite any hardships in their lives or pressures they may have faced. Whether she was a mother, a wife, single, a business woman or a victim of domestic abuse, it didn’t limit her ability to rise in the site of Allah. So whoever you are, whatever position you may be, do your best and be amazing. Because you, despite your circumstances, can rise high in the sight of Allah, if only you focus on that which is most important—Him.

By Aisha Bhoori

The ambulance was shrieking, and I was the unlucky patient being hurriedly transported to the local hospital. My body lay on a stretcher inside the vehicle, pain shooting through my left arm.

“It looks like a massive heart attack,” I heard one of the paramedics whisper. Not knowing the true severity of my situation, I shut my eyes, desperately praying to Ar-Rahman (The Merciful) to have mercy on His slave.

…..

I impatiently tugged at the oxygen tubes in my nose, wondering when I would be able to escape from this prison the public decreed was a hospital.  A cardiologist soon strolled into my room, her brown eyes vibrant with empathy as she laid my chart down on the side counter and turned towards me, exclaiming, “As-salaamu `alaykum ((peace be upon you)) Aisha.”

Believing her kindness to be merely the facet of a friendly facade, I brusquely muttered an inaudible “Wa `alaykum as-salaam ((and on you, peace)) .”

The doctor tucked a strand of loose hair back in her hijab and began the arduous task of diagnosing me.

“The EKG was abnormal. We found some…disturbing signs. The irregular rate at which your heart is beating and the atypical electrical activity occurring are typical signs of a very discontent heart. We believe you are suffering from qalb-ul-qasiyyah, a hardened heart.”

With this revelation she looked at me expectantly, but my apathetic eyes merely gazed at her in boredom. I was too tired—too weary—too hopeless to care about the dire condition of my heart.

“Aisha?” she asked, giving me a questioning glance. “This is a very curable disease, you know. I once suffered from it too.”

With this revelation my eyes flickered with mild interest. But even then, I was suffocating under the burden of my despair and believed whatever “cure” the doctor was referencing had ceased to exist.

Understanding my cynical mindset, she began narrating her story.

“I was in a situation very similar to the one in which you are now. I was spiritually lost, wandering about with this immense pain in my soul, and my heart was reaping the effects. One day, I collapsed from the sheer magnitude of helplessness and sadness, and I was rushed into a hospital, just like the one in which we are today.”

I was fully awake at this point, and my eyes perceived the doctor in a different light. Curious as to how she managed to recover from the disease, I asked, “How did you get better?”

A knowing smile played on her lips: “Never forget Aisha—Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) says in the Qur’an, “Surely with every hardship comes ease” ((Qur’an 94:5-6)) . But to answer your question more directly, I recovered through tawbah ((repentance)) , dhikr  ((remembrance))  and du`a’  ((supplication))  . These three things are the key to maintaining a relationship with Allah (swt). And in every situation, you have to have tawakkul ((trust in and reliance on God)) . Believe me, when you put your trust in Allah (swt) and not in other people, or a drug or a pill, the results are miraculous; tawakkul is an alleviation of stress and despair. ”

“But I already do all of those things. I pray five times a day too, ” I grumbled. ” And look where I am now.”

“I used to feel the same way,” she responded. The cardiologist’s eyes seemed to see through my exterior into my conflicted interior. “But just think for a moment. Do we really believe La ilaha illallah ((there is nothing of worship except The God)) ? I think the problem I had, and the problem our Ummah  ((community)) as a whole suffers from, is that our hearts haven’t born witness to the shahada ((the testament of faith))  . Our iman  ((faith)) is merely lip service; it is neither manifested in our deeds nor nestled in our hearts. Rasulullah  ((the Messenger of God))  ﷺ (peace be upon him) used to make tawbah over 70 times a day. We barely say 3 heartfelt astagfirullah‘s ((I seek refuge in God)) a day. How often do we return to Allah (swt) when we know we have strayed off the straight path, and are distant from Him?”

The doctor paused for a few seconds, and then turned back to me, asking a strange question with a seemingly obvious reply: “What do you think about when you pray?”

“Allah (swt) of course, ” I answered, matter of factly. But, seeing her skeptical look, I answered again.

“Well, usually my mind wanders, and I start to think about what my friend told me at lunch, or what I’m going to do for my science fair project, or what outfit I should wear to the party on Saturday. It’s hard to focus on Allah (swt),” I admitted.

“Good. You realize sometimes your mind strays from the remembrance of Allah (swt). It’s a problem that everybody struggles with. And it’s the cause of inefficient salah ((prayer)) . Salah is meant to be a protection for us against sin—a protection against the ever persistent whisperings of Shaytan (the devil). But, more often than not, it becomes monotonous, ritualistic movements of the body, in which our minds remember everything but Allah (swt). And this inefficient salah leads to a very lost, discontent soul that wonders why it has ceased to feel alive.”

Recognizing the truth in her words, I asked, “How can I start remembering Allah (swt)?”

“Simple. Dhikr and du`a’; strive to remember Allah (swt), and make du`a’. Ask As-Sami` (The One Who Hears) to bless you with the remembrance of Him. And remember it is recorded in a hadith  ((record of the words and actions of the Prophet ﷺ ))  that ‘Whoever does not ask of Allah (swt), he is angry with him.’ ((Tirmidhi)) Ask Allah (swt) and expect to be answered, because Allah (swt) loves to hear and answer the supplications of his humble servants.”

By this time I had shifted positions from laying on my back, to sitting upright, my head leaning against a few fluffed out pillows. The telemetry machine beeped encouragingly; my heart was beginning to beat at a more normal pace. I felt as I did after a rigorous cardio workout or an exhausting yet satisfying  game of basketball at the YMCA.

The cardiologist was quiet—lost in her thoughts. It seemed as if her speech had ended. Her hand was on the doorknob and she began to open the door.

“Where’s my prescription?” I quickly asked, assuming she had forgotten.

She merely chuckled. “I think I’ve given you everything you need to recover from this disease and have a qalbin salim—a sound heart. Read the Qur’an. Remember Aisha, in the Qur’an there is a healing—a healing that can heal even the hardest of hearts. ”

And with that, she opened the door and exited the room.

Love is a beautiful emotion. It encompasses all the most beautiful things in the world. Every relation and connection gets stronger and more durable when there is an element of affiliation and love added to it.  Beginning from our first love as a child for our mother to choosing someone to spend our whole life with, love is what makes life worth living. And, like all precious things in the world, this priceless treasure demands guarantees to keep it flourishing.

When you love someone, they are always on your mind and become the driving force of your direction in life. You love to follow them, obey them, do whatever you can to please them and try your best to avoid whatever displeases them. You share with them your problems and consult them for their best advice. Their name soothes you and their company is the most precious time of your day. Never do their messages and mails go unread or ignored.  The world sees you change when this beautiful feeling overpowers you, whether this love be for a human, a mission, a career or simply a car or a gadget. Love changes your priorities and the color of this feeling is evident on your face and in your feelings, words, and actions.

We all love the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may peace and blessings of God be upon him), the personality whose greatness is acknowledged by Muslim and non-Muslim thinkers and scholars—a warm friend and a guide for his companions, a devoted and loving husband to his wives, a shady tree for his daughters, a leader of the Ummah (community), an exemplary politician and a reformist who transformed the most uncultured Bedouin into the most disciplined force of people known to history.

His message, which begins with the oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), gives answers for all the problems we face today. But how many of us have actually explored the message he brought? Do we really know the message? The Qur’anic code of life sent to us though our beloved Messenger of Allah ﷺ still remains untouched, only to be ‘recited’ when we are in trouble or a calamity afflicts us, or it becomes a part of the deluxe package that goes with the bride. How many of us consult his way in our practical lives whether it’s a matter of celebration or woe?

We never see the Prophet ﷺ telling a lie, deceiving a human or even an animal, breaking a pact or a promise. He forgives and prays for the humiliating tribal chiefs of Taif and the people who throw stones at him. He rejects social inequality and all sorts of racial supremacy and lays down in his final sermon, the basic charter of human rights,

“An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”

He sets best examples of justice and warns that the previous nations were destroyed because they only punished their weak and poor for crimes. He teaches us to be on our best behavior and to have ‘akhlaaq’ (manners) with our neighbors (Muslim or Non-Muslims) so much so that he once thought that they might get a share in inheritance (because of the stress Allah (swt) has put on their rights). He cries for Allah’s forgiveness for us and stresses us to remain united and not be divided due to language, castes or sects.

”Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”

Non- Muslim minorities are at peace under his rule. Justice is served irrespective of faith, status or personal affiliation. He lifts the status of a woman from the one who was buried alive at birth to a guarantee to get best rewards, may it be through serving and obeying one’s mother, taking care of a wife or raising a daughter with love. He brings a message that puts rewards in charity and spending from what we love most, giving an orphan a home and helping a widow to survive.

No one has the right to question anybody’s sincerity of ‘love for the Prophet ﷺ’ but we all need some serious self-evaluation. When we claim to be his followers, it automatically makes us his ambassadors and representatives in whatever roles and responsibilities we take. Do we consult the Prophet ﷺ in different matters of our lives?

Let’s follow the Prophet ﷺ to prove that we love him. Let’s celebrate him every day. Let’s light up our hearts with the beacon of this message like we light up the streets on his birthday. Let’s engrave those beautiful stories of his life, which we memorize and narrate, on our actions. Let’s check if our deeds are compatible with our claims of love towards him. In following him, lies the secret of Allah’s love, mercy and forgiveness for us.

‘’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.” (Al-Qur’an 3:31)

for my sweet sixteen

Gramps gave me

a gift

a sleek, red Benz

and I loved that red Benz so much

I went and

put It in my heart

I nurtured It in there

and found a home for It

right in the center

of my heart

I was so excited that I went

and told Gramps about my heart’s

new red infatuation

but for some strange reason

Gramps was disappointed

real disappointed

his blue eyes pierced with a sense of alarm

and he quietly advised

put that red Benz

where It belongs

your heart’s not big enough

to be clogged with

 such a big piece of junk

angered, I thought Gramps was being

an old, senile, nuisance

so I proudly showed him my heart

and exclaimed

see Gramps

look

there’s just enough space

surrounding the red Benz

for other stuff

but for some strange reason

Gramps was insistent

real insistent

his blue eyes pierced with a sense of alarm

and he went and took

my lovely red Benz from me

for days I was forlorn and depressed

wandering about with

a gaping hole in my chest

my heart was so empty

I didn’t know what to refill it with

so I took bits and pieces of things

in an attempt to ease the pain

right in the center of my heart

where that red Benz used to be

I sprinkled a little

Happiness

some

Hope

and even some

Sorrow

just to make my heart

Complete

soon a whole year passed by

and the next thing I knew

it was time for my birthday

I had a big red velvet cake

with seventeen candles on it

and when I blew out the candles

I forgot to make a wish

or maybe

I just didn’t have

anything good to wish for

in either case, after everyone was done

singing and clapping

something strange happened

Gramps came up to me

told me to follow him

and led me outside to our garage

there the gigantic red Benz sat

neatly adorned with a red bow

but for some strange reason

I wasn’t as excited as I should have been

to see my long lost love

not wanting to disappoint Gramps

with my lack of gratitude

I gave him a great big hug

but he just shrugged me off

placed a set of keys

right in the center of my hands

and with a wink, said

this time, I hope you keep that gift

where it belongs

Now that we know what love actually is, how do we know that we actually love him? How do we know that our hearts are actually inclined to him and that we are not merely uttering words that do not resonate within us? There are signs that one can look for and strive for so that we may be sure to have this needed and craved love.

1. Itiba` (Following him) and ta`ah (Obeying him): In the Qur’an we are not only commanded to obey the Prophet ﷺ (May God peace and blessings be upon him), but also to follow him. There are many benefits that come from obeying him and following him aside from the great reward of it being a sign of loving him.

a. Obeying him is a means of becoming guided. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (Glorified is He) said in the Qur’an:

Say, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away – then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification.”
(Qur’an 24: 54)

b. Obeying him is a means of attaining the mercy of Allah (swt). Allah said in the Qur’an:

And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. (Qur’an 3:132)

c. Obeying him is a means of entering Jannah (Paradise)

And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him – it is those who attain (of Jannah) (Qur’an 24: 52)

d.  Following him is a sign of loving Allah and will actually cause Allah to love you and forgive your sins!

Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. [..].” (Qur’an 3: 31)

2. Preferring the law that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought over our own desire. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an:

But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission (Qur’an 4: 65)

3. Constantly mentioning him: When we love something or someone, that thing becomes frequently mentioned in our conversations and becomes the thoughts we drift to when our minds wander.

4. Yearning for him: Every lover yearns for his/her beloved. If you find your heart yearning for him, and craving to see his face, know that this is a sign of true love for him, alayhisalam (Peace be upon him).

5. Respecting him and displaying humility at his mention

6. Loving those whom he loved: When we truly love someone we love those who brought happiness to the heart of our beloved.  Of those the Prophet ﷺ truly loved were Khadija, Aisha, Hassan and Hussain, the companions, and the Ummah (Muslim community) as a whole.

7. Love for the Qur’an

8. Naseeha (sincere counsel) for His community

9. Living without the Dunya

May these signs of love and compassion for our beloved Prophet ﷺ be prevalent in our daily lives, bringing us closer to drinking from his hands on the Day of Judgment and entering Jannah with him.