“Love for the sake of Allah” Although we’ve heard the phrase many times have we ever stopped to think what it truly means? Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah Almighty will say on the Day of Rising, ‘Where are those who loved one another for the sake of My majesty? Today, on the day when there is no shade but My shade, I will shade them.'” [Muslim] The merit of the action is clear from the hadith but how do we go about loving someone purely for the sake of Allah? There are a many reasons why we would love someone; most of the time for some personal gain. When we love for the sake of Allah we love without expectation; we love simply because Allah (swt) decreed us to love. A love revolving around Allah (swt) forms and reaffirms the strongest of bonds and creates and builds the strongest of characters.
In order to love others for the sake of Allah (swt) we must first love Allah and his messenger above all else. Loving for the sake of Allah (swt) is the truest expression of Iman because it reflects the totality of submission to Allah’s decrees. Love becomes an act of worship. It generates a compassion within that compels you to help others purely to gain the pleasure of Allah (swt). Any act of charity strengthens that compassion. Islamic character is strengthened through this unselfish love. The poor, the sick, the oppressed are all reminders of the person you want to be because those in need present you with the opportunity to take action in order to develop into that person. Loving for the sake of Allah reminds you of the ultimate goal.
If every single one of us loved one another for the sake of Allah (swt) where would we as an Ummah be? If the desire to obtain the blessing of Allah (swt) through love was everyone’s goal the world would be different. The poor and needy wouldn’t be shunned. The helpless and oppressed wouldn’t be ignored. To love for the sake of Allah is to love for your brother what you would for yourself and to stand against anything less. The plight of those in need would grab hold of your heart as it would if you truly began to see them as brothers and sisters. Although we may not know each other and we may be separated by distance, we are all connected and united under the most important and eternal banner of Allah the All Mighty.