Allah." (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:165)
According to Islamic teaching, the minimum expectation from believers
is that God should have the first place in their heart, in the sense
that no other love may override one's love for God; God should be the
highest and foremost object of love. The Noble Qur'an says:
Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates
and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the
slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are
dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way,
then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not
guide the transgressing people. (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:24)
This verse clearly indicates that one's love for God has to be
superior to one's love for everything else that one may come to love
in one's life. This superiorityshows itself when the love for God and
for His religion comes in conflict with one's love for one's personal
belongings. In this case, a believer should be able to sacrifice his
personal favourite things for the sake of God. For example,if God asks
us to give our lives to protect innocent lives or our territorial
integrity or the like, we should not let our love for this world or
any other distraction i.e. family, wealth, power, etc. prevent us from
striving in His way. And nothing should come into conflict with our
love for God. The Noble Qur'an says:
Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body. (Surah
Al-Ahzab, 33:4)
Imam Ali (as) would always spend time with his children. Once he was
sitting in his house with his young children. Sayyida Zainab (sa) then
asked, "Dear, father, do you love me?" Imam Ali (as) said, "Yes, of
course, my children are like a part of my heart". On hearing this, she
said,"You also love Allah (SWT). How can two lovesbe in one heart of a
true believer, the love of Allah(SWT) and that of children?"
Imam Ali (as) smiled and replied, "Love Allah (SWT)and for the sake of
His love, you love His creatures; children and fellow beings too. I
love you for the sake of Allah (SWT)."
Hence love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief, the foundation
on which man is to establish the principles of his faith (Iman). Hence
with one heart one cannot choose two beloveds.
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said once, "The heart is the sanctuary of
God, therefore do not settle therein anything but God."
Hadith Qudsi says,"Neither [the vastness of]My earth, nor [that of]
Myheaven can contain Me. Indeed it is the heart of the man of faith
which can contain Me."
Urdu Couplet says: Kaba Kitna Khush Kismat Hai, Ke Yeh Allah (SWT) Ka
Ghar Hai, Lekin Is Mein Allah Nahi Rehta, Momin Kaba Se Bhi Ziada
Khush Kismat Hai, Jis Ke Dil Mein Allah (SWT) Rehta Hai.
The history of Islam is fullof memories of those who embodied a
sincere and overwhelming love for God and His religion. One of those
who full-heatedly devoted himself to Islam was Bilal al-Habashi , a
black slave. The pagans of Quraysh in Makkah subjected him to torture
asking him to mention names of their idols express his belief in them
and disbelieve in Islam. They tormented him under the burning Sun by
laying him on scorching sand and putting heavy rocks on his chest. Abu
Bakr, a richcompanion (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (saw), was passing
by when he heard the cry ofBilal. He went close and advised him to
hide his belief, but Bilal was not prepared to do so; since"love was
ever rebellious becomes deadly."
Another example love forIslam is Imam Hussayn ibn Ali (sa), who said:
"OhGod, I have left the worldin Your love. Am ready to make my
children orphans in Your love. My heart could not divert towards
anybody but You. Even if You cut my body into pieces in Your love."
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