It is the loved one has for the Creator that makes one want to obey the obligations such as praying or fasting. It is the love for the Creator that will make one want to be close to everything this Creator is associated with or each activity that will bring him closer to the content of God. Trust that and trust Allah. No one can truly help you until you truly seek Allah Himself. Allah says:
وَمِنْ ءَايَاتِهِ الَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لاَتَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلاَلِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“And of His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate yourselves before the sun, nor before the moon, but prostrate yourselves before Allah Who created them, if it is Him that you serve.” (Surah Fushshilat: 37)
Allah is closer to you than your limbs and your thoughts that run in your mind right now as you read those words. He is Nearer to you than anyone. So, speak to Him. Don’t give up or feel shy or run away from Allah no matter what you’ve done. Allah always gives us hope and tells us about those who thought they were hopeless, yet He showed them the way and accepted them. Allah says:
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
Open up your heart to Allah (SWT) your Creator, and tell Him everything you’ve done, everything you regret, everything you want to do and seek His forgiveness and He will surely accept every sincere repentance. When He sees a sincere desire in your heart to live a pure, good life, He will most definitely open doors for you from where you haven’t expected. Allah says:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“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.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:31)
We must maintain sincerity in everything we do, especially prayer. Acknowledge that prayer is the obligatory method ordered by Allah to worship Him. If we are praying for the sake of showing others that we pray or praying and not paying attention to what we are saying in the prayer, then we are not putting sincerity in the prayer. A real type of love is the love of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).
How to Develop and Increase the Love for Allah Almighty:
- Associate nothing to Allah the Holy and Exalted
- Reading Quran greatly influence the impact
- Being pleased with the divine will of Allah
- Don’t despair – put your trust in Allah
- Love someone, you’ll find yourself
- Loving Allah the Holy and Exalted
- Venerating the symbols of Islam
- Being alone with Him in worship
- Always remember Allah (SWT)
- Contemplate God’s Creation
- Connecting with the Quran
- Pray fully focused on God
- Allah hears your prayers
- Studying what he conveyed
- Imitating and emulating Him
- Ensure your prayer is sincere
- Vowing with Allah’s names only
- Being aware of Allah’s supervision
- Try to seek righteous companionship
- Every Muslim studies the life of the Prophet ﷺ
- Sitting with those who are truthful in the love of Allah
- Having your heart softened as it is worshipping Allah
- Choose what Allah (SWT) prefers over what you prefer
Love of Allah the Almighty requires us to know and do what Allah loves. Thus, it is good to know that in terms of relationships between Muslims, Allah loves Ihsan (kindness or perfection). The kindness that Allah the Almighty loves can be achieved through fearing Allah and being conscious of Him in all our word of mouth and deeds too. As such, when a Muslim should speak, one must say the best of words, and when carrying out a task, one must seek perfection and do it to the possible best. Allah says:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
“And when proclaimed your Lord, “If you are thankful, surely I will increase you; but if you are ungrateful indeed, My punishment (is) surely severe.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
When you put your trust in Allah, you can more easily accept the good and the bad that befalls you. He only wants what is best for his believers. Let go of any anxiety you have about a matter, and put your trust in Him. He is so merciful that we can’t even imagine His limits. We should be kind towards others; give to those who are deprived, pardon whoever, be patient and show persistence.
Allah Almighty Says in the Holy Quran:
- “And Allah loves the steadfast.” (Al Imran: 146)
- “Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Al-Maida: 42)
- “… are signs for a people who give thought.” (Quran 13:3)
- “and whatever you have of favour – it is from Allah.” (An-Nahl: 53)
- “Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him] on.” (Al-Imran: 159)
- “and do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.” (Al-Baqara: 195)
- “but those who (truly) believe, they love Allah more than all else.” (Al Baqarah: 165)
- “And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.” (Quran 31:18)
- “…for without a doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (Surah Al-Rad, 13:28)
- “… thus does He complete His favour upon you that you might submit to Him.” (Quran 16:81)
- “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Quran 3:103)
A sign of loving someone is that you want others to know about your beloved. When you love someone, you find yourself thinking about them often. The more you love the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the more you’ll refer back to his life and the more you’ll pray that Allah grants you reunion with him in the Hereafter, in the highest levels of Paradise. A believer who encourages others to study the life and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ has some apparent signs of loving the Prophet ﷺ himself. Allah says:
أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ
“To worship Allah, just as you see Him, and if you don’t, indeed, He sees you.“ (Narrated by Muslim)
Reading the Quran shouldn’t be a burden, it should be a pleasure, guidance, cure, relief, and transformative experience. Try to learn the meanings of what you read in-depth. This will truly fill your heart and mind with awe of Allah and it will keep you focused on the straight path. We ask Allah to grant us His love, the love of those who love Him and the love of those actions which bring us close to him. Allah says:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكِ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Say: “O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You bestow dominion on whomever You please and take away dominion from whomever You please, and You exalt whom You please, and abase whom You please. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Powerful.” (Surah Ali Imran: 26)
O, Allah! Send your peace and blessings upon your Messenger, his family, and those who follow him until the Day of Resurrection. O, Allah! Grant us true and complete love for your Messenger and his Sunnah and allow us to be upon his path until the day we return to You. O, Allah! Grant us companionship with your Messenger in the highest levels of Paradise! May Allah fill our hearts with love for Him and may Allah accept and answer this love with what is good for us.