LOVE OF ALLAH (SUBAANAHU WATA'AALAA),
THE PROPHET (SALLALLAHU ALAIHE WASALLAM)
AND THE FAITH
Islam requires of us to believe in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and to observe Salaah, Saum, Zakaah and Hajj, and to lead a life of piety, honesty, goodness, gentleness, moral and social rectitude and self-discipline. In the same way, it is also one of its fundamental teachings that we should hold Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith dearer to our hearts than everything else, may it be our parents, children, life, honour or property. In simple words what it means is that should a time come when it may involve the risk of life, honour or property or of any other worldly thing or interest to abide by the faith of Islam and to remain loyal to the injunctions of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) then we must not break away from Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith irrespective of what the consequences may be.
It has been stressed repeatedly in the Holy Quraan and the Traditions
that those who may claim to be Muslims but do not possess as strong a
devotion for Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith as these are in fact, are not true
Muslims. What is more, they are deserving of Divine chastisement. Reads
surah Taubah:
Say: " If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred: the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight, are dearer to you than Allah, and His Apostle, or the striving in His cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision; and Allah guides not the rebellious." [IX:24]
Those
who love their parents or children or life or honour or property more
than they love Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and care more for their
protection or well-being than for His pleasure and the defence and
progress of His faith are unquestionably disloyal to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and worthy of His punishment. A Tradition say:
"He
alone will taste the sweetness of the faith who possesses these three
qualities: the love of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) come to him before everything else; he
loves whom he loves for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa); the
idea of going back to apostasy after he has embraced Islam is as
repugnant to him as being thrown into the fire."
In the sight
of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) a true and genuine Muslim is a person whose devotion to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
and the Faith is stronger than to any other person or thing in the
world so much so that when he loves another human being he loves him
for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and who is so sincerely
and powerfully attached to the Islamic faith that the very thought of
leaving it and reverting back to apostasy may be as painful to him as
being cast into the fire.
Says the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam): "None of you can be an honest Muslim and a true believer
unless his love for me exceeds the love he has for his parents,
children or any other human being in the world."
Brothers!
Islam, really is nothing besides surrender and submission to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
with all one's heart and soul and the readiness to sacrifice every
attachment, belonging or interest for the sake of the Faith as the holy
Companions had done and as the state is of the true and devoted
servants of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) even today, however small may
their number be. May we also be one of them!
