It
is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be
pleased with him), who observed:
“I asked Allah’s Messenger
(may peace be upon him) which deed was the
best.” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘The
Prayer at its appointed hour.’ I (again) asked: “Then
what?” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘Kindness
to the parents.’ I (again) asked: “Then what?” He
replied: ‘Earnest struggle (Jihad) in the
cause of Allah.‘ I refrained from asking any more questions
for fear of annoying him. (Sahih Muslim:
120)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about the best of deeds. He observed: “Belief in Allah.” He (the inquirer) asked: ‘What next?’ He (the Holy Prophet) replied: “Jihad (struggle to the utmost) in the cause of Allah.” He (the inquirer) again asked: ‘What next?’ He (the Holy Prophet) replied: “Pilgrimage accepted into the grace of the Lord.” (Sahih Muslim: 118)
Abu
Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that I asked the
Messenger of Allah: “Which of the deeds
is the best?” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘Belief
in Allah and Jihad in His cause.‘ I again asked: “Who
is the slave whose emancipation is the best?” He (the
Holy Prophet) replied: ‘One who is
valuable for his master and whose price is high.‘ I
asked: “What if I cannot afford to do
it?” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘Help
an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (laborer).’ I
(Abu Dharr) said: “O Messenger of Allah,
you see that I am helpless in doing some of these deeds.” He
(the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘Desist from
doing mischief to the people. That is your own charity for your
self.’
(Sahih Muslim: 119)
SOME
OF THE HUMAN QUALITIES ALLAH, THE ALMIGHTY LOVES
“Say (O
Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really)
love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow
the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your
sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran:
3:31)
Patience
“And
Allah loves as-Sabirun (the patient).” (Quran: 3:146)
Justice
and Dealing with Equity
“Be just:
that is nearer to piety; and fear Allah.” (Quran: 5:8)
Putting
Trust in Allah
“Certainly, Allah
loves those who put their trust (in Him).” (Quran: 3:159)
Perfection
of One’s Work
The Messenger (peace be upon him)
said: “Allah loves that if one does a
job he perfects it.”
Rescuing
Abu
Ya ‘la Dailami and Ibn Asakir narrated: Abu Hurairah and Anas Ibn
Malik said: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves rescuing the one who needs rescue.”
Being
Kind and Gentle to Others
Baihaqani narrated: Allah’s
Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
is kind and gentle (to others).”
Kindliness
“Aisha
narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves kindliness in all matters.” (Bukhari)
Repentance
“Truly,
Allah loves those who turn unto him in repentance.” (Quran: 2:222)
Piety
“Verily,
then Allah loves those who are al-Muttaqun (the pious).”
(Quran:
3:76)
Good-doing
“Truly,
Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (Quran: 2:195)
Body
Purification
“And Allah loves those
who make themselves clean and pure [ i.e. who clean their private
parts with dust (which has the properties of soap) and water from
urine and stools, after answering the call of nature].” (Quran:
9:108)
Humility
of the Rich
Muslim narrated: Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas said:
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves the believer who is pious and rich, but does not show off.”
Belief
and Work
Al-Tabarani narrated: Allah’s Messenger (peace
be upon him) said: “Allah loves the
slave who believes and acquires a career (or work).”
Reflection
of Allah’s Grace
Al-Tirmidhi narrated: Allah’s
Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves from amongst his slaves, the one who has a sense of zeal or
honor.”
Magnanimity
Al-Hakim
narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
is All-Generous and He loves generosity in sale, purchase and
judgment.”
Virtuosity
The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ”
Allah loves the slave-believer who is poor but virtuous enough to
refrain from begging though he has many children.” (Muslim
and Ahmed)
Loftiness
Al-Tabarani
narrated: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves lofty matters and superiority and hates inferior matters.”
Justice
Allah’s
Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
loves that you be just toward your children even when kissing
them.” (Ibn Al-Najjar)
Strength
Muslim
narrated: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “The
strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than the weak one,
but they are both good.”
Love
for the Sake of Allah
Al-Tabarani, Ibn Ya’la, Ibn Hibban
and Al-Hakim narrated: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)
said: “If two men love each other for
the sake of Allah, the stronger in love to his brother will be more
loved by Allah.”
Forgiveness
Ibn
Iday narrated: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah
is All-Forgiving and He loves forgiveness.”
Continuous
Performance of Righteous Deeds
Bukhari and Muslim narrated:
Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “The
best loved deeds to Allah are the ones that are continuous even if
they are not very many.”
Loving
and Visiting Believers
Malik narrated: Allah’s Messenger
(Peace be upon him) said: “Allah said:
My love is due to those who meet for My sake, visit one another and
make any effort for My pleasure.”
Exhortation
and Advising
Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmed narrated: It
was said: Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “The
best loved slaves to Allah are those who exhort their slaves.”
Love
of Virtuous Deeds
Ibn Abi Al-Dunya narrated: Allah’s
Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “The
best loved slaves to Allah are those who are made to love virtue and
loving virtuous deeds is made lovely to them.”
Good
Manners and Conduct
Al-Tirmidhi narrated: Allah’s
Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “The
best loved by me and the nearest to me on the seats on the Day of
Resurrection are those who have the best manners and conduct amongst
you, who are intimate, are on good terms with others and are humble,
and the most hated by me and who will be on the furthest seats from
me are those who are talkative and arrogant.”
Love of Allah Ta’ala is the basis of worship that should be directed to Him alone. Any other love should be for His sake too. The real love of Allah Ta’ala is to do whatever He ordained and to abandon whatever He forbade, in addition to following the Prophet’s Sunnah.
Whoever obeys someone or something other than Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger, or follows any saying other than theirs, or fears other than Allah Ta’ala or seeks the pleasure of other than Allah Ta’ala , or puts his trust in other than Him, does not love Allah Ta’ala, nor does he love His Messenger. Muslims should also love one another and wish the best for one another. Allah’s Messenger (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said:
“One will not be a true believer unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa’i, Ahmed and Ibn Majah)
Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed narrated: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah said: My love is due to those who love one another for My sake.”