Why Does Allah Create Love for the Pious?

Creation’s Love for the Pious

Allah Almighty says:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ سَیَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمٰنُ وُدًّا(۹۶)

Those who believe and perform righteous deeds, soon the Infinitely Gracious shall create love for them.^[1]

(Click here for further explanation of this verse)

Commentary:

In the explanation of this blessed verse, many exegetes have mentioned a blessed hadith recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated:

When Allah Almighty loves a servant, He says to Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, “Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so person, therefore you should also love him.” So, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم loves him. Then Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم announces to the dwellers of the heavens, “Indeed, Allah loves so-and-so person, therefore you should also love him.” Thus, the dwellers of the heavens also begin to love him. Then, acceptance for him is placed among the people of the earth.^[2]

In JāmiꜤ Tirmidhī, it is mentioned that the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited the above-mentioned verse while explaining this hadith.^[3]

Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh b. ꜤAbbās رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما said: “Allah Almighty places the love of a good man into the hearts of the people.” Regarding the word وُدًّا, it has been further explained that it refers to a good livelihood in this world, a good mention on the tongues of the people, and love in the hearts of the Muslims.

Imam Mujāhid رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said: “Allah Almighty loves that servant Himself and makes them beloved to His servants too.”^[4]

Sayyidunā Harim b. Ḥayyān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: “When a servant turns towards Allah Almighty with his heart, Allah Almighty turns the hearts of the believers towards him, until He grants him their love and affection.”^[5]

Shaykh IsmāꜤīl Ḥaqqī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has explained the fruits of faith and pious deeds using a beautiful example. He says: “This verse points to the fact that when the seed of faith is sown in the soil of the heart and is nurtured with the water of pious deeds, it continues to grow. Eventually, its fruit appears. This fruit is the love of Allah Almighty, the love of the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام, the angels, and all the believers.”^[6]

From the words of the Quran and Hadith, we learn that the widespread acceptance of pious believers and perfect Saints is a proof of Divine love. It is a special gift from Allah Almighty. We see clear proof of this in the blessed personalities of Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī, Khwājah Gharīb Nawāz, Bābā Farīd Ganj Shakar, Dātā Ganj Bakhsh ꜤAli Hujwayrī, Imam Mujaddid Alf Thānī, the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan, and Pir Mehr ꜤAlī Shāh رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم, as well as thousands of other pious elders.

According to the hadith, the hearts of the people naturally incline towards the pious and the Saints. These righteous people do not make efforts to become famous or popular. As Imam Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes: “One view is that Allah Almighty creates love in the hearts of the people for the pious, even though these pious people do not seek love from others, nor do they try to become popular. Rather, this is an act of Allah Almighty (creating love in people’s hearts).”^[7]

When we look at the meanings of this blessed verse and the pious deeds and good character of the Saints, our faith in the truth of the holy Quran is refreshed. When we look at the lives of different Saints, we see the branches of "pious deeds" swaying on the tree of faith. Their lives are a reflection of following the Book (Quran) and the Sunnah. They prefer the Hereafter over this world. In their daily routines, we see them staying awake at night for worship, having a soft heart, standing in prayer at night, bowing and prostrating with love and fear, remembering Allah Almighty, reciting the noble Quran, thinking deeply, and seeking forgiveness.

In their hearts, we find the qualities of scrutinising their own actions, sincerity, patience, gratitude, trust in Allah Almighty, perfect belief in the Oneness of Allah (Tawḥīd), submission and pleasure, contentment, and abstinence from the world. We also see their worry for the Hereafter, satisfaction and submission to Allah’s will, wishing well for others, and respect for Muslims. In their words and actions, we find soft speech, a search for truth, thinking well of Muslims, forgiving others, and overlooking faults. They show good character to those who oppose them and fulfil the rights of people. They display affection and mercy to the creation. Their way of life is humble. Despite all these qualities, they remain afraid of the Hidden plan of Allah Almighty and a bad end.

These are the people whose qualities as believers, pious, patient, grateful, fearful, obedient, loving and sincere individuals, and those who have certainty, are clearly visible. As a reward, Allah Almighty places their love and devotion in the hearts of the people. Look at the Saints; they are lying in their resting places today, yet people are drawn to them. We have not seen the pious people of the past, but look at the present-day scholars, the pious, and the spiritual guides who follow the path of taqwā (piety). People love them so much and speak so well of them.

A great example of this is the founder of Dawat-e-Islami, Amīr Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ. You can see his global popularity and the love people have for him. All of this is due to the blessings of those pious deeds that are done only for the sake of Allah Almighty with sincerity.

Usually, the difference between showing off and sincerity is hidden from people, but Allah Almighty knows everything. He grants rewards according to the reality of one's actions. Imam Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه mentions:

A man once said, “By Allah! I will worship Allah Almighty so much that I become famous among the people.” So, whenever it was time for prayer, he was seen standing in prayer. He was the first to enter the masjid and the last to leave. This continued for seven months. During this time, whenever he passed by people, they would say, “Look at this person who shows off.”

One day, he thought to himself, “I am being mentioned with bad words. Now, I will do every action only for the sake of Allah.” He simply changed his intention and continued his actions as before. After this, when he passed by people, they began to say, “May Allah have mercy on so-and-so.”

Then Imam Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه recited this verse:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ سَیَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمٰنُ وُدًّا(۹۶)

Those who believe and perform righteous deeds, soon the Infinitely Gracious shall create love for them.^[8]

(Click here for further explanation of this verse)

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to perform pious deeds with sincerity. اٰمِیْن