What is ‘Ishq [passionate love] and Mahabbat [affection]?

While mentioning the definition of mahabbat [affection], Hujjat-ul-Islam, Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Someone getting inclined towards something charming is called ‘mahabbat [affection]’; and when this inclination grows firm, then it is referred to as ‘Ishq [passionate love]’. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 5, pp. 16)

I.e. being inclined towards something you like is called affection. And when that inclination grows firm, then it is called passionate love. Whereas, having affection and passionate love for Allah Almighty and His Beloved Rasool                 صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mean that performing those actions that would become a means of obeying them. Sayyiduna Sahl Bin Abdullah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ states: Sign of loving Allah Almighty is loving the Holy Quran, and the sign of loving the Holy Quran is loving the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and the sign of loving the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is loving his Sunnah, and the sign of loving all these things is loving the Hereafter, and the sign of loving the Hereafter is having hatred for this world except for as much as required.

(Al-Jaami’ li-Ahkam-il-Quran, vol. 2, pp. 48)

Advantages of devotion to Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Dear Islamic sisters! We come to know that the true devotee of Rasool
صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is he who spends his life by obeying Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Rasool            صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم after getting rid of the love of this world, and does not run after this world more than needed. People who prioritize devotion to the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم over the beloved things of this world attain the following great gifts:

1. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ makes faith firm in the hearts of such people.

2. Their end is good.

3. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ helps such people through Sayyiduna Jibra’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.

4. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will make them enter the Paradises which will be everlasting, beneath which streams flow.