A Question Concerning a Servant Who Possesses Love
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
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In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
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If a servant harbors love for something that is, in and of itself, good, true, and commendable, and he does it purely out of that love—neither for Allah’s sake nor for the sake of any other being—such as loving to show kindness to those in need, loving to pardon offenders, loving knowledge, understanding, and the discovery of realities, loving truthfulness, keeping promises, fulfilling trusts, and maintaining family ties, then this is a condition found in many people, both before and after they enter Islam. It appears in the soul’s cognitive and practical faculties alike.
Most seekers of knowledge, for example, pursue it out of sheer love. Abu Dawud once asked Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, “Did you seek—or, he said: did you gather—this knowledge for Allah?” He replied, “Doing something purely for Allah is rare. Rather, a matter was made beloved to me, so I did it.”
Such is the state of most souls. Allah has implanted within them a love for knowledge, understanding, and perceiving realities; He may likewise implant a love for truthfulness, justice, and fulfilling covenants, and a love for beneficence and mercy toward people. One therefore performs these deeds without seeking nearness to any created being, without looking for praise, and without fearing blame. Rather, these perceptions and actions themselves bring the living heart delight and pleasure; they fill it with joy and happiness just as one delights merely in hearing pleasant sounds, in seeing delightful sights, or in smelling a fragrant scent.