Love for Allah in Islamic Narrations: Insights and Teaching

The Depth of Believers’ Love for Allah

1. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “A person does not attain pure faith in Allah until Allah becomes dearer to him than himself, his father, his mother, his children, his family, his wealth, and all people.” Al-Bihar: 70/25/25
2. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) in his supplication: “My Lord, I am hungry for Your love and I shall never be satiated. I am thirsty for Your love and I shall never be quenched. Oh, how I long to the one that sees but I cannot see.” Iqbal Al-A’mal: 56
3. Imam Zain al-Abidin (peace be upon him) said: “My lord, even if You bound me in chains and prevented Your kindness from reaching me among the witnesses, I would not cut off my hope in You, nor turn my face away from seeking Your pardon, nor would Your love leave my heart.” Iqbal Al-A’mal: 72
4. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in his supplication: “You have removed all others from the hearts of Your loved ones, so they love none but You. What has he found who has lost You? And what has he lost who has found You? Indeed, he who is content with anything other than You is truly deprived.” Iqbal Al-A’mal: 349
5. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Whoever prioritizes the love of Allah over his own love, Allah will suffice him against the needs of people.” Kanz Al-Ummal: 43127
6. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “The heart is the sanctuary of Allah; do not let anyone dwell in Allah’s sanctuary except Allah!” Jami’ Al-Akhbar: 518/1468
7. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) in his supplication during the arrival of Ramadan: “Send blessings upon Muhammad and his family, and occupy my heart with Your greatness. Fill it with Your love until I meet You while my veins are dripping with blood.” Iqbal Al-A’mal: 53
8. Imam Zain al-Abidin (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, I ask You to fill my heart with Your love, fear of You, belief in You, and yearning for You.” Iqbal Al-A’mal: 75
9. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “O Allah, make Your love the most beloved thing to me, and make Your fear the most fearful thing to me, and cut off my worldly needs with the yearning to meet You.” Kanz Al-Ummal: 3648 and 3813
10. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “O Allah, I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the deeds that bring me closer to Your love. O Allah, make Your love dearer to me than myself, my family…” Kanz Al-Ummal: 3718 and 3794
11. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Love is superior to fear.” Al-Kafi: 8/129/98

Faith as Love and Aversion

1. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Faith is love and aversion.” Tuhaf al-Uqul: 295
2. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Is religion anything but love? Indeed, Allah Almighty says: ‘Say, if you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you.'” Al-Khisal: 21/74
3. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is love, and love is religion.” Nur al-Thaqalayn: 5/285/49

What Leads to Allah’s Love

1. Jesus (peace be upon him), when asked about a deed that brings Allah’s love, said: “Detest the world and Allah will love you.” Tanbih al-Khawatir: 1/134
2. In the hadith of the ascension: “O Muhammad! My love is guaranteed for those who love each other for My sake, and for those who show compassion for My sake, and for those who maintain connections for My sake, and for those who trust in Me. My love has no limit or end, and whenever I raise a sign for them, I set another for them.” Irshad al-Qulub: 199
3. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) about Allah Almighty: “My servant has not drawn nearer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him.” Al-Kafi: 2/82/5
4. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Allah’s love is obligatory for those who become angry and remain patient.” Kanz Al-Ummal: 5826, Mishkat Al-Anwar: 309
5. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that you cannot attain Allah’s love unless you detest many people, and His guardianship unless you oppose them. Losing them is a small price to pay for gaining that from Allah.” Al-Kafi: 8/56/17
6. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Whoever frequently remembers death, Allah will love him.” Al-Kafi: 2/122/3
7. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) was asked by a man: “I want to be one of those who love Allah and His Messenger.” He replied: “Love what Allah and His Messenger love, and detest what Allah and His Messenger detest.” Kanz Al-Ummal: 44154
8. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “I sought Allah’s love and found it in detesting the people of disobedience.” Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il: 12/173/13810
9. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “When a believer renounces the world, he ascends and tastes the sweetness of Allah’s love. To the people of the world, it seems as though he has lost his mind, but in reality, he has found the sweetness of Allah’s love and is no longer preoccupied with anything else.” Al-Kafi: 2/130/10

Those Whom Allah Loves

1. Imam Zain al-Abidin (peace be upon him) said: “Allah loves every sorrowful heart and every grateful servant.” Al-Kafi: 2/99/30
2. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty loves the modest and the patient.” Al-Kafi: 2/112/4
3. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Allah loves the modest, the patient, the chaste, and those who strive for chastity.” Al-Kafi: 2/99/8
4. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “There are three whom Allah loves: a man who recites the Book of Allah in the night, a man who gives charity with his right hand concealing it from his left, and a man who, when his companions flee, faces the enemy.” Kanz al-Ummal: 56432

The Most Beloved People to Allah

1. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, the most beloved of the believers to Allah is the one who helps a poor believer in his worldly needs and supports, benefits, and protects the believers.” Tuhaf al-Uqul: 376
2. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “The most beloved servants of Allah to Allah are those who are most beneficial to His servants, those who uphold His rights, and those who love good deeds and perform them.” Tuhaf al-Uqul: 49
3. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Allah Almighty says: ‘The most beloved of My servants to Me are those who love one another for My sake, whose hearts are attached to the mosques, and who seek forgiveness at dawn. These are the ones whom, if I intend to punish the people of the earth, I remember and avert My punishment from them.'” Makarim al-Akhlaq: 2/375
4. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “The most beloved servants of Allah Almighty are those who are truthful in their speech, who maintain their prayers and fulfill Allah’s obligations, and who discharge their trusts.” Amali al-Saduq: 243/8
5. Moses (peace be upon him) in his supplication asked: “O Lord, which of Your creations is most beloved to You?” Allah replied: “The one who, when I take away his beloved, remains patient and content with Me.” Al-Bihar: 82/90/43
6. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “The most beloved of you to Allah, the Most Glorified, is the one who remembers Him the most, and the most honored of you before Allah is the one who is most pious.” Makarim al-Akhlaq: 2/375
7. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: “Among the most beloved servants of Allah is a servant whom Allah assists against his own self, so he wears the garment of sorrow and wraps himself in fear. Thus, the light of guidance shines in his heart.” Nahj al-Balagha: Sermon 87
8. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), when asked about the most beloved people to Allah, said: “The most beneficial people to people.” Al-Kafi: 2/164/7
9. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “The creation is the dependents of Allah, so the most beloved of the creation to Allah is the one who benefits His dependents and brings joy to a household.” Al-Kafi: 2/164/6
10. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty said: ‘The creation is My dependents, so the most beloved to Me is the one who is kindest to them and most diligent in fulfilling their needs.'” Al-Kafi: 2/199/10
11. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “The most beloved of the believers to Allah is the one who dedicates himself to obeying Allah, advises the community of His Prophet, reflects on his own faults, and then understands, reasons, and acts upon them.” Tanbih al-Khawatir: 2/213

Deeds Loved by Allah

1. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Three things Allah loves: little speech, little sleep, and little food. Three things Allah dislikes: excessive speech, excessive sleep, and excessive food.” Tanbih al-Khawatir: 2/121
2. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Allah loves three things: upholding His rights, humility towards His creation, and kindness to His servants.” Tanbih al-Khawatir: 2/121

The Most Beloved Deeds to Allah

1. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) was asked: ‘Which deeds are most beloved to Allah Almighty?’ He replied: ‘Bringing joy to a Muslim.’ He was asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! And what is bringing joy to a Muslim?’ He said: ‘Satisfying his hunger, alleviating his distress, and paying off his debt.'” Qurb al-Isnad: 145/522
2. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Among the most beloved deeds to Allah Almighty is bringing joy to a believer: satisfying his hunger, alleviating his distress, or paying off his debt.” Al-Kafi: 2/192/16
3. Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “No act of worship is more beloved to Allah than bringing joy to a believer.” Al-Kafi: 2/188/2
4. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Allah Almighty said: ‘No servant of Mine can draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him.'” Al-Kafi: 2/352/7
5. Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Among the most beloved deeds to Allah is visiting the grave of Hussein (peace be upon him).” Kamil al-Ziyarat: 146
6. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah Almighty on earth is supplication.” Makarim al-Akhlaq: 2/9/1985