Embracing The Love of Allah as a Motivation to Meeting His Pleasure

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) who reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “When Allah loves a slave, He calls out Jibril and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him’. Then Jibril loves him. After that, Jibril announces to the inhabitants of the heavens that Allah loves so-and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens — the angels also love him and then make people on earth love him”. — Bukhari and Muslim

In the journey of life, human beings are often motivated by a desire for success, happiness, and fulfillment. We seek approval from our peers, societal recognition, and love from those around us. But for the believer, the most profound and transformative motivation source is Allah’s love. In the previous newsletter, we discussed how the fear of Allah can guide you towards His consciousness. This is the second part of the series which serves as a continuation addressing these emotions with Allah.

Many of us claim to love Allah but unfortunately, it’s only on the tip of our tongue. You can not claim to love Allah at heart, without it reflecting in your actions through worship and manners. When we embrace the love of Allah as the driving force in our lives, we align ourselves with a higher purpose that transcends worldly aspirations. This love becomes the catalyst for our actions, the fuel for our worship, and the compass guiding us toward morality and His pleasure.

Understanding the Love of Allah

In Islam, the love of Allah is not just an abstract or distant concept — it is central to our faith. Allah’s love for His creation is mentioned throughout the Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is a love that is boundless, unconditional, and merciful.

Allah’s love is unlike any human love — it is pure, all-encompassing, and eternal with no strings attached. It is not dependent on your status, wealth, or worldly achievements. Rather, it is based on your sincerity, devotion, and desire to live a life that pleases Him. As humans, we are often distracted by the temporary pleasures of this world, but the love of Allah invites you to seek something far greater: the eternal pleasure of your Creator.

Imagine a person so deeply loved by Allah that when they pass away, the very throne of Allah shakes. This isn’t just a fable, it’s the incredible reality of Sa’ad ibn Mu’adh — may Allah be pleased with him. He was one of the most beloved companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Sa’ad wasn’t just any companion; he was a leader, the chief of the Aws tribe in Medina, known for his deep faith and unwavering commitment to Islam. His dedication made him beloved to the Prophet ﷺ, but more importantly, to Allah Himself.

Upon his death, something extraordinary that never happened in history occurred —the throne of Allah trembled. Imagine the honor, the divine recognition this signifies. It stands as a reminder of the immense status that Sa’ad held in the sight of his Creator. His life and death show us just how profound the love of Allah can be for a true believer, impacting not just those on earth, but the very cosmos itself. In Sha Allah, I will dedicate another newsletter to address the story of Sa’ad owing to its relevance and the benefits we can derive from it.

The Love of Allah as a Motivational Force

When we truly embrace the love of Allah, it becomes a powerful source of motivation that transforms every part of our lives. This love isn’t just a feeling — it’s a driving force that inspires us to act with sincerity, to worship with passion, and to persevere through life’s challenges with a sense of purpose. Here’s how the love of Allah can deeply motivate us to seek His pleasure and reap its fruits:

1. His Love Makes Worship a Source of Joy: One of the greatest manifestations of our love for Allah is found in how we worship Him. When we love someone, we naturally want to be close to them, communicate with them, and show our appreciation. Similarly, when we love Allah, our acts of worship — prayer, fasting, charity, and remembrance become sources of joy rather than burdensome duties.

Worship isn’t meant to feel like a chore when fueled by the love of Allah. Instead, it becomes an opportunity to connect with the One we love most. Think of prayer — when you love Allah, it’s no longer just about going through the motions of bowing and prostration; it’s about communicating with the Creator, finding peace in His presence, and seeking closeness to Him.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ beautifully illustrated to us how worship becomes a source of joy and relief. He prays until his feet become swollen and he fasts any day he wakes up with nothing to eat. And in the hadith narrated by Anas, he categorically mentioned it thus:

… the delight of my eyes is in prayer.” -Sunan An-Nasa’i

2. His Love Inspires Moral Excellence: The love of Allah motivates us to adopt the highest moral standards. Allah is Al-Wadud — the Most Loving, and His love for us encourages us to be loving and compassionate towards others. When we act with kindness, patience, and forgiveness, we are reflecting qualities that Allah possesses and loves.

By striving to be a source of goodness for others, we not only earn the love of Allah but also create a ripple effect of positivity in the world. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, offering a smile, or showing mercy to someone in need, these seemingly small acts are powerful demonstrations of our love for Allah. They remind us that one of the paths to Allah’s pleasure is through serving His creation. Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said:

Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people. The most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or forgive his debt, or feed his hunger. That I walk with a brother regarding a need is more beloved to me than that I seclude myself in this mosque in Medina for a month. Whoever swallows his anger, then Allah will conceal his faults. Whoever suppresses his rage, even though he could fulfill his anger if he wished, then Allah will secure his heart on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever walks with his brother regarding a need until he secures it for him, then Allah Almighty will make his footing firm across the bridge on the day when the footings are shaken.” — Tabarani

3. His Love Gives us Strength During Trials: Life is filled with challenges and difficulties, but for the believer who is motivated by the love of Allah, these trials are opportunities for growth. When we love Allah, we trust in His wisdom and mercy, even in the face of hardship. This love gives us the strength to remain patient, knowing that every trial is a chance to come closer to Him and earn His pleasure. The Prophet ﷺ said: When Allah loves a servant, He tests him. If he bears it patiently, He draws him closer to Him. — Tirmidhi

A few days ago, our brother Imam Khalifah Marcellus Williams was executed for a crime that was believed he never committed. His emotional last public conversation showed his love for Allah and being pleased with what Allah has decreed for him. When we truly believe that Allah loves us and is guiding us, we can remain patient and hopeful, knowing that every trial is an opportunity to grow closer to Him.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” — Qur’an, 2[Al-Baqarah]:155–156.

4. His Love Encourages Repentance and Hope: No one is perfect, but the love of Allah reminds us that He is always ready to forgive. When we make mistakes, we don’t fall into despair; instead, we turn to Allah, confident that His love and mercy are greater than our sins. This teaches us that Allah’s love is always there for us, no matter how far we’ve strayed. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a beautiful analogy of how Allah’s love for repentance is more than that of this man in the hadith below:

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah is more delighted at the repentance of His servant than one of you who lost his riding animal on a journey in a barren land while it carries his food and drink. He loses all hope as he comes to a tree to lie down in its shade, despairing over his animal, but suddenly he finds it standing over him. He takes hold of its reins and then he greatly rejoices, saying: O Allah, You are my servant and I am your Lord! He makes a mistake due to his great joy.” — Muslim

5. His Love Fuels the Desire for Jannah — Paradise: Ultimately, the love of Allah motivates us to seek the greatest reward of all: Jannah. Paradise is the abode of eternal happiness, where the righteous will experience the pleasure of Allah and dwell in His divine presence. May Allah count me and you to be one of the inhabitants of the Garden of Bliss. Amin!

This love to be with Allah and the Messenger ﷺ in Jannah is the ultimate motivation for believers who love Allah. Jannah is a place where every desire is fulfilled, and the greatest joy is seeing Allah’s face and knowing that He is pleased with you. Let this eternal reward motivate you to live a life that is pleasing to Him, to avoid what He has forbidden, and to pursue what He loves.

Abu Musa Al-Ashari reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” — Bukhari

Conclusion

The love of Allah is a powerful emotional force that can transform our worship, character, and entire outlook on life. When we truly embrace this love, every act becomes meaningful, every trial becomes an opportunity, and every moment brings us closer to our Creator. It’s this love that fuels our journey toward earning Allah’s eternal pleasure. When a deep love for Allah drives us, our lives take on a higher purpose.

To live a life centered on the love of Allah is to live with a balance of fear, peace, hope, and a sense of fulfillment that the world can never provide. The love of Allah is not just a motivation — it is the very essence of our existence. May Allah grant us hearts filled with His love and guide us toward lives that earn His pleasure, in this world and the next. Ameen!