Exploring the Sources of Love

Understanding Love through Islamic Teachings

Reading time: 2 minutes

Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth but He looks to your heart and to your deeds.

Love can be traced back to three primary sources.

The first source is physical.

When we encounter beauty in nature or people, it stirs our hearts and pleases us.

This response is part of our innate design.

The psychological phenomenon known as the halo effect illustrates this well; it suggests that we often ascribe positive characteristics like kindness or intelligence to those we find attractive.

There is profound wisdom in how Allah bestowed physical beauty upon all His prophets.

This beauty was not merely aesthetic; it served a higher purpose in their divine missions.

The second deeper source of love emerges from recognizing a person's inner qualities.

This is why Islam places significantly more emphasis on the inner beauty of an individual than the external.

This aspect of love moves beyond the superficial and creates values-based connections.

For this reason, witnessing a beautiful action can touch our hearts in ways that surpass merely seeing something externally beautiful.

This is also one of our best ways to connect with our Prophet (SAW).

Reading about his virtues, treatment of others, and forgiving nature deepens our love for him, moving beyond admiration to adoration and deep respect.

The third source of love is our gratitude and appreciation for others' kindness or sacrifices.

This type of love is rooted in the reciprocal bonds that form through acts of generosity and compassion.

This form of love forms the deepest roots.

Reflecting on the sacrifices made by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a deep devotional practice.

His life was a testament to selflessness: He faced separation from his family, endured years of ridicule, and devoted his existence to spreading this message that brings us peace and comfort daily.

He opened up a whole universe and spent his life ensuring we had an opportunity to connect with the Divine and experience the truth.

On the Day of Judgment, while others worry for themselves, even the other Prophets , our Prophet (SAW) will remain concerned for us.

The heart is likened to a seed ('Hebda'); the more it is nourished with acts of love and compassion, the more it expands.

The Prophet’s life exemplifies this: his outreach to Muslims and non-Muslims, his enduring patience in the face of adversity, and his profound love for humanity.

When we connect to the Prophet(SAW), we become deeply connected to the welfare of the Ummah, promoting communal harmony and unity.

The more we learn about his sacrifices, the more our hearts are inclined to follow his example of love and compassion, creating a powerful connection with him, the Muslim community, and all of humanity.

Reflection:

Consider how Islam has enriched your life and contemplate the sacrifices made by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in delivering its teachings to us.

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Du’a of the Day

In this section, we will share one du’a that can be used in your daily devotions and share its meaning.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّٰہِ ، لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ

Transliteration: 

Bismillahi Tawakkaltu Alallahi Wa La Hawla Wa La Quwwata illa Billah.

English Translation

This is the Dua when leaving our home

I (Leave) in the name of Allah, I depend on Allah, and we do not have any power to do good deeds or to avoid evill deeds except with the help of Allah.

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