Love in Islam

The Noble Qur'an says: "The believers are stronger in their love for Allah."  (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:165) According to Islamic teaching, the minimum expectation from believers is  that God should have the first place in their heart, in the sense that no  other love may override one's love for God; God should be  the highest and foremost object of love.  The Noble Qur'an says: Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates  and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and  the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like,  are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way,  then wait till Allah brings about His command: and  Allah does not guide the transgressing people.  (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:24) This verse clearly indicates that one's love for God has to be superior  to one's love for everything else that one may come to love in one's life.  This superiority shows itself when the love for God and for His religion  comes in conflict with one's love for one's personal belongings.  In this case, a believer should be able to sacrifice his personal  favourite things for the sake of God. For example, if God asks us  to give our lives to protect innocent lives or our territorial integrity  or the like, we should not let our love for this world or any  other distraction i.e. family, wealth, power, etc. prevent us from  striving in His way. And nothing should come into conflict with  our love for God.  The Noble Qur'an says: Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body.  (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:4) Imam Ali (as) would always spend time with his children.  Once he was sitting in his house with his young children.  Sayyida Zainab (sa) then asked, "Dear, father, do you love me?"  Imam Ali (as) said, "Yes, of course, my children are like a part of my heart".  On hearing this, she said, "You also love Allah (SWT).  How can two loves be in one heart of a true believer,  the love of Allah (SWT) and that of children?" Imam Ali (as) smiled and replied, "Love Allah (SWT) and  for the sake of His love, you love His creatures; children and fellow beings too.  I love you for the sake of Allah (SWT)." Hence love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief, the foundation  on which man is to establish the principles of his faith (Iman).  Hence with one heart one cannot choose two beloveds. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said once, "The heart is the sanctuary of God,  therefore do not settle therein anything but God." Hadith Qudsi says, "Neither [the vastness of] My earth, nor [that of]  My heaven can contain Me. Indeed it is the heart of the man of faith  which can contain Me." Urdu Couplet says: Kaba Kitna Khush Kismat Hai, Ke Yeh Allah (SWT)  Ka Ghar Hai, Lekin Is Mein Allah Nahi Rehta, Momin Kaba Se  Bhi Ziada Khush Kismat Hai, Jis Ke Dil Mein Allah (SWT) Rehta Hai. The history of Islam is full of memories of those who embodied  a sincere and overwhelming love for God and His religion.  One of those who full-heatedly devoted himself to Islam was Bilal al-Habashi,  a black slave. The pagans of Quraysh in Makkah subjected him to torture  asking him to mention names of their idols express his belief in them  and disbelieve in Islam. They tormented him under the burning Sun  by laying him on scorching sand and putting heavy rocks on his chest.  Abu Bakr, a rich companion (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (saw),  was passing by when he heard the cry of Bilal. He went close and  advised him to hide his belief, but Bilal was not prepared to do so;  since "love was ever rebellious becomes deadly." Another example love for Islam is Imam Hussayn ibn Ali (sa), who said:  "Oh God, I have left the world in Your love. Am ready to make my children  orphans in Your love. My heart could not divert towards anybody but You.  Even if You cut my body into pieces in Your love." Courtesy: ezsoftech.com

Inspiring Story: What you sow, so you reap

The Holy Qur’an has also guided us on this subject. It says:

If you do good, you do good to yourselves. (Likewise) 

if you do evil, you do evil to yourselves 

[Holy Qur’an: Chapter 17, Verse 7]

One of the companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) 

was very fond of this verse of the Qur’an and used to recite it loudly 

and repeatedly wherever he went. 

A Jewish woman who had heard him once wanted to prove him wrong 

and thus make him disrespectful among his people.

She thought of a plan and prepared some sweets mixed with poison 

and sent them to him as a present. The man received the poisoned sweets 

and went out of the city with them. On the way, he met two men 

who were returning home from a long journey. 

They were very tired and hungry so he tried to help them. 

He offered them the sweets. Of course, he was not aware that 

they were secretly mixed with poison.

No sooner had the two travelers taken the sweets, 

they collapsed and died. When the news of their death reached Medina, 

the city where the Prophet resided,the man was arrested. 

He was brought in front of the Prophet and 

he related what had actually happened. 

The Jewish woman who had mixed poison with the sweets was also brought to

 the court of the Prophet. She was stunned to see the two dead bodies 

of the travelers there. They in fact turned out to be her own two sons 

who had gone away on a journey. She admitted of her evil intention 

before the Prophet and all the people present. Alas, 

the poison she had mixed in the sweets to kill the companion of 

 the Prophet had instead killed her own two sons.

Lessons from The Story: 

What an example of a tragic reaction to a bad action. 

It shows how one reaps what he sows.If we do good, 

we stand to gain a good reward. If we do bad, 

we should expect a bad outcome ultimately.

“Do as you would be done by” are the golden words of wisdom 

from the olden days. They teach us to do good to others

 in the same way as we like others to do good to us.

Friendship sayings in Islam

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) stated, "The believer is like 

a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." Like a 

mirror, your friend gives you an honest image. 

He forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or 

exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.

Once the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was asked, 

"What person can be the best friend?" "He who helps 

you remember Allah (SWT), and reminds you when you 

forget Him," the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), counseled.

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was further asked, 

"Who is the best among people?" Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) 

replied, "He who, when you look at him, you remember 

Allah (SWT)". Such a friend reflects qualities of love, mercy, 

honesty, service, patience, optimism, professionalism, 

and the entire lifestyle taught by Islam.

Imam Ali (as) Says: "The poor is one who does not 

have any friend."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Live amongst people in such a manner 

that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive 

they crave for your company (friendship)."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Friendship transfers a stranger 

in to a relative."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Do not choose as your friend 

the enemy of your friend."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Two true friends are a single soul in 

different bodies."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who discards a friend for slight 

offence risks loneliness."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "In time of distress a man can 

distinguished between his friend and enemy."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be careful to have 

truthful friends and try to obtain them, for they are 

your support when you are in welfare, and your advocator 

when you have misfortune."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Be not friend with a fool, for he will 

harm you while meaning to do good to you."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "It is better to listen to a wise enemy 

than to seek counsel from a foolish friend."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Keep away from friendship of liar 

surely he will show you as near what is far from you and 

will show as far what is near you."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "O' Kumayl! Say what is just in any 

condition. Be friends with the righteous and avoid 

the evil doers, stay away from the hypocrites and 

do not accompany the treacherous."

Imam Sajjad (as) Says: "Beware of the companionship of 

the sinful, and helping of the unjust."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "If a friend envies you, then he is not 

a true friend."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "Verily, there are three (types of) 

friends for a Muslim,

1) The friend who says: I am with you whether you are alive 

or dead', and this is his deed.

2) The friend who says: I am with you unto the threshold 

of your grave and then I will leave you', and this is his children.

3) The friend who says: I will be with you until when you die', 

and this is his wealth which will belong to the inheritors 

when he dies."

Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who is deserted by friends and 

relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers."

Imam Hassan (as) Says: "Befriend people in the same manner

 you would like them to befriend you."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be the friend of him who may 

grace you, not of one whom you are better than." 

(Viz. make friends with ones who are higher than you so 

that you progress.)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "My most beloved brother is 

he who (makes me aware of) my faults."

Imam Hassan Askari (as) Says: "Those who advise their 

friend secretly are respecting them, and those who advise 

them openly are humiliating them."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) has narrated from his father 

Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) who said his father 

Imam Sajjad (as) stated: "O' my son! Beware of five (groups) 

and do not seek companionship (friendship) with them, 

do not speak with them, and do not make friends 

with them on (the) way."

Then, Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) asked his father 

who they were and might he introduces them to him. 

Imam Sajjad (as) responded:

1) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who tells lies. 

He is as a mirage which makes near for you what is far, 

and makes far to you what is near."

2) "Beware of and do not associate with an immoral person, 

because he will sell you at the price of a morsel or less 

than that."

3) "Beware of and do not associate with a miser because he 

will deprive you of his wealth when you are seriously in need 

of it."

4) "Beware of and do not associate with a fool, because 

he wants to be of avail to you but he harms you."

5) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who 

disregards his kinfolks, because I found him (such a person) 

cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three 

occurrences." They are: 

(Sura Al-Baqarah, 2:27; Sura Ar-Rad, 13:25; and 

Sura Muhammad, 47:22).

Wise Golden Sayings by Hazrat Imam Ali AS part-2

1) Wo gunah jis ka tumhein ranj ho,
Allah k nazdeeq us nayki se behtar hai
Jis se tum main ghuroor paida ho jaye.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


2) Kisi ne Hazrat Ali A.S. se poocha:
"Dost aur bhai main kya farq hai?"
Aap ne farmaya:
"Bhai sona hai aur dost heera hai."
Us aadmi ne kaha:
"Aap ne bhai ko kam qeemat aur
dost ko qeemti cheez se kyun tashbeeh di?"
To aap ne farmaya:
"Sone main agar darar aa jaye to us ko pighla kar
bilkul pehlay jaisa banaya ja sakta hai.
Jab ke heeray main aik darar aa jai to
wo kabhi bhi pehlay jaisa nahi ban sakta.'
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


3) Hazrat Ali A.S. Ka Farmaan Hey:-
"Bura Dost Aag Ki Manind Hy"
"Agr Jalta Hoga To Apko Jala Dega"
"Or Agr Bujha Hoga To Aap K Hath Kale Kar Dega.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


4) Aazmaye Hue Ko Azmana
Bewakufi He.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


5) Logon Ki Zaroraton Ka Tum Se
Wabasta Hona Tum Per ALLAH Ki Enyat Hai.
(Imam Hussain A.S.)

6) Hazrat Ali A.S. Says
Apne Dushman Ko 1000 Dafa Moqa Do Ke
Wo Tumhara Dost Ban Jaaye
Per Apne Dost Ko Ek Bhi Moqa Na Do
Ke Wo Tumhara Dushman Banay
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)

7) sab se bara gunah wo he jo
karne walay ki nazar me chota ho
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


8) Ghareeb wo hai jis ka koi dost na ho.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)

9) Jub meri DUA kabol ho tu mein khush hota houn
k is main meri marzi hai aur
Jub kabol na ho tu mein aur khus hota houn
k ye ALLAh ki marzi hai
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


10) Agar tum kisi ko chota dekh rahe ho,
to tum use door se dekh rahe ho,
Ya phir gharoor se dekh rahe ho
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


11) Allah k nazdek sab say ziada gunah gar
chez jhoot bolnay wali zuban he.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


12) Ghulab ka phool bano
 Kyonki yeh phool us k haath me bhi
Khushboo chor daita hain jo Isey masal kar phaikh daita hai
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)

13) Main Jannat K Shouq Main ebadat Nahe Kerta,
Kyon ke Ye Ebadat Nahe Tijarat Hay
Main Dozakh Ke Khoof Say Ebadat Nahe Kerta,
Kyon ke ye Ebadat Nahe.Ghulami Hai..
Main Ebadat Sirf Is Liye Kerta hon...
Kyon ke Mera RuB ebadat K LayeQ Hai......
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)



14) Aik Shakhs Ne Hazrat Ali A.S. Sey Poocha,
Q: Qarib Kya Hai?
A: Qayamat

Q: Or Qareeb Ter?
A: Maut

Q: Ajeeb Kya HAi?
A: Duniya

Q: Aur Ajeeb Tar?
A: Talib-e-Duniya

Q: Wajib Kya Hai?
A; Toba

Q: Or Wajib Tar?
A: Gunah K Forun Bad Toba

Q: Mushkil Kya Hai?
A: Qaber Mein Utrna

Q: Or Mushkil Tar?
A: Amal K Bagair Utrna
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)



15) Apni zuban ki tezi us per mat azmao
Jis ne tumhen bolna sekhaya
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


16)  "Sub se Ziyada Kamzor Aadmi wo he
 Jo Dost ko Haasil karne me Naakaam ho,
Aur us se bhi Ziyada Kamzor Wo he
Jo Haath aai howe DOST ko ganwa de"
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


17) 2 cheezein saari zindagi kaam ayengi,
1.  Ghussay ki halat mein koi faisla mat karo!
2.  Khushi ki haalat mein koi wada mat kro!
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)

18) Dunya Daron ki Sohbat ikhtyar Na karo
  Kyon ke Agar tu Tang-dast huwa to
  Ye tujhe Chorh Denge Or agar to
  Dolat-mand huwa to Tujh se Hasad karen gay.
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


19) "Yeh na socho k ALLAH dua foran qabool kyun nahi karta,
        yeh shukar karo k ALLAH hamaray
        gunaahon ki saza foran nahi deta.."
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


20) 4 Batain Elim Ka Nichour Hain,

1.) ALLAH Ki Itni Ebadat Karo Jitni Tumhain ALLAH Ki Zaroret Hay.
2.) ALLAH Ki Nafermani Itni Karo Jitna Allah K Azaab Per Saber Ker Saktey Ho..
3.) Dunya K Liye Itna Amal KAro Jitna K Tumhain Dunya Mian Rehna Hai,,
4.) Aakhrat K Liye Itna AMal Karo Jitna K Tmhain Wahan Rehna Hain....!!!
-Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)


Reference:

Collected From Nahjul Balagha Book by Hazrat Ali A.S
and Translated into Urdu

Wise Golden Sayings by Hazrat Imam Ali AS

Din ki roshni mein rizq talash karo,

Aur raat ki tareeqi mein,

Usse talash karo,

Jo tumhein rizq deta hai.

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Agar kisi ka zarf aazmana ho to zyada izzat do..
woh aala zarf hua to aapko aur zyada izzat dega
aur kam zarf hua to khud ko aala samjhe ga

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Kisi ko tum chaho aur woh tumhein thukra day,

Yeh uski badnaseebi hai.

Koi tumhein na chahey aur tum

Usse zaberdasti apna banana chaho,

Yeh tumhare nafs ki zillat hai

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Mere Allah, meri izzat ke liye yehi kafi hai
ke mein tera banda hun aur mere fakhar ke liye
yehi kafi hai ke tu mera parwardigar hai..
tu waisa he hai jaisa mein chahta hun..
bas tu mujh ko waisa bana day jaisa tu chahta hai

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Insaan dukh nahin deta,

Insaanoun say wabasta umeedein dukh deti hein.

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Agar kisi ka banna chahtey ho,

To poori haqeeqat say ban jao,
Warna apni zaat mein aisi haqeeqat paida karlo ke,

Koi haqeeqat mein tumhara ban jaye.

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Momin woh nahin jis ki mehfil paak ho,

Momin woh hai jis ki tanhaii paak ho.

  

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

5 cheezon ki 5 jaga par hifazat karo:

1. mehfil mein zubaan ki
2. bazaar mein aankh ki
3. namaz mein dil ki
4. dastarkhwan mein pait ki
5. nigah mein haya ki

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

3 cheezein insaan ko Allah se door karti hein
1. apne aamaal ko zyada samajhna
2. apne gunhaoun ko bhool jana
3. apne aapko sab se behtar samajhna

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

6 cheezein amal ko zaya karti hein:
1. logon ke aaib talash karna
2. Dil ki sakhti
3. Dunya ki mohabbat
4. Haya ki kammi
5. Lambi umeed.
6. Zulm

By Hazrat Imam Ali (AS).

Reference: Sourced from Nahjul Balagah - The Peak of Eloquence