Monday, May 29, 2006
It amazes me that just when I begin to think that life can suprise me no more, it manages to throw a curveball. Perhaps I expect too much from people.
Advice to everyone: don't go around saying you love someone for the sake of Allah if you don't mean it. Sure, it sounds all nice and makes you look pious but in the long haul, it will only come back to bite you.
I've stopped saying it because I realized it was just a fad. Everyone said it but barely one or two actually meant it; the rest were just following the crowd. Infact, I despise it when someone says it to me because I know it's hollow. I wish it wasn't but unless I see some action that backs up the claim, I have but no other conclusion.
If you truly love a friend, instead of saying it, give him a call to see how he's doing and not just because you need something from him. That shows you really care about the person, rather than this lip service of "I love you for the sake of Allah" because when the smoke clears, the other person is hurt and you'll have to answer for it on the Day of Judgement.
Advice to everyone: don't go around saying you love someone for the sake of Allah if you don't mean it. Sure, it sounds all nice and makes you look pious but in the long haul, it will only come back to bite you.
I've stopped saying it because I realized it was just a fad. Everyone said it but barely one or two actually meant it; the rest were just following the crowd. Infact, I despise it when someone says it to me because I know it's hollow. I wish it wasn't but unless I see some action that backs up the claim, I have but no other conclusion.
If you truly love a friend, instead of saying it, give him a call to see how he's doing and not just because you need something from him. That shows you really care about the person, rather than this lip service of "I love you for the sake of Allah" because when the smoke clears, the other person is hurt and you'll have to answer for it on the Day of Judgement.
Faraz Ahmed 11:20 p.m.
8 Comments:
Assalamu 3alaikum,
I think you should still give the people in question the benefit of the doubt, excuse them, and make du'a for them. Only Allah knows what is in the hearts of His servants. Everybody has faults and shortcomings, but that does not mean that their intentions and feelings are not in the right place.
Please keep me in your du'a.
Assalamu 3alaikum.
I think you should still give the people in question the benefit of the doubt, excuse them, and make du'a for them. Only Allah knows what is in the hearts of His servants. Everybody has faults and shortcomings, but that does not mean that their intentions and feelings are not in the right place.
Please keep me in your du'a.
Assalamu 3alaikum.
I agree with Faraz though. I see what you're saying Belal.
However, it irks me when someone always just comes up to you and keeps saying "Akhee Akhee! I LOVE you for the sake of Allah!".
I have an automatic reaction of "okay, why the hell are you telling me?"
Actions are stronger than words. Just show your love and that is more than enough.
However, it irks me when someone always just comes up to you and keeps saying "Akhee Akhee! I LOVE you for the sake of Allah!".
I have an automatic reaction of "okay, why the hell are you telling me?"
Actions are stronger than words. Just show your love and that is more than enough.
Amen.
Mind you, we have different ways of expressing love.
For example, you will not find me calling you too often. But you will probably find me first to leave everything to help you out. :)
Similarly, some people like to call & check up, but you wont find them around when you really need help!
Mind you, we have different ways of expressing love.
For example, you will not find me calling you too often. But you will probably find me first to leave everything to help you out. :)
Similarly, some people like to call & check up, but you wont find them around when you really need help!
"I love you for the sake of Allah"? This is the first time I've heard this phrase.
Okay maybe i'm paranoid and automatically suspicious of all declaration of love but I love you for the sake of Allah sounds like that person is doing you a favour. Like he doesn't really want to love you but he's loving you for Allah's sake because Allah ordered to love fellow human beings.
Telling someone you love them is useless and insincere [and cheesy too!] if your actions speak otherwise.
Okay maybe i'm paranoid and automatically suspicious of all declaration of love but I love you for the sake of Allah sounds like that person is doing you a favour. Like he doesn't really want to love you but he's loving you for Allah's sake because Allah ordered to love fellow human beings.
Telling someone you love them is useless and insincere [and cheesy too!] if your actions speak otherwise.
Calling is just one of the ways of showing others you care.
But Murtada, how would you know someone requires help if you don't keep in touch with them through phone or email or some other means of communication?
Extiinct, I'm not sure where this phrase started. I have a problem with anyone claiming things without proper backing, let alone say that the phrase every two months they run into me (which actually happened several times).
But Murtada, how would you know someone requires help if you don't keep in touch with them through phone or email or some other means of communication?
Extiinct, I'm not sure where this phrase started. I have a problem with anyone claiming things without proper backing, let alone say that the phrase every two months they run into me (which actually happened several times).
Assalamu 3alaikum,
Just so you know, this phrase didn't come out of thin air :)
The prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - advised that if we love someone for the sake of Allah, we should tell him that (brothers tell their brothers, and sisters tell their sisters of course just so your mind doesn't wander off far):
Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:
"The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When a man loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him."
[In the collection of Abu Daawuud, The Book of Manners (Al-'Adab): Hadeeth No. 5106].
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
"I was sitting with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), and a man passed by. A man among us (i.e. who was sitting with us) said: Apostle of Allah! I love this man (who just passed by). The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then asked: Have you informed him? He replied: No. He said: Inform him. He then went to him and said: I love you for Allah's sake. He replied: May He for Whose sake you love me love you!"
[In the collection of Imam Ahmad, and was graded as "Saheeh" by Al-Haakim and Al-Thahabee, and Al-Albaanee]
So telling someone that you love him for the sake of Allah is not a favour, but an obligation. It is a way to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, and it should be encouraged rather than dismissed.
And not only are we advised to say this to others, but we are also advised to reply to those who say this to us (regardless of how sincere they may be) by making du'a asking that Allah love them too (rather than questioning the sincerity of the person).
Thinking ill of others is just one way Shaytaan gets to us trying to break the bonds of brotherhood. Sooner or later, hate will enter your heart, and you may fall into sin. I understand what your saying regarding those who may appear to be saying what they don't mean, but I believe that supressing any ill thoughts is safer for one's faith. Allah knows best.
[As a note to Extiinct: If this love were for any reason other than the sake of Allah, then it would be truly "useless" and worthless. There are many other reasons why a person may wish to express feelings of love to you: maybe because that person needs your help, or your money, or maybe he/she wants to trick you, or harm you afterwards. These feelings may appear genuine, and that person may visit you day and night, and ask about you excessively, and send you gifts ... but these actions (or so-called "signs of love") have very corrupt and material intentions behind them.
A muslim should love for Allah, and hate for Allah (in fact, all his/her actions should be to please Allah alone). Example: Allah ordered us to abstain from drinking wine, so we hate wine for the sake of Allah alone to please Him (not because it smells bad or is bad for our health, or because it makes unaware of our actions). These reasons are probably all valid, but our deed is nullified (is void) if the intention of pleasing Allah is missing. Note that all the reasons above show us the wisdom behind such a prohibition (order) from Allah. That being said, don't you think that there is wisdom and benefit behind an order from Allah (or his messenger) regarding loving you brother and expressing that love?
When we love someone for the sake of Allah, we do this to please Allah alone. We should love someone because Allah loves that we love that person. For example, we love the prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - for this sole reason, as do we love all the prophets and believers; but we hate the actions of the disbelievers and polytheists because Allah hates their actions (Kufr and Shirk) - but we still must treat them justly and kindly in an attempt to try to guide them to the straight path (but we fight those who transgress against us).
If you want to think of it as an "order" (and it is), you can, but remember that it is an order coming from Allah; and by fulfilling His order, we gain His pleasure. Being ordered by Allah to love or hate something isn't a sign of insincerity, but rather one of sincerity. This love should be stronger and more lasting than any other love because it is done for Allah alone. And remember that loving your fellow muslim for Allah's sake entails fulfilling his/her rights as a muslim over you as ordered by Allah. But if a muslim is unable to fulfill all your rights, I would hope that you would forgive him rather than think ill of him.]
Please keep me in your du'a.
Assalamu 3alaikum.
Just so you know, this phrase didn't come out of thin air :)
The prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - advised that if we love someone for the sake of Allah, we should tell him that (brothers tell their brothers, and sisters tell their sisters of course just so your mind doesn't wander off far):
Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:
"The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When a man loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him."
[In the collection of Abu Daawuud, The Book of Manners (Al-'Adab): Hadeeth No. 5106].
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
"I was sitting with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), and a man passed by. A man among us (i.e. who was sitting with us) said: Apostle of Allah! I love this man (who just passed by). The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then asked: Have you informed him? He replied: No. He said: Inform him. He then went to him and said: I love you for Allah's sake. He replied: May He for Whose sake you love me love you!"
[In the collection of Imam Ahmad, and was graded as "Saheeh" by Al-Haakim and Al-Thahabee, and Al-Albaanee]
So telling someone that you love him for the sake of Allah is not a favour, but an obligation. It is a way to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, and it should be encouraged rather than dismissed.
And not only are we advised to say this to others, but we are also advised to reply to those who say this to us (regardless of how sincere they may be) by making du'a asking that Allah love them too (rather than questioning the sincerity of the person).
Thinking ill of others is just one way Shaytaan gets to us trying to break the bonds of brotherhood. Sooner or later, hate will enter your heart, and you may fall into sin. I understand what your saying regarding those who may appear to be saying what they don't mean, but I believe that supressing any ill thoughts is safer for one's faith. Allah knows best.
[As a note to Extiinct: If this love were for any reason other than the sake of Allah, then it would be truly "useless" and worthless. There are many other reasons why a person may wish to express feelings of love to you: maybe because that person needs your help, or your money, or maybe he/she wants to trick you, or harm you afterwards. These feelings may appear genuine, and that person may visit you day and night, and ask about you excessively, and send you gifts ... but these actions (or so-called "signs of love") have very corrupt and material intentions behind them.
A muslim should love for Allah, and hate for Allah (in fact, all his/her actions should be to please Allah alone). Example: Allah ordered us to abstain from drinking wine, so we hate wine for the sake of Allah alone to please Him (not because it smells bad or is bad for our health, or because it makes unaware of our actions). These reasons are probably all valid, but our deed is nullified (is void) if the intention of pleasing Allah is missing. Note that all the reasons above show us the wisdom behind such a prohibition (order) from Allah. That being said, don't you think that there is wisdom and benefit behind an order from Allah (or his messenger) regarding loving you brother and expressing that love?
When we love someone for the sake of Allah, we do this to please Allah alone. We should love someone because Allah loves that we love that person. For example, we love the prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - for this sole reason, as do we love all the prophets and believers; but we hate the actions of the disbelievers and polytheists because Allah hates their actions (Kufr and Shirk) - but we still must treat them justly and kindly in an attempt to try to guide them to the straight path (but we fight those who transgress against us).
If you want to think of it as an "order" (and it is), you can, but remember that it is an order coming from Allah; and by fulfilling His order, we gain His pleasure. Being ordered by Allah to love or hate something isn't a sign of insincerity, but rather one of sincerity. This love should be stronger and more lasting than any other love because it is done for Allah alone. And remember that loving your fellow muslim for Allah's sake entails fulfilling his/her rights as a muslim over you as ordered by Allah. But if a muslim is unable to fulfill all your rights, I would hope that you would forgive him rather than think ill of him.]
Please keep me in your du'a.
Assalamu 3alaikum.
Oh by the way, I love you all for the sake of Allah :)
that's some thought for the day. Jazak Allah for mentioning it, Br. Faraz