During existence, one
usually harbors feelings of love towards someone or something. “Love”
describes feelings of fondness, deep affection, high preference and/or
enjoyment. One can love anything or anyone. Sometimes love is a
virtue. For example, a love for exercise or knowledge tends to benefit
a person. Sometimes love is harmful. A love for drugs or crime may be
destructive. Reasons for love are obvious. Someone loves whatever
supports his/her cause. Realistically, people do not love that which
contradicts their own interests. One must remember the definition of
love (fondness, preference) to accept these facts. So if a person’s
objective is to stay healthy, he/she does not love to smoke. If a
person’s objective is to have fun, he/she loves to hangout and play.
Our Creator is also One
who loves. A prevalent myth throughout the world is that the god of
Islam (Submission) is not a loving god. This idea has no basis in
truth. First, the concept of a "god of Islam" is wrong, as God of
Islam (Submission) is the same God of all the human beings, whether
they call themselves Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists...etc.
Second, since the Quran is the only scripture upheld by true Islam
(Submission), and is considered the true word of God, we can look to
the Quran to see whether God (of Islam and all other religions) is a
loving god or not.
According to the Holy
Quran, the love of God is expressed and emphasized many times over,
throughout the book. God loves: the charitable (2:195; 3:134); the
righteous, those who fulfill obligations (3:76; 5:93); the steadfast
(3:146); the good doers (3:148); those who trust Him (3:159); the
benevolent (5:13); those who purify themselves (9:108); the equitable
(5:42); the just (49:9); those who are clean (2:222); and those who
fight in his cause united in one column, like bricks in one wall
(61:4). These values earn God’s love because they support His cause,
guarantee a peaceful, loving and responsible community of believers
who encourage each other to be righteous, care for the poor, the
relative, the orphans, the neighbors, the traveling aliens and each
other. Please note that if God willed, everyone would support His
cause and earn His love, but the Most Gracious provides us with
freedom, a freedom we, the humans asked for and which was granted
to us. People who do not support God and spread
corruption on earth, do not earn His love that was offered to them by
following simple and clear commandments. They cannot get closer to God
on the Last Day. Being away from God is, what will be Hell to these
people. God does not put a single person in Hell. On the contrary, God
put in our way many reasons to find Him, love Him, follow His message
and be close to Him on the Last Day (Heaven). Because of our freedom
(which is a gift) we are the ones who make the choice whether we go to
Heaven or Hell.
Another major
misunderstanding throughout the world today, is that God loves
everyone and everything. This concept is illogical. Why would God love
those who are spreading corruption on earth, killing the innocent,
torturing the weak and disabled, robbing people of their belongings
and freedom, polluting our environment, raping women or girls and
abusing our children?. Why should God love someone like Hitler
, Stalin, Mao or any other tyrant? !!. These are our enemies and God's
enemies. Some people commit evil and blaspheme regularly, disregard
commandments and do not believe in the One who created and provides
for them. If God loved us all unconditionally, why would we uphold
commandments? Why would God even issue any command if He loves us
regardless of what we do? Surely, if God loved us all unconditionally,
we would all have a license to commit the worst of evils while assured
that we will end up in Heaven. This would throw the world into a state
of chaos and disorganization that will end any meaningful
civilization. Quran gives us the Truth in this matter. Each trait that
God does not love, dislikes and worse is specifically laid out in the
Quran. For example God does not love: the aggressors (2:190);
corruption, corruptors (see 2:205, 28:77); the unjust (3:57, 140;
42:40); the arrogant (4:36; 16:23; 28:76); the betrayer, guilty
(4:107; 8:58); the evildoers (5:64); the wasters (6:141); the gluttons
(7:31); the transgressors (7:55); the disbelievers (3:32; 30:45);
betrayer, unappreciative (22:38) and the boastful, proud (57:23).
Now we have the truth
about what God loves and what He does not. God loves us for the good
we do and does not love those who do evil. God, the Most Gracious,
Most Merciful did not close the door for those who commit evil, He
gave them the chance to repent, reform and come back to Him. If
they do that before they die or get closer to death, God guarantees
them forgiveness, guidance and eternal happiness in the Hereafter.
This is true love, a truly constructive love not a destructive
unconditional one.. God who loves us gave us all the reasons and means
to be happy in this world and in the Hereafter and for that we must be
most appreciative to Him. His love is abundant and we need to go for
it. Praise be to God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Note: As believers would like to strive to imbibe all
the values and virtues which earn GOD's love, additional aspects
reflected in Quran are - God loves: the repenters (2:222); those who
love GOD and follow GOD's messenger, those who obey GOD and His
messenger (please read 3:31- 32); those who love GOD (5:54); those who
will be kind with the believers and stern with the disbelievers and
strive in the cause of GOD without fear of any blame (5:54 - conflict
context indicated in 5:52), believe and lead a righteous life (see
19:96).
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