A Love Announced

A Love Announced

The Khutbah yesterday at the Dar Al Tawheed Islamic Center in Binghamton (I was just passing through) was a pleasant and inspirational experience, specifically because of the Hadith that the Imam quoted with such heart.

It is a Hadith that should be cause for so much joy and hope for the believer!

Abu Huraira reported that Prophet Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ﷺ

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel, saying, 'Allah loves so and so, O Gabriel love him' So Gabriel would love him and then would make an announcement in the Heavens: 'Allah has loved so and-so therefore you should love him also.' So all the dwellers of the Heavens would love him, and then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth." (See Hadith No. 66, Vol. 8

The choice of, and announcement from the Lord of the Worlds about an individual is truly fascinating.

Beyond the incredible “spotlight” and the subsequent permeation of love throughout the universe, the ultimate the question for the believer is how can I be the recipient of this love? What can I do to be chosen and my name announced throughout the heavens and earth?

Certainly it has to be something extraordinary - beyond the basic call to duty.

The Qur’an and Prophetic traditions give us an insight.

At the very base of any framework for being a recipient of Allah’s love is to recognize His sovereignty, acknowledge His power and live a life of obedience, excellence, trust and mindfulness.

Build the foundation on following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ﷺ , loving him and his companions and striving to emulate him in every facet of life.

This foundation is adorned with the remembrance of Allah - that practice that Allah Himself describes as “akbar” - greater than anything else. Indeed, when one is in a constant state of Dhikr, nothing can distract him from worship.

A love announced is a love unmatched. Strive for it with everything you have for nothing compares to it.

May we be among those whose names are called and there is widespread acceptance among the inhabitants of the heavens and earth.

Ameen.