The Love of God for His Servants
Quranic Verses on God’s Love for His Servants
The Quran encompasses numerous verses that highlight God’s affection towards certain categories of His servants. Below are several Quranic verses that address God’s love for His creations:
- Allah -exalted be He- said: (And spend in the Way of Allah, and do not throw yourselves into destruction by refraining [from spending]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good).
- Allah -exalted be He- stated: (Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves).
- Allah -exalted be He- declared: (Indeed, Allah loves those who are conscious of Him).
- Allah -exalted be He- mentioned: (So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude in speech and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]).
- Allah -exalted be He- revealed: (Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row, as though they are a [single] solid structure).
Hadiths About God’s Love for His Servants
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged his companions to seek God’s love and to achieve His satisfaction. Below are a few hadiths that elucidate this concept:
- It was narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that: (The Prophet -peace be upon him- sent a man on a military expedition, who would recite to his companions in their prayers and would conclude with Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One.” When they returned, they mentioned this to the Prophet, and he asked: ‘Ask him why he does that?’ So they asked him, and he replied: ‘Because it is the attribute of the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it.’ The Prophet said: ‘Tell him that Allah loves him.’)
- The Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- stated: (When Allah loves a servant, He protects him in this world just as one of you protects his sick from water).
- He also said: (Indeed, the greatness of the reward is with the greatness of the trial, and when Allah loves a people, He tests them. So whoever is pleased, then for him is pleasure, and whoever is displeased, then for him is displeasure).