Verses of Poetry on Love for the Sake of God
The love for the sake of God is among the highest and most noble human emotions, bearing numerous virtuous fruits. It is sufficient to know that martyrs and prophets will envy those who love one another for God’s sake on the Day of Judgment due to their esteemed position with Allah (Glory be to Him). They will be shaded by His Divine shadow on a day when no other shade exists. This article presents a selection of poetic verses that celebrate love for God, friendship, and brotherhood:
Welcome to Those I Cherish
The poet expresses:
Welcome to those whom I love and hold dear
And I adore them for God’s grace and blessings
Welcome to a righteous company blessed with piety
With radiant faces and adorned in every gathering
They pursue knowledge with dignity
And with decorum, tranquility, and modesty
They possess majesty, reverence, and wisdom
And virtues that surpass mere enumeration
The ink that flows from their pens
Is purer and more noble than the blood of martyrs
O seekers of the knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad
You are unmatched by anyone else in worth
I Advise You: Associate Only with the Virtuous
The poet Abu Al-Fath Al-Busti reflects on true companionship:
I advise you to associate only with the virtuous
Those endowed with refinement and dignity
And lean towards the honorable, for finding
One among humankind is worth more than a thousand
Be wary of this time and its trials
As one’s era can lead even upright hearts astray
It Is Separation from a Noble Companion
The poet Abu Tammam conveys:
It is a separation from a companion of noble worth
That brings forth every frozen tear by dawn
Turn to the repository of matters and its horizons
For tears can diminish some of the striving effort
If you lose a brother without shedding tears for him
There is no sadness in you, so you are not truly bereft
If the bond of brotherhood is threatened, we flourish
We traverse and journey amidst an enduring kinship
If the waters of connection vary, our bond
Is sweet, flowing from the same cloud above
If a lineage divides us, it is the values we uphold
That establish a connection equal to that of family
If You Find Yourself Among People, Associate with Their Best
As expressed by the poet ‘Adi Ibn Zayd:
If you find yourself among a people, associate with their best
And do not mingle with the inferior lest you fall with the low
Speak with justice when you choose to speak, and do not blame
When necessary, rebuke, but praise those who deserve it
Extend a hand to a friend’s grievances, be generous
For a seeker may find themselves in need; withholding help
Today could bring you regret tomorrow
My Companion Is Not One Who Grows Weary
The poet Ahmed Ibn Yahya writes:
My companion is not someone who tires easily
If I vanish, would sell me for another friend
But my true friend is one who remains loyal
And guards my secrets from every prying eye
I am not satisfied with a friend who only offers
Little kindness; neither do I accept meager favors
My Brother is One Who Supports Me in Times of Trial
The poet Muhammad Al-Taymi asserts:
My brother is not one who merely claims kinship
But rather, my brother is the one who supports me in times of distress
His wealth is my wealth when I am in need
And my wealth is his if fate strikes him down
Do not praise a friend during times of ease
For true friends may turn against you when calamity strikes
A Brother Whose Character is Hidden
The poet Sariyan Al-Ghawani expresses:
A brother of mine, discreet in his disposition, I have made him
My confidant, until he established our bond in loyalty
Even under favorable conditions, if you were to know him
His generosity does not wane, neither in jest nor in seriousness
Indeed, the value of a person isn’t measured solely
By the initial praise that precedes criticism
So grant satisfaction fully to those you know
And stand by them, especially if there is no need for ultimatums