ISLAM AND THE RHETORIC OF LOVE- BY PROFESSOR TIMEHIN OLUROTIMI

Love is perhaps the most important human emotion. It is the essence of being and the core of human existence. In Islam, it holds a central position. It is not just a powerful emotion but also a spiritual force that connects individuals to one another, to the entire cosmos, and most importantly, to Allah, the Almighty Creator.

In Islam, love is multifaceted and multidimensional. It encompasses divine love, love for the Prophet (saw), love for fellow human beings, and love as a motivation for righteous actions.

Divine Love is the foundation of a believer’s relationship with Allah. No wonder the Qur'an repeatedly emphasizes that Allah is "Al-Wadūd" — the Most Loving. This love is not merely emotional; it is a suprasensible feeling that inspires obedience, humility, gratitude, and submission.

The believer's love for Allah grows through remembering Him (dhikr), understanding His names and attributes, obeying His commands, and contemplating His creation.

This love also covers Allah's love for His Servants. This love is of two types- love that covers all humanity, righteous or otherwise; and two, the one that embraces the righteous ones only,

particularly those who strive for truth, purity, justice, and faith.  

This type of love is not arbitrary; you earn it through sincere faith and righteous deeds. This love, at this stage, is transformative, nurturing your soul and guiding it to moral excellence and spiritual peace.

The key to attaining it in totality is to have a very special affection for, and attachment to, the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The ultimate secret of Divine love lies in the Prophet’s heart, and you will never be able to get access to this secret unless your heart is connected with the Prophet's heart.

This love does not just mean chanting invocations of salawaat upon him; it means following his Sunnah, emulating his character, defending his honour, promoting his teachings, and above all, making him the only model, mentor, and motivator in your life.

As a custodian of the prophetic love, your heart will now enter into the vast Grove of the Prophet’s love for mankind which embraces humanity as a whole regardless of race, tribe, class, or creed. You will experience universal brotherhood and sisterhood, rooted in love, empathy, and compassion. 

The light of celestial love thus shines upon your heart and the true understanding of LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE, dawns upon you and your heart expands to accommodate humanity as a whole in an aurora of compassion, affection, charity, kindness, and justice.

Here, love, the lover, and the beloved merge together to become one. This unity is not materally exclusive. It is a phenomenon where you, your worship of Allah, and your vision of His Eternal Majesty achieve a fusion to such an extent that your love becomes a driving force for everything you do.

Whether it is helping the needy, being patient, or speaking the truth—these actions are done out of love for Allah alone. 

Your love as a Muslim is thus divine and holistic. It is not just a feeling but a spiritual state that elevates the human soul and promotes harmony in the world.

As we gradually move towards the main hajj rites and eid-ul-Adha, I ask Allah to plant the seeds of His Love in your heart, nourish it with sprinkles from the Prophetic Springs, nurture it with the sunrays of His Eternal Mercy and preserve it with the cool breeze of moral excellence.

Jum'ah Mubarakah 

© PROFESSOR TIMEHIN SAHEED OLUROTIMI 

- Nigeria