The fundamental purpose in the creation of the human being is love. For this reason, the greatest reality and need in every moment of life is also love. One cannot sustain existence without love. Love is a precious gift; it is the need of the soul, the breath of the heart. However, the most exalted, the deepest, and the truest form of love is the love felt for God. For it is God Who brought the human being into existence from nothing, breathed into it from His spirit, endowed it with countless blessings, and protects it at every moment. Therefore, love must necessarily be directed toward God, Who is the Most Exalted of all beauties. In the Qur’an, it is indicated that one of the greatest faults of human beings is the failure to love God as He deserves. The verse states:
“They do not measure God with His true measure. God is All-Strong, Almighty.” (Surat Al-Hajj, 74)
“They do not measure God with His true measure...” (Surat Az-Zumar, 67)
The above verses point not only to the failure to fully comprehend God’s infinite power, but also draw attention to the inability to properly grasp the deep love and affection that should be felt toward Him. For the more one knows God and understands Him deeply, the more one’s love and closeness toward Him increase accordingly. A heart that truly knows God becomes bound to Him with profound love.
Knowing God Increases Love
Love is not a feeling that emerges spontaneously or without cause. God has built love upon elements of aesthetics and art in such a way that it may be felt in the depths of the human soul. The beauty, harmony, and order placed in every corner of the universe constitute a divine ground created for the flourishing of love. For this reason, love is the greatest force rising at the foundation of the universe. The world and all that it contains have been brought into existence in a manner that awakens this deep affection directed toward God in the human heart.
Love develops and matures when viewed with intellect and the eye of the heart. When one looks superficially, many blessings that appear ordinary are not recognized as manifestations of infinite mercy. However, when viewed with contemplation, it becomes clear that the true owner of every blessing and every beauty is God. Such awareness directs love from the created to the Creator. For loving beauty is inherent in human nature; yet the One truly worthy of love is God, Who created that beauty.
When one opens one’s eyes in the morning and is able to breathe, feels the rhythm of the beating heart, and sees loved ones, these are all a reflection of God’s compassion and mercy. The elegance of a flower, the unique magnificence of the sky, the vastness of the sea that appears boundless, and all other details that bring peace to the soul are clear proofs of God’s artistry. Yet often, the existence of a glass of water, the freshness of the air one breathes, or the warmth of a friend are perceived as ordinary. However, each of these is, in itself, a miracle. Love for God grows as these miracles are recognized; it becomes deeper and stronger.
Observing the stars in the sky, reflecting upon the flawless order in nature, and contemplating the perfect functioning of the human body arouse tremendous admiration. When this admiration is united with conscious awareness, it transforms into love. For one loves that which one admires and whose wisdom one comprehends. The one who sees the order, measure, and artistry in the universe and understands that all of it is the work of a single Creator directs love toward Him. Thus, love ceases to be merely a feeling; it becomes a powerful bond that nourishes faith, deepens it, and brings one closer to one’s Lord.
This truth is conveyed in the Qur’an as follows:
“He has given you everything you have asked Him for. If you tried to number God’s blessings, you could never count them. Man is indeed wrongdoing, ungrateful.” (Surah Ibrahim, 34)
In the heart of one who recognizes God’s blessings, love naturally forms. For love takes root and develops through the recognition and appreciation of blessings.
Love for God Is Lived with Passion
Some who do not fully understand the Qur’an attempt to build religion solely upon fear. However, the true source of fear of God is the concern of losing His love and His pleasure. In the Qur’an, God’s infinite mercy is constantly emphasized. His love, compassion, and mercy are limitless. This reality is emphasized as follows:
“Prescribe good for us in this world and the Hereafter. We have truly turned to You. He said: ‘As for My punishment, I strike with it anyone I will. My mercy extends to all things, but I will prescribe it for those who guard against evil and give alms, and those who believe in Our Signs.’” (Surat Al-A‘raf, 156)
Loving God as He truly deserves is possible by constantly keeping His infinite mercy in mind. One may make mistakes in life, experience shortcomings, and possess flaws. Nevertheless, God approaches His servant with infinite mercy. A believer who knows this reality becomes attached to God with deep love and trust, accompanied by a fear of losing His love and pleasure.
One Who Loves God Constantly Remembers Him
In true love, forgetting never occurs. One constantly thinks of the one loved and wishes to attain the pleasure of the beloved. One’s love for God is exactly like this.
In the Qur’an, this essential characteristic of believers is described as follows:
“Some people set up equals to God, loving them as they should love God. But those who have faith have greater love for God. If only you could see those who do wrong at the time when they see the punishment, and that truly all strength belongs to God, and that God is severe in punishment.” (Surat Al-Baqara, 165)
One who loves God regards His pleasure as superior to everything else. Every action is performed with the intention of earning God’s love and pleasure. If one is patient, it is for God; if one helps, it is for God. For one knows that love for God is the true meaning of life.
Love for God Requires Sincerity
Love felt for God is a deep passion that envelops one’s entire being, makes the heart tremble, and excites the soul. The believer loves God greatly, refrains with heartfelt respect and awe, and sees trials as a matter of honor and gratification. The reason is the awareness that the greatest rewards are often hidden within the most difficult moments; the circumstances that appear most difficult are in fact special moments in which God’s mercy manifests. A Muslim does not flee from hardship; on the contrary, one feels joy, saying, “My Lord is testing me,” deepens in patience, and reaches a higher dimension in submission. A lover proves love not in ease but in hardship; in comfort everyone speaks beautiful words, but when the moment of sacrifice arrives, true love becomes evident. Thus, love for God gains meaning through sacrifice, loyalty, faithfulness, devotion, and patience. Putting forward one’s time and effort in the way of God, showing patience in difficulties, meticulously fulfilling acts of worship, observing the limits of lawful and unlawful, and many similar examples are outward reflections of love for God in the heart. The believer knows that true love requires effort and sincerity. Every step taken on the path of God emerges as a beauty that strengthens faith and gives profound meaning to life. This truth is described in the Qur’an as follows:
“Say, ‘If you love God, then follow me and God will love you and forgive you for your wrong actions. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’" (Surah Al 'Imran, 31)
This verse clearly shows that love for God must be lived not only in words but by adhering to all of God’s commands and recommendations and demonstrating this in all states and actions.
Love of God Strengthens Love for His Manifestations
To truly appreciate and love God as He deserves is to properly comprehend His infinite mercy, compassion, and grace toward His servants. When one reflects that God manifests His attributes in every being He has created, one’s own mercy, forgiveness, and protectiveness increase, and a deep love forms in the heart toward all creation. This awareness beautifies one’s character; being merciful, forgiving, and helpful turns from a mere obligation into a sincere and heartfelt expression of love. A person who recognizes God’s greatness, His power, and especially the all-encompassing nature of His mercy, loves Him not only with awe, but with profound affection and admiration.
Conclusion: Love for God Is the Greatest Reality of Life
To love God is to attach oneself to Him with complete trust, to submit wholeheartedly to His decree, to recognize the blessings that manifest at every moment, and to place His pleasure at the center of life. Such love envelops the soul with deep peace; it brings relief to the heart in this world and becomes the means of eternal salvation in the Hereafter. The more one knows God, the more love increases; as one sees His power, mercy, and protection, the heart becomes more deeply attached. And the more one loves God, the more life gains meaning and beauty; one’s perspective changes, and wisdom and mercy are perceived in everything.
Thus, this deep recognition and sense of trust gradually goes beyond mere love in the heart; it transforms into an enthusiasm that envelops one’s soul, into a living and vibrant passion. This love becomes a vivid excitement that spreads into every moment of life.
When a believer opens one’s eyes in the morning, one first remembers one’s Lord and begins the day with the security and inner peace granted by His love. Knowing that one is under the control of an infinite intellect, infinite power, and infinite mercy forms a profound sense of trust in the heart. Realizing that one is a servant of God grants the soul an indescribable joy. It is difficult to imagine a greater peace than this. One becomes aware at every moment of being surrounded by blessings; one sees God’s grace in one’s breath, in the sky, in loved ones, and in the beating of the heart. Moreover, our Lord has prepared an eternal Paradise for those who believe and follow His path. Reflecting on this truth produces in the heart a deep and continuous festival-like joy.
For this reason, a believer lives throughout the day with gratitude, trust, and sincere joy, without forgetting God’s love and the blessings He has bestowed. One approaches life without being overcome by haste or anxiety, and evaluates it with the peace provided by reliance upon one’s Lord. This is true love: to keep God constantly in mind, to give continual thanks, and to live through seeking His pleasure. This sincere and passionate love felt for God is the greatest blessing that beautifies both one’s worldly life and one’s Hereafter.
