Sunday, August 21, 2005

Love In Quran.

When people speak about religion they assume that Christianity is the religion of love and Islam does not acknowledge love. The reality is Christianity used love to push for a just world. Unfortunately it did not work. Christians fought each other over the history as Muslims did to one another. I do not know someone who would give you his left cheek if you slap his right cheek. God's wrath and hell is acknowledged by Christianity as it is with Islam and Judaism. The message of Christ is great and we should continue to push for along with that of Islam and Judaism where justice becomes the foundation of love. It is easy to tell someone not to be angry if he had a lot of injustices particularly so as injustices are continuing to exist. A simple law of love is to love to others what you would love to yourself. See how God identifies love:
1- Love is obedience:
3:31 Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
3:32 Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger.: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith. قُلْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ
2- God does not love those who do injustices:
3:57 "As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them (in full) their reward; but Allah loveth not those who do wrong (injustice). وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ
3- Fear of God is a proof of love to God.
3:76 Nay.- Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily Allah loves those who act aright.
بَلَى مَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ وَاتَّقَى فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ
4- Giving to others from what you love is a proof of being the righteous that God love.
3:92 By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
5- Muslims attained love to one another through love and obedience to God. God is the one who made this love possible after they were enemies in the Arab pensula.
3:103 And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاء فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىَ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
3:134 Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for Allah loves those who do good;-
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Thus love in Islam is real. It comes first to God since he created me and I owe him a lot. Love of people close to you particularly if you all share the love of God and obedience to him. Compassion is the kind of love that you can give to everyone. Fear of God to harm any soul is a manifestation of your love to God. To feel angry when you should be is not wrong and to try to act with wisdom to change the conditions that incited your anger is right. Not to feel to Muslims who are under injustices and poverty or far from their religion is selfishness. To try to change the world is noble but you should believe that God is the real savior.