If Allah loves a person, He calls [angel] Gabriel saying: ‘Allah loves so and so; O Gabriel, love him.’ Gabriel would love him, and then Gabriel would make an announcement among the residents of the Heaven, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, therefore, you should love him also.’ So, all the residents of the Heavens would love him and then he is granted the pleasure of the people of the earth. (Al Bukhari)
It is a basic human need to feel loved. It is an even more profound need to feel loved by our Creator. And so, we often ask ourselves, does God love me?
Does Allah (SWT) say to angel Gabriel that He loves me?
God wishes ease for us (Quran 2:185).
He created humankind in the best form (Quran 95:4).
He wants what is best for all of us and wants for us to do what is best for ourselves (Quran 2:216).
God cares about His creation with incomparable attention.
God cares, but to earn the love of the Creator of love, what must one do? What qualities must one have? Are we doing enough?
Answer the questions that follow to see what is required to attain the love of God.
1- Do You Do Your Best to Follow the Best Example of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
God sent us guidance in the form of living, breathing, physical examples. The Prophets are our examples of how to live life in the best way possible of our own benefit.
Those who understand this gift from God follow the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), about whom we have the most authentic record. And in turn Allah loves those who follow the example He sent.
Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
2- Do You Do Your Best to Do Good?
God doesn’t look at the make and model of your car, but He looks at the way in which you control your anger. God doesn’t look at the square footage of your home, but the expanse of your generosity.
He is not concerned with the contents of your paycheck, but with the contents of your character. Allah (SWT) loves the doers of good.
Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good. (Quran 3:134)
3- Are You Determined in Your Deen?
When faced with a choice of doing something right but difficult or something easy but wrong, those who are steadfast choose the hard and pure path.
When weariness hits while in the struggle for justice, those who are determined preserver.
When life seems to be too much and all one wants to do is give up, the patient persist and never neglects his/her responsibilities.
[…] And Allah loves the steadfast. (Quran 3:146)
4- Do You Trust God?
Those who trust God remind themselves of God’s plan for them when they suffer loss or pain. Those who trust God, trust that their dua (supplication) will be answered in one way or another. Those who trust God, never lose hope in Allah’s forgiveness.
[…] Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159)
5- Are You Just?
Those who are just never behave arrogantly towards people of other cultures or languages. The just gives everyone their rights even if you do not like them. Those who are just tell the truth even if it harms themselves.
[…] Allah loves those who act justly. (5:42)
6- Do You Try to Do Extra Good Deed?
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a sacred hadith:
“The most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary prayers or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) until I love him, (so much so that) I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me something, I will surely give him, and if he seeks My Protection (refuge), I will surely protect him.” (Al-Bukhari)
Results
If you answered “yes” to all or most of the above questions, then there is a good chance that Allah (SWT) loves you! And Allah knows best. Keep going on your path and never let your successes make you feel as if you are better than others.
Make dua to Allah (SWT) that He will love you and continue to guide you toward Him. And please make dua for those of us who are struggling.
If you answered “no” to most or all of the above questions, Allah (SWT) wishes the best for all of us and has given us guidance so that we can come closer to Him, so that we can be better for our own sake, so that we can have peace.
As we seek God and better ourselves, we earn Allah’s love, inshaAllah. Make dua to Allah (SWT) that He will guide you to Him.
We don’t need to be perfect to earn the love of the Creator. We only need to do our best to be our best, to seek God, who is:
Oft-Forgiving, the Most Loving; full of love. (Quran 85:14)
(From Discovering Islam’s archive.)