Prophetic Prayers No 3: A Prayer for Love

Oh God! Grant me love of You…

• This includes our love for God, and God’s love for us.

“…follow me, and God will love you and forgive you your sins.” (3:31)

Allah loves…

“those who work with excellence (muhsineen)” (2:195)

“those who repent and those who constantly purify” (2:222)

“those who are mindful (of Him) (muttaqeen)” (3:76)

“those who are patient” (sabireen) (3:146)

“those who are reliant (on Him) (mutawakkileen)” (3:159)

“those who are fair (muqsiteen)” (5:42)

Verses and hadith on Love

“But those who believe are more intense in their love for God!” (2:165)

“Love God for what He nourishes you with of His Blessings, love me due to the love of God, and love the people of my house due to love of me.” [Tirmidhi]

“Whoever loves to meet God, God loves to meet him; and whoever hates meeting God, God hates to meet him” [Bukhari]

“Have no desire for this world, Allah will love you; and have no desire for what people possess, and the people will love you.” [Ibn Maja]

and love of those whose love will benefit me with You

“‘Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.’ I said, ‘I love God and His Messenger.’ He said, ‘Abu Dharr, you are with the one you love.’” [Bukhari, Adab]

“Whoever loves Hasan and Husain, loves me; and whoever hates them, hates me.” [Ibn Maja]

“None loves the Ansar but a believer, and none hates them but a hypocrite. So Allah will love him who loves them, and He will hate him who hates them.” [Bukhari]

Qadi Iyad on Love

Love is due to one or more of these three things:

  • Love of the outward perfection
  • Love of the inward qualities
  • Love of the benefits which can be gained

These are the reasons for which we love God, His Messengers, and the righteous

Whatever You have given me that I love, please make it a source of strength for me for that which You love.

• We are being taught that the things that we love can increase us in love of God, including our family, friends, and possessions.

• This is a fruit of gratitude (shukr): “A grateful eater is equal to a patient fasting person.” [Ibn Maja]

• This is also a fruit of using our blessings for good. One of the definitions of shukr is using one’s blessings to do good.

Whatever You have denied me that I love, please make it a respite for me for that which You love.

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (2:216)

“There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly answer his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.” [Ahmad]