Page 54 - Commonly Disregarded Qur'anic Rulings

52 COMMONLY DISREGARDED QURANIC RULINGS

A Muslim should love Allah above all else and love creat-
ed things only because they are manifestations of Allah's cre-
ative artistry or because Allah loves them, too. In Allah’s
Sight, this is the only legitimate way of love. This perception
will allow a person to part with anything he loves at any time.
Because his love is primarily for Allah, he loses nothing. For

Allah pervades and embraces everything. He is closer to him
than his jugular vein. In fact, he attains greater love and bless-
ing because he has acted in compliance with Allah’s will. He
does not regret what he gave; on the contrary, he feels
pleased. This is the attitude of a true Muslim.
But if a person loves something or someone as
autonomous and independent of Allah, he regards it as an
associate to Allah (Allah is surely beyond that) and becomes
an idolater. If he must possess something but, at the same
time, does so in accordance with Allah’s commands, Allah
may choose to purify him from the “association” he fell into
through his ignorant desires. Finally he will attain goodness
and enjoy Allah’s mercy.

NOT GIVING WHAT IS DISLIKED

As with all other acts of worship, it is important to keep
the purpose of giving or spending in mind. Giving is a spiritual
purification for believers. And giving away something one loves
is most praiseworthy in the Sight of Allah when one does it to
earn His approval. In this way, a believer will have proven that
he will give up anything in this world to please Allah and obtain
His mercy and that he will make every sacrifice to attain this