Page 808 - Atlas of Creation Volume 3

A Muslim who feels love, affection and interest in the things God has created, actually feels these things
for God's creation, and the power and art it contains. He knows that the beauty in a living thing actually
belongs to God.

Furthermore, the fact that such peoples' friends and family are also perceptions in their minds does not
prevent them being loved. If someone loves his family and friends because of their corporeal or material ex-
istences, then that is in any case a false love. True love consists in loving someone because of the features

manifested in him by God. For instance, although we have never seen the Prophet Muhammad (may God
bless him and grant him peace), we feel great love and affection for him because we know that many of the
attributes of God, such as The Supporter (Al-Wali), The Sovereign Lord (Al-Malik), The Generous One (Al-
Karim), The Trustee (Al-Wakil), The Guide (Al-Hadi) are manifested in him. Yet the only source of this love
we have for the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) is the love and affection we

feel for his true Lord, God.
Muslims love people, and all other things too, because of their love of God, and because all of these
things are a manifestation of Him. For instance, a Muslim who loves a young gazelle, does so because God's

compassion and love are manifested in it, because the lovable qualities God has created in the animal please
him, and its appearance inspires a feeling of compassion in him. He does not love the animal itself, or any
other creature, on its own as an independent entity.

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