Do we love Him enough to force ourselves to pray even when we don’t feel like praying? Or to abstain from sin no matter how tempting it may be? Do we love Him enough to guard our tongue and hands from harming His creation? Or to strive in carrying out actions that earn His pleasure, just like a lover strives for his beloved?
The reality is that no matter what we do, we can never be fully deserving of His mercy and grace. But He is still Ash-Shakoor; The Most Appreciative. He allows us to repeatedly turn to Him despite knowing in what unworthy state we will return, and He is Al Wahhāb; The Supreme Bestower who continues to grant us favours upon favours despite us being undeserving to receive. When we ask other humans for favours, it is only a matter of time before they express their frustration. On the other hand, when we ask Al Mujeeb; The Responsive and The Answerer of Prayers – He not only willingly responds to every invocation but also becomes pleased. This is equally true for our pleas of remorse, for He is Al Ghafoor; The All-Forgiving Who accepts our repentance and forgives beyond measure.
So “…what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous?” [Quran 82:6]
Ibn Qayyim rh said: “If the veils were lifted from His [Allah’s] kindness and what He does for the servant of what he knows and what he does not know, his heart would melt out of love for Him and longing for Him, and he would fall prostrating in gratitude to Him. But the hearts are veiled from witnessing that because of their devotion to the world…”
How then can we deepen our recognition of Allah (SWT)? A hadith mentions, “Allah has 99 names, one hundred less one. Whoever learns them by heart will enter Paradise” [Bukhari]. Let’s memorise and understand them while reflecting on their meanings, finding strength and solace in them, one name at a time. Moreover, let’s work on embodying certain qualities in our own actions because true love is not just about knowing Him but about living in a way that reflects that knowledge in every aspect of our lives.
Allah (SWT) says, وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ فَٱدۡعُوهُ بِهَاۖ.
“And to Allah belong the best/most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them…” [7:180]
For every situation/emotion you find yourself in, there is a corresponding name of Allah (SWT). And if you are unsure, simply call out to “Allāh” – the name that encompasses all of His beautiful names.
May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability to constantly turn to Him in this life.May Al Kareem grant us the greatest joy of beholding Him in the next.Ameen.
