This is Allaah, Al-Wadood (the Ever-Affectionate), The Almighty, The Exalted.
This is Allaah, Al-Wadood (the Ever-Affectionate), The Almighty, The Exalted.
Imam Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: Al-Wadood means the Ever-Affectionate.
So you find Him precedes His creation in loving. Allaah The Almighty Says:
{O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allaah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him.}[Al-Maa‘idah 54]
So He The Exalted mentioned first His love to His devoted worshipers before mentioning their love to Him The Almighty.
Furthermore, He The Exalted loves to meet those who love Him:
It is narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever loves to meet Allaah, Allaah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allaah, Allaah hates to meet him.”[1]
He also loves your speech about Him The Exalted:
It is narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Two words which are light on the tongue and heavy in the Balance, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhaana Allaah wa bihamdih, subhaan Allaah il-‘Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allaah, glory be to Allaah the Almighty).”[2]
He loves your marks and traces (marks of the tears of your eyes and that of your foot):
It is narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Nothing is dearer to Allaah than two drops and two marks: A drop of tears shed out of fear of Allaah and a drop of bloodshed in the Cause of Allaah The Almighty. Regarding the two marks, they are: Marks left in the Cause of Allaah The Almighty and a mark left in observing one of the obligatory act of worship of Allaah The Almighty.”[3]
He The Exalted draws near to you more than you draw near to Him The Exalted:
It is narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If My slave draws near to Me a handspan, I draw near to him an arm’s length; if he draws near to me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length; if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.”[4]
[1] Reported by Al-Bukhaari on the authority of ‘Aa‘ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her.
[2] Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[3] Reported by At-Tirmithi and deemed it Hasan Ghareeb (good strange) Hadeeth. Refer to Saheeh At-Targheeb wa At-Tarheeeb.
[4] Reported by Al-Bukhaari (7536).