Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Love of Allah Almighty is one of the greatest foundations of faith and worship. The more a person knows Allah, His names and attributes, His blessings and kindness, the more his love for Him increases, and the effects of that love appear in his obedience and his following of the Messenger ﷺ.
Why Do We Love Allah Almighty?
Allah is the Creator and the Giver of blessings. Every blessing a person enjoys comes from Him. Allah says:
“Whatever blessing you have is from Allah. Then when hardship touches you, to Him alone you cry for help.”
[An-Nahl 16:53]
A person naturally loves those who are good to him. So what about the One who created him, provides for him, blesses him, conceals his shortcomings, accepts his repentance, answers his supplications, relieves his distress, has mercy on him, and forgives him?
Allah Almighty also possesses perfection, beauty, and majesty. Therefore, He is the most deserving of the heart’s love and reverence.
Allah says:
“But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah.”
[Al-Baqarah 2:165]
Love of Allah is not merely an emotional feeling. It is an act of worship of the heart, and its sincerity is shown through reverence, obedience, and giving priority to what Allah loves over one’s own desires.
How Can You Increase Your Love for Allah?
One of the greatest means of increasing love is knowing Allah Almighty. The more a person learns about Allah’s names and attributes, His mercy, wisdom, generosity, and forgiveness, the more attached his heart becomes to Him.
Another means is reflecting on Allah’s blessings. A person lives surrounded by blessings that he cannot count: life, health, intellect, guidance, provision, family, security, and countless other apparent and hidden blessings.
Allah says:
“If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could never enumerate them.”
[An-Nahl 16:18]
It is beneficial for a person to pause from time to time and remember how Allah has shown kindness to him throughout his life, how many hardships He has removed, and how many blessings He has granted without even being asked.
Following the Prophet ﷺ Is One of the Greatest Signs of Loving Allah
The Qur’an explains the clear path to loving Allah:
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[Al ‘Imran 3:31]
The measure is not merely for a person to say, “I love Allah.” The truthfulness of that love appears in following the Prophet ﷺ, maintaining the obligatory acts, and staying away from what is forbidden.
The more a Muslim follows the Messenger ﷺ, the closer he becomes to Allah and the stronger his love for Allah and His religion becomes.
Obligatory and Voluntary Acts Increase Love of Allah
One of the strongest practical ways to increase love is first to maintain the obligatory acts and then increase in voluntary worship.
Allah Almighty says in the hadith qudsi:
“My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him.”
[Reported by al-Bukhari]
Maintaining prayer, reading the Qur’an, remembering Allah, making du‘a, giving charity, and performing other acts of obedience bring the heart closer to Allah.
A person should not become occupied with voluntary acts while neglecting obligatory duties, for the obligations are the first path to closeness and love.
Reading and Reflecting on the Qur’an
The Qur’an is the speech of Allah. Whoever wants to know his Lord and his religion should frequently read it with reflection, rather than merely moving the tongue over its words.
The Qur’an teaches a person about his Lord, His names and attributes, His mercy, justice, and wisdom. It explains why he was created, the purpose of his life, and the path that earns Allah’s pleasure.
For this reason, reading the Qur’an with understanding and reflection is among the greatest means of nourishing love of Allah in the heart.
Love for the Religion Grows Through Understanding and Practicing It
The more a Muslim understands the wisdom, mercy, and justice of Islam, and the purposes behind its acts of worship and rulings, the more he loves his religion.
One reason love may become weak is that a person knows the religion only superficially or that worship becomes merely a habit. But when he learns the meanings of prayer, the Qur’an, tawhid, and the life of the Prophet ﷺ, he gains a deeper appreciation of what Allah has guided him to.
Obedience itself also increases love. Love leads to obedience, and obedience in turn strengthens faith and love.
Love Has Different Levels
The obligatory level of love for Allah is manifested in fulfilling the obligations and avoiding what is forbidden. A person cannot truthfully claim perfect love of Allah while deliberately disobeying His commands.
There is also a higher level: a servant draws closer through voluntary acts, strives against himself to avoid disliked and doubtful matters, and gives priority to what Allah loves over what his own soul desires.
Therefore, increasing love is a continuous journey, not a feeling that a person reaches once and then completes.
Summary
Love of Allah increases through knowing Him, reflecting on His names, attributes, and blessings, reading the Qur’an with contemplation, following the Prophet ﷺ, maintaining the obligatory acts, and increasing in voluntary worship, remembrance, and supplication.
The more a person knows his Lord, recognizes the effects of His mercy and kindness in his life, and lives with the Qur’an and obedience, the more his love for Allah and His religion grows.
The true sign of this love is not feelings alone, but that its effects appear in obedience, following the Prophet ﷺ, and giving priority to what Allah loves over personal desires.
And Allah knows best.