Al-Mahabbah (love of God)
It is a compulsory aspect of worship in Islam to love Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). A Muslim who does not love Allah and His Prophet above all things in the world has a big question mark on his faith.
But when a Muslim loves Allah sincerely in his heart, Allah loves him in return.
Allah says: Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[32] Say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger”: but if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith. Quran 3.31 (Surat Al Imran , verse 31,32)
Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[32] Say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger”: but if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith. Quran 3.31 (Surat Al Imran, verse 31,32)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: One has not really have faith until he loves him more than everything (Bukhaary).
According to Shaykh Ibn alQayyim (rahimahuLLAHU), the reasons which cause mahabbah (love) of Allah Ta’ala to develop, are ten:
First: Reciting the Qur’an, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent.
Second: Drawing closer to Allah - the Most High - through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.
Third: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs - under all circumstances. The more continuant the dhikr, the more muhabbah develops and intensifies.
Fourth: Giving precedence to what Allah loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires.
Fifth: Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allah.
Sixth: Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of Allah - both manifest and hidden.
Seventh: To be humble and submissive before Allah - and this is the greatest matter.
Eighth: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur’an, during that time in which Allah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him.
Ninth: To sit in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of Allah, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you in goodness and that it will benefit others as well.
Tenth: To stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.
So these are the ten reasons which cause the person to develop true love for Allah and to reach the rank of almuhabbah, by which he reaches his Beloved.