Allah loves his slaves 70 times more than a mother loves her children

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

First, it should be known that Allah’s love for His creation is not general and unrestricted. This can be known from the following explicit verses of the Holy Quran,

يَمْحَقُ اللّهُ الْرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

Allah effaces (the blessings) of usury and increases (the blessings) of charity; and Allah does not love the ungrateful sinners. (2:227)

وَقَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

And fight in the path of Allah those who fight you, and do not exceed the limit; verily Allah does not love the transgressors. (2:190)

قُلْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

Say, obey Allah and the Messenger; and if they turn away, verily Allah does not love the disbelievers. (3:32)

From the above-mentioned verses, we come to know that Allah does not love the disbelievers and sinful. This means that Allah’s love is restricted to those who believe and obey His commands.  The reason for this is because Allah does not force belief and faith upon mankind. Allah has given man the freedom to choose his or her own fate. If a person uses this free will to obey Allah, then he or she will be deserving of Allah’s love. However, if a person uses this free will to disobey and disbelieve in Allah, then he or she will be deserving of Allah’s wrath and punishment. 

One should also note that it is from the love of His creation that Allah Ta’ala gives every human being the ability to choose guidance and paradise by obeying His commands and following His guidance. However, it is from the wretchedness of mankind that one chooses to disobey and ignore His guidance.

It is the love and compassion of Allah that He sends Messengers and Prophets for every age to call mankind towards the obedience of Allah; however, it is from the misery of mankind that one rejects their call.

It is from the love and compassion of Allah that He has sent down a miraculous and safeguarded Quran guiding man toward all that is good. However, it is from the wretchedness of mankind that one disregards its teachings.

If Allah willed, he could have forced faith and obedience upon all mankind; however, without having free will, faith would lose its value. Allah mentions in the Holy Quran,

وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء وَلَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

If Allah had willed, He would have made you into one Ummah (group); however, He leaves misguided whomsoever He pleases and He guides whomsoever He pleases, and you will definitely be question regarding what you used to do.” (16:93)

Allah does not want to punish mankind. Allah wants all of mankind to be successful and prosperous. However, it is man himself who chooses misguidance and agony.

And Allāh knows best.
 

Muftī Ebrahim Desai 

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