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TEVRAT, ZEBUR, İNCİL ve KUR'AN'DAN GÖZLEMLER |
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Love is a sentiment that one feels either for one's own kind or for a material thing. This is one of the greatest gifts that God has favored man with. « Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not. »(Surah 2/216)
This subject has been studied under three headings: Negative Love, Positive Love, Love for the Prophet.
NEGATIVE LOVE
Negative love is the one feels for things that have God's curse on them: love of animate or inanimate idols, excessive love for material things, self-love, excessive love for worldly gifts.
Love of animate or inanimate idols
« Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah.: They love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the penalty.» (Surah 2/165)
An idol is a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing made or used as an object of worship. There are people who adore idols hoping to receive favors from them. To attribute a partner to God is the greatest sin; it is the denial of God.
Excessive Love for Material things
And ye love wealth with inordinate love! (Surah 89/20)
To attach reasonable value to worldly goods is normal; they are required for the continuation of life. If one goes to excess and hoards his wealth he is led to idolatry. A man should share his surplus of wealth with other people in need. And violent is he in his love of wealth.
Excessive Self-love
« Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self: Truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray."» (Surah 12/30)
« Self-love can lead man to perpetrate all sorts of inordinate acts. The only solution is to take refuge with God. She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his (true) self but he did firmly save himself guiltless!....and now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and (what is more) be of the company of the vilest!" He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."» (Surah 12/32,33)
Excessive Love for Worldly Gifts
« Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (To return to).» (Surah 3/14)
Love for transitional assets is necessary up to a certain extent for the perpetuation of one's generation provided one does not indulge in excesses. « As to these, they love the fleeting life, and put away behind them a Day (that will be) hard Surah »(76/27)
POSITIVE LOVE
This embraces all the positive sentiments that one feels for things that have gained God's favor. Love of humankind, sharing things one loves with others, love of faith, Love for one's Parents and love for one's Children.
Love of humankind
« Ah! ye are those who love them, but they love you not,- though ye believe in the whole of the Book »(Surah 3/119)
The Qur'an, symbol of love and forbearance, embraces the entirety of mankind. Believers love all their brethren whether they are believers or unbelievers, friends or foes. Despite the fact their love is unrequited; they are full of love for the entire creation, including plants and animals. The Turkish great mystic poet Yunus Emre said: “I love the Created, because of the Creator”
Share the things you love with others
« … to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity… »(Surah 2/177)
In order to win God's favor, one of the important things is to be able to give away what one has generously without any afterthought. Selfhood can thus be cleansed from impurities. « By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well. »(Surah 3/92)
Endearment of Faith
« But Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts» (Surah 49/7)
Faith is the act or state of wholeheartedly and steadfastly believing in the existence, power and benevolence of a supreme being, of having confidence in his providential care and of being loyal to his will as revealed. Religion is love between God and man forming the two poles. « But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah.»(Surah 2/165)
Love of Spouse
« And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. »(Surah 30/21).
Spouses are favored with the sentiment of love and kindness so that they may perpetrate their union in peace. « And those who pray, "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes» (Surah 25/74)
Love for Parents and Children
« Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."» (Surah 17/23,24)
Parental love comes next to love of God. The mother has a sublime place in the creation. She bears her child and nourishes him without expecting anything in return.« And those who pray, "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous." »
LOVE FOR THE PROPHET
« We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.» (Surah 34/28)
« Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."» (Surah 3/31)
Muhammad was a prophet sent as Messenger to the entire mankind. To act according to his ways is the path that would endear men to God. He is the last prophet and the messenger of the uncorrupted book. « We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures» (Surah 21/07) « To follow his tradition is the best way to follow the true path.Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.» (Surah 33/21) « Now hath come unto you an Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful». (Surah 9/128)
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