Love of Allah, tabaarak wa ta’alaa

Love of Allah, tabaarak wa ta’alaa
By: Imaam Ibn-ul-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah
From the book Madarij as-Saalikeen, Vol. 3, pp. 17-18.

Imaam Abu `Abdillah, Shamsuddin Muhammad, ibn Abu Bakr, ibn Ayyub, ibn Sa`d, ibn Hurayz, al-Jawziyyah, al-Hanbali mentioned ten causes that result in Allah’s love for His slave and the slave’s love for his Lord. These ten (10) are:

First, reciting the Qur’an while pondering over its meanings and what is meant by it.

Second, getting closer to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after completing obligatory deeds. This is as is stated in a Haddith Qudsi: “My slave continues getting closer to Me by performing voluntary deeds until I love him.” [Bukhari]

Third, continual remembrance of Allah under all circumstances, with one’s tongue, heart and actions. The extent of one’s love of Allah is determined by this.

Fourth, giving precedence to what He loves over what you love when you are overtaken by your desires.

Fifth, the heart being avid of Allah’s Names, and Attributes and the heart roaming in that garden of knowledge.

Sixth, observing Allah’s kindness, goodness and bounties, both hidden and open.

Seventh, and this is the most wonderful, the heart being soft, subdued and meek before Allah.

Eighth, being alone with Allah during the time when the Lord descends during the last portion of the night while reading His Book and ending that by asking for forgiveness and repenting.*

Ninth, sitting with the beloved and sincere, benefitting from the most fruitful of their speech. And not to speak unless speaking is more beneficial and you know that it will improve your state and be beneficial to others.

Tenth, remaining away from every cause that comes between the heart and Allah.

These ten causes take the lovers to the station of true love and bring them to their Beloved.

-Footnotes-
*Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Allah descends to the lowest heaven at half of the night or at one-third of the latter part and says: Who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to ask Me so that I grant him? And then says: Who will lend to One Who is neither indigent nor tyrant? (This hadith has been narrated by Sa'd b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters with this addition:" Then the Blessed and the Exalted (Lord) stretches His Hands and says: Who will lend to One Who is neither indigent nor tyrant?) [Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 165], we leave to Allah what He means by descends just like He taught us in verse [3:7].
**Original source: http://tawheedfirst.wordpress.com