Islam & the Love of God

A friend of mine has recently left the fold of Islam. One of his reasons is that he believes that Islam doesn't emphasize the love God has for his servants as it is emphasized in Christianity. I myself know that comparing Islam to Christianity is like comparing apples and oranges. I understand that Islam has a different way of portraying God's love for the Muslims. I tried my best to show him that he is wrong. But, can you please give me Qur'anic and hadith evidence that shows God loves his servants, so that i may prove him wrong? What else can i tell him to convince him that Allah does love his servants?

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Dear Questioner,

I pray this message finds you well.

I'm sorry to hear that your friend has fallen for one of the most pervasive and fallacious pieces of anti-Islam propaganda out there.

If your friend doubts Allah's love, then he needs to reconsider what his definition of love is. Our very existence is a sign of Allah's love. Each and every breath we take, every beat of our hearts, every movement of our limbs, and every other life sustaining action we take are signs that Allah truly loves us. After all, He placed us on this earth to be His khulafa' or representatives, and He endowed us with the abilities we needed to survive and placed within this earth every amenity and resource imaginable for our growth and development. How could we possibly be blind to these gifts?

Has your friend ever read the Qur'an, every chapter of which, but one, beginning with "In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful?"

Allah chose to emphasize His characteristics of compassion, grace, and mercy to every person that every opened a page of His Book. As Allah Most High says, "When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: ‘My mercy prevails over my wrath.’" This is the very first hadith in the collection of Hadith Qudsi, a very special compilation of hadiths which focuses on Allah Ta'ala's mercy, love, and forgiveness for humanity. Your friend would do well to reflect on these noble traditions, passed down to us from the Beloved of Allah, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

If your friend were to return to the Qur'an, he would see many examples of Allah's love for creation. Numerous verses make direct reference to Allah's love for us, and provide guidance on how to receive that love. In Surat Aal-i-Imran, Allah Most High says, "Say: "If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (3:31). In Surat al-Baqara, Allah Ta'ala says, "For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean" (2:222). In Surat al-Ma'ida, Allah the Majestic says, "Verily Allah does love those who do good" (5:13). The list goes on and on. Allah declares His love for humanity by enumerating the characteristics which endear us to Him, thereby providing us with inspiration and guidance.

There are a plethora of indirect references to Allah's love as well. Your friend needs to look up the verses on forgiveness and repentance to get an idea of how incredibly vast Allah's love is. The God of Islam, who is the God of Christians and Jews, is a loving God. Islam gives people the opportunity to form a direct relationship with God. Has your friend considered the role of the five pillars? Has he thought about the way we turn in prayer, every day, five times a day, to the Lord of the Worlds in love, reverence, and awe? Muslims are honored to be God's slaves because in this relationship of absolute slavehood and obedience to Allah, they taste the sweetness of faith and feel unbounded love. It is tragic that your friend has not understood this. I pray that Allah Ta'ala opens his heart and brings him back to the Straight Path.

And Allah knows best.