What did Ibn al-Qayyim say about love of Allah?
Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that the heart has no nourishment other than love of Allah. His treatment of love — its signs, its obstacles, its kindling — is among the most lyrical in the tradition.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
The passages gathered here on love of Allah come chiefly from al-Ghazali's Ihya, especially his Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy, and Contentment. Al-Ghazali frames love through prayer, asking Allah for "Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of what brings" one near, echoing the revelation to Dawud, "Love me and love those who love me." He distinguishes natural, instinctive attachment from love directed to Allah, and warns against trifling with the love of meeting Him, urging that the love of the world be removed from the heart.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"I ask You for Your love and the love of those who love You, and the love of every deed that"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"O Allah, grant me your love, the love of those who love you, and the love of what brings"
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"If you love me, remove the love of the world from your heart, for my love and the love"
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"Love should appear without aiming to display love or deeds indicating love, intending solely"
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"love for adornment and companionship at puberty, love for leadership after twenty, and love"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Make me among those who love you, love your angels and messengers, and love your righteous"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Anyone who trifles with the love of God, the love of His pleasure, and the love of meeting"
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"This type of love does not involve the love for Allah, but is rather love by nature and"
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"from love. One does not seek companionship with someone they do not love. Love can be"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"It is narrated that Allah revealed to Dawud, Love me and love those who love me and endear"
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