أيَحْسَـبُ الصَّبُّ أنَّ الْحُبَّ مُنْكَتِـمٌ  مَا بَيْنَ مُنْسَــجِمٍ مِّنْهُ وَمُضْطَـرِمِ

4/4. Does the lover think that his love can be concealed; while he is constantly shedding tears and the fire in his heart is ablaze?

It is not appropriate for a lover to think that his love can be concealed from people whilst his tears are flowing, and his heart is restless.

When a person claims something, then he has to provide two witnesses in the court of law to verify his claim. The friends and family members of the poet have claimed that he is overwhelmed with love, whilst the poet is denying this love. The matter is taken to the court of love. The judge, according to normal proceeding, asked for some proof. The claimant brought forward his two witnesses: tears and restlessness in the heart.

How can we fulfil the rights due to Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and thank him ?

Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo has, via him, granted us the favours of this world and the hereafter, and rained upon us physical and spiritual favours.

For this reason, Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam is deserving of our complete and perfect love; more than what we possesses for ourselves, our family and all of creation.

In fact, some of the pious who possessed great recognition have stated, “If love for Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam is manifested in every hair of yours, then too this is only a portion of the love binding upon us” since the love for Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo and his Rasul  supersedes everything.

Consequently, Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

النَّبِىُّ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ

The Nabi has a greater right over the believers than their own lives.
(Ahzaab verse 6)

In another verse, Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَ أَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَ إِخْوَنُكُمْ وَ أَزْوَجُكُمْ وَ عَشِيْرَتُكُمْ وَ أمْولٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوْهَا وَ تِجَرَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَ مَسكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِّنَ اللهِ وَ رَسُوْلَهِ وَ جِهَادٍ فِى سَبِيْلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّى يَأْتِىَ اللهُ بِأَمرِهِ وَاللهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفَسِقِيْنَ

Say, if your parents, your children, your brothers, your wives, your families, your money which you earned, business whose closure you fear, and your house which you are fond of are more beloved to you than Allaah, His Messenger and striving in His Path, then wait until Allaah sends His command. And Allaah does not guide the disobedient ones.
(Taubah verse 24)

This verse has drawn together all the various forms of love. It has made binding that the love of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo and His Rasul  dominate the love of every other love. In fact, it should dominate the love of all of these things together.

Many ahaadeeth establish this point:

1.) Anas ibn Maalik RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

None of you can possess (perfect) imaan until I am more beloved to him than his father, his son and all the people.
(Bukhaari no. 15, Muslim no. 70)

This hadith includes every type of love, including love for oneself.

The narration of Abu Hurayrah RadhiAllaahu Anhustates that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ

By that Being in whose control my life lies, none of you can believe (in totality) until I am more beloved to him than his father and his son.
(Bukhaari no. 14)

Here, father and son have been mentioned, since they are the most beloved to man. For them, does man live and strive in this world. For this reason, all others have been left aside and only they have been mentioned. Hence, this narration points to the fact that love for Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam must compulsorily supersede every other love and beloved ones, including even one's self. Love is of many types, the most famous of which are:

1. Love of compassion and mercy. This is the love of the father for his son.
2. Love of respect and honour. This is the love of a son for his father and the student for his teacher.
3. Natural love. This is the love of a man for his wife.
4. Love of humanity and well-wishing. This is the mutual love of all people.
5. Love of oneself (i.e. every person loves himself). This is the strongest type of love. It is such a love which has been placed in the nature of man since his creation just as the love for others has also been placed. However, the love for oneself is stronger than the love for anyone else.

To Be Continued

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ