Spiritual Disease and Its Cure by Imam Shams-ud-Deen Muhammad bin Abi Bakr bin Qayyim AlJ awziyyah

Love or attachment is a name, of which there are many types differing in their degree and description. The type most mentioned, with regards to Allah ~ ' is the one which is only suitable for Allah's Status (and not to anyone or anything else), such as worship and devotion to Him, Alone. The term love can be mentioned in its general context, as in the Verses: ( Allah will bring people, whom He wills, and they will love Him. ) 1 (And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as rivals. They love them (as much) as they love Allah. ) 2 The worst love, which is categorically prohibited in Islam, is to have an equal love for others besides Allah; while the greatest type of love is to love Allah, Alone, and to love whatever He ~ loves. This is the basis of happiness in this world and the Hereafter, which saves one from any punishment. The prohibited love, which is a type of polytheism, is the basis of torment in this world and the Hereafter. Those who love Allah ~ and worship Him, Alone, do not enter the Hell-Fire, and if they ever enter it because of some sins, none of them would stay in it. The Qur' an is centred on this commandment of love and its obligations, and on the prohibition of the other type and its requirements. It gives examples and stories of both types, with details of their devotees. It also gives the conditions of both types in the three worlds: the condition in this world, the condition in the grave, and the condition in the Hereafter. The basis of the Message of all the prophets ~1 is to worship Allah ~ ' Alone, without partners ; such a worship which comprises the perfection of love, submission, humiliation, praise and glorification to Him £ , along with obedience and fear as necessary prerequisites. Anas bin Malik ~ reported that the Prophet ~ said: "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is , none of you will not have complete faith, till I am dearer to him than his son, his father and all people." 3 Abdullah bin Hisham ~ said: "We were with the Prophet while he was holding the hand of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab. 'Umar said to Him: ' O Messenger of Allah! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.' The Prophet ~ said: ' No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is , you will not have complete faith, till I am dearer to you than your own self.' Then 'Umar said to him: 'However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.' The Prophet ~ said: ' Now, 0 ' Umar, (you are a believer). " '4 If this is the case for loving the Prophet ~ and the obligation to place his love before that for one's child, father and all people , then what about the love due to the One Who sent Muhammad ~ as His Messenger?

Love remains the basis behind every action and its effective cause. There are three types of actions: a chosen action, a natural one, and a compelled one. The basis of a natural action is a state of static equilibrium, for the body moves only when it leaves its natural state of balance and returns to this state when an action is finished. A chosen action which relies on one's will power, is the basis of the other types of actions, for it relates to will power and love. The best example of this concept is in the actions both in the heavens and on the earth, such as the movements of the galaxies, stars, wind, clouds, rain, plants, embryos in their wombs; they are all executed by the appointed angels who arrange to obey the Commands of Allah ~ ' such as distributing His Blessings (by His Command). This is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and it is derived from the belief in the Angels, as one of the precepts of Faith. In fact, Allah ~ has appointed angels for the wombs (to take care of any new coming baby) , angels for the rain, angels for vegetation, angels for the wind, angels for the stars, angels for the mountains, and for the clouds which carry rain to any specific destination. Allah ~ also appointed four angels for every person (two writers - one on his/her right and one on his/her left recording all his/her words and actions - and two protectors - one in front of him/her and one behind him/her). He ~ also appointed angels to take away a person ' s spirit (at his/her death) and prepare its new dwelling in Paradise or in Hell ; angels to question him/her (after his/her death) and test him/her in the grave, where he/she would either blessed or tormented; angels to take him/her to the Gathering Place, when he/she rises from his/her grave; angels to punish him/her in Hell, or bless him/her in Paradise. The angels are the soldiers of Allah ~ . and the term "angel" just means messenger, executing the Commands of Allah ~ . without having any decision in the matter. The whole matter belongs to Allah ~. Alone . The angels are simply implementing the Divine Commands. Allah ~ said, informing about them: ( We (angels) do not descend except by the Command of your Lord (0 Muhammad :I). To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between those two; and your Lord is never forgetful) 1 ( There are many angels in the heavens , whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave to whom He wills and is pleased with. ) 2 Allah ~ has sworn by a number of His Angels who execute His Commands, saying: ( By those (angels) arranged in rows. By those (angels) who drive the clouds in a good way. By those (angels) who deliver the Book and the Qur'an from Allah to mankind.) 1 ( By the winds (or angels or the Messengers of Allah) sent forth, one after another. By the winds that blow violently. By the winds that scatter clouds and rain. By the (Verses of the Qur'an) that separate the right from the wrong. By the angels that deliver the Revelations of the Messengers, to cut off all excuses or warn.) 2 ( By those (angels) who pull out (the souls of the disbelievers and the wicked) with great violence. By those (angels) who gently take out (the souls of the believers). By those that swim along (i.e. angels or planets in their orbit). By those (angels) who arrange to do the Commands of their Lord.) 3 All those movements and actions are the angels ' worship of Allah ,g, It is their love of Allah which makes them execute His Commands willingly; and it is this love which makes the heavens and the earth glorify their Lord ( The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him; for there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.)4 Therefore, every living or moving thing has a will, love and action accorded to it, and all the existing parts in this universe would not be useful unless their movements and love were devoted for their Creator, Alone , just as their existence itself is due only to His Exclusive Creativity. It is for this reason that Allah ~ said: (Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined.) 1 Indeed, if there were two gods for thi s world, its system would have been in chaos , as each god would have sought to overcome the other or destroy him , in order to be singled out as the only true deity , and because sharing with another deity is a shortcoming in a deity's perfection. A god would never be pleased to have a shortcoming; so if one destroyed the other, he would be the only god , while the other defeated one could no longer be described as god. But if none should overcome the other, then they both would have a defect, and there should be a stronger god above them, otherwise each one of them would take what he had created and use it to overcome the other. This situation would lead to the destruction of all that existed in the heavens and the earth, just like the damage which is left in a country where there were two kings fighting eachother for the throne! Therefore, the righteousness of the heavens and the earth , and the perfect system that organises the existence of all creatures , is manifest proof that there is no god but Allah ~ 'Alone, without any associate; to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise; He gives life and causes death; and He is Omnipotent over all things. Allah ~ said: (No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him. If there had been many gods, then each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified is Allah above all that they attribute to Him!) 1 (Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who raise the dead? Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified is Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above all that they associate with Him! He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.)2 (Say: If there had been other gods along with Him as they assert, then they would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne.)3