Sermon's Title: The Love of Allah Is the Lamp of the Worshippers
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Striving in worship during the last ten nights.
2- The heart’s devotion and attachment to Allah.
3- The worship of love and its secret.
4- Signs of the one who loves Allah.
All praise belongs to Allah, the Majestic and Great, the Most High and Supreme, the Beautiful Light, the Most Kind and Most Merciful. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah send abundant peace and blessings upon him.
To proceed:
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, with true Taqwā (a constant awareness of Allah that leads to obedience). Be mindful of Him in private and in secret conversations. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He truly deserves to be feared, and do not die except in a state of Islam.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 102]
Have you ever heard of a servant whom Allah admires, loves, smiles toward, and rejoices in?
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord, Mighty and Exalted, admires two men. One of them rises from his bedding and his blanket, leaving his family and his home, to stand in prayer. Our Lord says: ‘O My angels, look at My servant. He rose from his bed and his comfort, leaving his family and home for his prayer, hoping for what is with Me and fearing what is with Me.’” Narrated by Aḥmad.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “There are three people whom Allah loves, smiles toward, and rejoices in.” He mentioned among them: “A man who has a beautiful wife and a soft, comfortable bed, yet he rises during the night, leaving his desire, remembering Me and speaking privately with Me—though he could have remained asleep.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqī.
This is a servant whose heart is filled with love for Allah, fear of Him, and hope in what is with Him. As soon as night spreads its darkness, he feels joy at its arrival. He rises, leaving his bed and his family, standing with his feet before his Lord, speaking to Him in devotion, reciting His Book, hoping for His reward and His grace.
Servants of Allah,
These are the nights of the last ten days of Ramaḍān. They are nights of nearness—nights in which the heart turns fully toward Allah. These are the nights in which the leader of the worshippers, our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, exerted the greatest effort in worship and drawing close to his Lord.
The Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "When the last ten nights began, the Prophet ﷺ would tighten his waistcloth, stay awake through the night, and wake his family.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
She also said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would strive in worship during the last ten nights more than he would at any other time.” Narrated by Muslim.
It is also reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform iʿtikāf during the last ten nights of Ramaḍān.”
Do you know what iʿtikāf is, and what its purpose is?
Iʿtikāf means the heart devoting itself completely to Allah—turning away from the world and its distractions, and directing the heart and soul entirely toward Allah alone. In this state, the servant’s main concern, occupation, and comfort become nothing except Allah and seeking what pleases Him.
The one in iʿtikāf leaves his home, his wife, and his children, and comes to the house of Allah with his heart before his body. He abandons the fleeting pleasures of this world, devoting himself to Allah, reciting His Book, standing before Him in prayer. His heart and body remain devoted to the worship of his Lord. You see him constantly remembering Allah, humble, attentive, devoted, and returning to Him. He gathers all his needs and brings them to the door of his generous Lord.
You might ask: Why? What drives a person to this?
The greatest force that moves hearts toward Allah is the love of Allah and longing for Him.
The worship of love is the sail of the traveler on the path to Allah. It is the mount of the one journeying to his Lord. It is the head of the bird flying in the sky of servitude to Allah.
Have you not heard the praise of the King for His beloved servants when He says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَنْ يَرْتَدَّ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“O you who believe, whoever among you turns away from his religion—Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him. They are humble toward the believers and firm against the disbelievers. They strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of any critic. That is the favor of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and All-Knowing.” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 54]
“He loves them and they love Him.”
The believers love their Lord more than they love anything else. It is a love of devotion, worship, humility, and reverence.
In this world, the hearts of the polytheists become attached to their false partners and idols. The hearts of materialists become attached to their desires until they worship the world and devote themselves to its pleasures. But the love of the believers for Allah—and the attachment of their hearts and souls to their Lord—has no equal, because Allah has no equal. Allah says:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ
“And among the people are those who take others besides Allah as equals to Him. They love them as they should love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.” [Sūrat al-Baqarah: 165]
They live in a sweetness and happiness that our Prophet ﷺ described:
“Three qualities—whoever has them will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a person only for the sake of Allah; and that he hates to return to disbelief just as he hates to be thrown into the Fire.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
The one who loves Allah is driven by his love for his Lord to prefer Him above all others. He remembers Him and does not forget Him. He submits to His command with love and reverence, placing no one before Him—whoever that person may be.
You may ask: How is the lamp of love for Allah lit?
Know, O servant of Allah, that the lamp of love is lit by the heart’s knowledge and recognition of Allah—through knowing His Names, His Attributes, and His actions.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has angels who travel through the roads seeking the people of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). When they find a group remembering Allah, they call out: ‘Come to what you are seeking!’ Then they surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven.”
He said: “Then their Lord asks them—and He knows better than them—‘What are My servants saying?’
They reply: ‘They are glorifying You, declaring Your greatness, praising You, and exalting You.’
He says: ‘Have they seen Me?’
They reply: ‘No, by Allah, they have not seen You.’
He says: ‘How would they be if they saw Me?’
They say: ‘If they saw You, they would worship You even more intensely, glorify and praise You even more, and remember You even more.’” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
The sun of love for Allah rises in the heart when it knows the majesty of Allah, His beauty, and His generosity. These are the three foundations of love.
Love because of the majesty and perfection of Allah.
Love because of the beauty and radiance of Allah.
Love because of the generosity and kindness of Allah.
When the believing servant reflects in his heart upon what Allah has informed us about His majesty, His greatness, His glory, His exaltedness, and His perfection, his heart becomes filled with love for Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Where are those who loved one another for My majesty? Today I will shade them in My shade on a day when there is no shade except My shade.’” Narrated by Muslim.
Allah possesses the greatness of His essence, the greatness of His rank and status, and the greatness of His Names and Attributes. All perfection belongs to Him in every way. Exalted is He above every deficiency and flaw.
Allah is the Most Beautiful. To Him belongs the beauty of His essence, His Names, and His Attributes. Every beauty in the universe comes from Him. He is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His veil is light. Allah says:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.” [Sūrat al-Nūr: 35]
The Prophet ﷺ said: “His veil is light. If He were to remove it, the radiance of His Face would burn everything His sight reaches of His creation.” Narrated by Muslim.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty.” Narrated by Muslim.
Allah is the One of generosity and kindness—the Most Kind, the Most Generous, the Bestower, the Most Noble. He has showered His servants with His blessings. He created for them everything on earth. He subjected for them the sun and the moon, the night and the day, the ships and the sea—out of generosity and kindness. Allah says:
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً
“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has abundantly bestowed upon you His blessings, both apparent and hidden?” [Sūrat Luqmān: 20]
His mercy encompasses everything. He is Pardoning and Forgiving, modest and concealing, rich and generous, patient and forbearing, the One who answers supplication, the One in whom hope is great, the One whose favor and generosity are vast.
He revealed to them the magnificent Book. He established for them the upright religion. He sent to them the trustworthy and merciful Prophet. He intends ease for them. He stretches out His hand at night so that the sinner of the day may repent, and He stretches out His hand during the day so that the sinner of the night may repent. There is no hostility between Him and His creation. Rather, He says in the divine ḥadīth:
“O son of Ādam, as long as you call upon Me and hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done and I will not mind. O son of Ādam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you sought My forgiveness, I would forgive you and I would not mind. O son of Ādam, if you were to come to Me with sins nearly filling the earth, and then meet Me not associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly as great.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
May Allah bless me and you through the Great Qurʾān, and may He benefit me and you through its verses and wise reminder. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon:
All praise is for Allah. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family, his companions, and all who follow his path.
The leader of the worshippers, our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, possessed immense love for his Lord. Prayer was the comfort of his eyes. Remembering his Lord never left his heart or his lips. Striving in the cause of his religion was the purpose of his life. He lived for his Lord and longed to meet Him.
He used to supplicate: “I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that bring me closer to Your love.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
Harm felt light to him as long as it was in the path of his Lord. In fact, he would even find sweetness in hardship for His sake.
In one of the battles he was wounded. Looking at his wounded finger and the noble blood flowing from it, he said:
“You are only a finger that has bled, and what you have suffered is in the path of Allah.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
O worshipper who loves Allah, do you not long to see the face of the Majestic and Generous Lord?
The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate with the heart of a lover, saying: “I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face and for longing to meet You, without harmful hardship and without misleading trials.” Narrated by al-Nasāʾī.
How could one not long for that, when the Prophet ﷺ informed us that the delight of seeing the Face of Allah, the Most Great, is more beloved to the people of Paradise than all the pleasures of Paradise?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah will say: ‘Do you want anything more for you?’ They will say: ‘Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not admitted us into Paradise and saved us from the Fire?’ Then He will remove the veil, and nothing given to them will be more beloved to them than looking at their Lord.” Narrated by Muslim.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims. Destroy the criminal Zionists. O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your cause. Rescue Your oppressed servants. Raise high the banner of the religion by Your power, O Most Strong, O Most Firm.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands. Rectify our leaders and those in authority over us. Place our leadership in the hands of those who fear You, are conscious of You, and follow Your pleasure.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Servants of Allah, remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening.
And the last of our supplication is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
