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towards the divine

Where to start

You must start from the first level and improve from there – not from the top.  The first level is important as your base;  and then the awliyas (saints) take you up.

The sign of your love for the Lord is that it makes you familiar (friendly) with everyone and everything.  You love all creatures of Allah, never hating anyone.

Allah never hates His creatures.  If He did He would kill them and take them away, because He is Lord. 

But, He doesn’t like bad characteristics in His servants.  As long as you keep those you will never find a way to your Lord’s Divine Love.  It can’t reach you because there is that curtain between you and Him.

In all religions purification is the target – also in Islam. When you are purified Divine love will reach you through the Prophet.

Everyone carries love towards the Lord according to their level.   S. Muhammad (sws)   has been granted the most.  He is the beloved one.   On their level all Prophets were beloved.     The sign of your love towards the Lord is your love for his beloved one, S. Muhammad and for all other Prophets and saints.  That love carries you to the love of the Lord.

Based on Dunya to Maula  p 14

Is love enough?

Abu Bakr^[1] asked,  “Oh Prophet is ‘love’ alone enough – or is action also necessary?”

The Prophet answered “Oh Abu Bakr, actions are not a condition. The important thing is love.   In the end everyone will be with his beloved friend.”  If one is conquered by his nafs and his actions are bad, but he loves good people - not loving bad people or his own bad actions-  then he will benefit from that love.

When Abu Bakr heard this he prayed two rakats in thanks to his Lord and said,  “Oh Prophet I never heard such good news as this till now.” (Look at the humility  of Abu Bakr.  No one can reach his station)   “Until now my heart was in knots which I could not untie.  Your Hadith untied them just now.  I am satisfied, absolutely at peace in my heart.  In this life I can’t be patient for one moment without your presence.  I was thinking that if actions are a condition of  our being together in paradise how could I be with you?  Where are my actions compared with yours?”

And where are our actions compared with Abu Bakr's?    Therefore the Prophet has given sweet words to people.

 In Islam there is no higher thing than love.