It is narrated on the authority
of Abdullah bin Mas'ood (may ALLAH be pleased with him), who observed:
"I asked ALLAH's Messenger (may peace be upon him) which deed was the best." He
(the Holy Prophet) replied: 'The Prayer at its appointed hour.' I (again) asked:
"Then what?" He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Kindness to the parents.' I (again)
asked: "Then what?" He replied: 'Earnest struggle (Jihad) in the cause of
ALLAH.' I refrained from asking any more questions for fear of annoying him. (Sahih
Muslim: 120)
Abu Hurairah (may ALLAH be pleased with him) reported that ALLAH's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) was asked about the best of deeds. He observed: "Belief
in ALLAH." He (the inquirer) asked: 'What next?' He (the Holy Prophet) replied:
"Jihad (struggle to the utmost) in the cause of ALLAH." He (the inquirer) again
asked: 'What next?' He (the Holy Prophet) replied: "Pilgrimage accepted into the
grace of the Lord." (Sahih Muslim: 118)
Abu Dharr (may ALLAH be pleased with him) reported that I asked the Messenger of
ALLAH: "Which of the deeds is the best?" He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Belief
in ALLAH and Jihad in His cause.' I again asked: "Who is the slave whose
emancipation is the best?" He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'One who is valuable
for his master and whose price is high.' I asked: "What if I cannot afford to do
it?" He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Help an artisan or make anything for the
unskilled (laborer).' I (Abu Dharr) said: "O Messenger of ALLAH, you see that I
am helpless in doing some of these deeds." He (the Holy Prophet) replied:
'Desist from doing mischief to the people. That is your own charity for your
self.'
(Sahih Muslim: 119)
SOME OF THE HUMAN QUALITIES ALLAH, THE ALMIGHTY LOVES
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love ALLAH, then follow me (i.e.
accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), ALLAH will love you
and forgive you your sins. And ALLAH is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran:
3:31)
Patience
"And ALLAH loves as-Sabirun (the patient)." (Quran: 3:146)
Justice and Dealing with Equity
"Be just: that is nearer to piety; and fear ALLAH." (Quran: 5:8)
Putting Trust in ALLAH
"Certainly, ALLAH loves those who put their trust (in Him)." (Quran: 3:159)
Perfection of One's Work
The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves that if one does a job he
perfects it."
Rescuing
Abu Ya ‘la Dailami and Ibn Asakir narrated: Abu Hurairah and Anas Ibn Malik
said: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves rescuing the one
who needs rescue."
Being Kind and Gentle to Others
Baihaqani narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH is kind
and gentle (to others)."
Kindliness
"Aisha narrated: The Messenger of ALLAH (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves
kindliness in all matters." (Bukhari)
Repentance
"Truly, ALLAH loves those who turn unto him in repentance." (Quran: 2:222)
Piety
"Verily, then ALLAH loves those who are al-Muttaqun (the pious)."
(Quran: 3:76)
Good-doing
"Truly, ALLAH loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers)." (Quran: 2:195)
Body Purification
"And ALLAH loves those who make themselves clean and pure [ i.e. who clean their
private parts with dust (which has the properties of soap) and water from urine
and stools, after answering the call of nature]." (Quran: 9:108)
Humility of the Rich
Muslim narrated: Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas said: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him)
said: "ALLAH loves the believer who is pious and rich, but does not show off."
Belief and Work
Al-Tabarani narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves
the slave who believes and acquires a career (or work)."
Reflection of ALLAH's Grace
Al-Tirmidhi narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves
from amongst his slaves, the one who has a sense of zeal or honor."
Magnanimity
Al-Hakim narrated: The Messenger of ALLAH (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH is
All-Generous and He loves generosity in sale, purchase and judgment."
Virtuosity
The Messenger of ALLAH (peace be upon him) said: " ALLAH loves the
slave-believer who is poor but virtuous enough to refrain from begging though he
has many children." (Muslim and Ahmed)
Loftiness
Al-Tabarani narrated: the Messenger of ALLAH (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH
loves lofty matters and superiority and hates inferior matters."
Justice
ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH loves that you be just toward
your children even when kissing them." (Ibn Al-Najjar)
Strength
Muslim narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "The strong
believer is better and more loved by ALLAH than the weak one, but they are both
good."
Love for the Sake of ALLAH
Al-Tabarani, Ibn Ya'la, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim narrated: ALLAH's Messenger
(peace be upon him) said: "If two men love each other for the sake of ALLAH, the
stronger in love to his brother will be more loved by ALLAH."
Forgiveness
Ibn Iday narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH is
All-Forgiving and He loves forgiveness."
Continuous Performance of Righteous Deeds
Bukhari and Muslim narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "The
best loved deeds to ALLAH are the ones that are continuous even if they are not
very many."
Loving and Visiting Believers
Malik narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "ALLAH said: My love
is due to those who meet for My sake, visit one another and make any effort for
My pleasure."
Exhortation and Advising
Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmed narrated: It was said: ALLAH's Messenger (peace
be upon him) said: "The best loved slaves to ALLAH are those who exhort their
slaves."
Love of Virtuous Deeds
Ibn Abi Al-Dunya narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "The best
loved slaves to ALLAH are those who are made to love virtue and loving virtuous
deeds is made lovely to them."
Good Manners and Conduct
Al-Tirmidhi narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "The best
loved by me and the nearest to me on the seats on the Day of Resurrection are
those who have the best manners and conduct amongst you, who are intimate, are
on good terms with others and are humble, and the most hated by me and who will
be on the furthest seats from me are those who are talkative and arrogant."
Love of ALLAH is the basis of worship that should be directed to Him alone. Any
other love should be for His sake too. The real love of ALLAH is to do whatever
He ordained and to abandon whatever He forbade, in addition to following the
Prophet's Sunnah.
Whoever obeys someone or something other than ALLAH and His Messenger, or
follows any saying other than theirs, or fears other than ALLAH or seeks the
pleasure of other than ALLAH, or puts his trust in other than Him, does not love
ALLAH, nor does he love His Messenger. Muslims should also love one another and
wish the best for one another. ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
"One will not be a true believer unless he loves for his brother what he loves
for himself." (Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'i, Ahmed and Ibn Majah)
Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed narrated: ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
"ALLAH said: My love is due to those who love one another for My sake."