Question: Assalamu ‘alaykum. I want Allah to love me without any conditions, and if He was to put me in Jahannam, I wish that He will have affection for me. No matter who I am. I may be Pharaoh, Iblis, Abu Lahab, a kafir, or a mushrik. Is this right?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
The Love Of Allah
In general, Allah loves whoever He wants from His creation. He wants the best for Allah of them, hence the blessings and guidance He gives to everyone – whether they respond appropriately, or not. This is what the commentators have said His name Al-Wadud – the Loving. [Ghazali, al-Maqsad al-Asna, Baydawi, Sharh Asma’ Allah al-Husna, Razi, Sharh Asma’ Allah al Husna]
While we cannot speak on behalf of Allah to specify who He loves, we can look at the Qur’an and Sunna to see the signs of His love. In general, Allah loves those who do good, those who repent often, those who a just, the patient, those who wholeheartedly follow the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), to name a few.
Who Does Allah Not Love?
Allah does not love disbelievers, the treacherous, those who cause corruption, and the boastful to name a few. In order to be loved by Allah, one must shun these qualities.
There is a degree of love Allah has for all believers, but the actions, responses, and choices He loves cause one to be loved more. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed Allah has distributed your character as He has distributed your provisions. Allah – Mighty and Majestic – gives the dunya to those He loves and those He does not love; but he only gives the din to those He loves.” [Ahmad]
If you want the love of Allah – be how He wants you to be. Please look at this reader for more on this great matter.
May Allah make us of those He loves.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani