Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) once mentioned the following:
You should examine your heart to see whether you possess the true love of Allah Ta‘ala within your heart or not.
If you do not possess the true love of Allah Ta‘ala within your heart, then you should adopt the correct procedures and means to acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala.
I will show you a procedure through which you can acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala.
However, you should not think to yourself that the love of Allah Ta‘ala is something that one cannot acquire through his own choice, so why should one make an effort to acquire it?
One should not think in this manner, as this notion is incorrect.
Even though a person cannot acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala through his choice, however when he adopts the correct procedures and means to acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala, then the general system of Allah Ta‘ala is that Allah Ta‘ala blesses him with His true love.
Allah Ta‘ala shows His servants the various procedures and means through which they can reach their goal.
The way for one to acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala is to adhere to the following procedure:
1. Firstly, take out some time daily to sit in seclusion and engage in the zikr (remembrance) of Allah Ta‘ala. Engage in some zikr daily, even if it is just for a short while e.g. fifteen or twenty minutes. However, at the time when engaging in zikr, make the intention that you are engaging in zikr to acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala in your heart.
2. Secondly, take out some time daily to sit in seclusion and ponder over the bounties and favours of Allah Ta‘ala upon you. Think to yourself “How am I dealing with Allah Ta‘ala in regard to His favours (i.e. am I showing gratitude to Him for all His favours by obeying Him, or am I enjoying His favours and using His favours to disobey Him)?” Thereafter, think to yourself, “Despite me disobeying Him in my life, yet He continues to bestow His abundant favours upon me and He continues to treat me with such kindness and love.”
3. Thirdly, join the company of the true lovers of Allah Ta‘ala (the true lovers of Allah Ta‘ala are the pious servants of Allah Ta‘ala whom Allah Ta‘ala has granted His true love). If it is difficult for you to visit them regularly, then keep in contact with them through writing to them. However, you should bear in mind that when going to meet the friends of Allah Ta‘ala, you should not go to relate your worldly problems to them (unless it is to seek guidance), nor should you meet them with the intention of getting some worldly benefit or worldly need fulfilled. Rather, you should go to them to enquire as to how you can traverse the path of Allah Ta‘ala’s love, or to enquire regarding your spiritual maladies, or to request them to make dua for you.
4. Fourthly, obey all the commands of Allah Ta‘ala in your life at all times (and refrain from committing sins). It is a principle that through you obeying a person, the bond of love will increase between you both. Hence, through you obeying Allah Ta‘ala in all facets of your life, He will grant you His true love.
5. Fifthly, make dua daily to Allah Ta‘ala to bless you with His true love in your heart.
This is a five-point-prescription and procedure which is such that if you follow it, then insha Allah, in a short span of time, you will see that you will acquire the true love of Allah Ta‘ala in your heart, and you will be purified from all spiritual maladies.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 27/27-28)
