I love you, Saaxiibyaal

Years ago I thought there was only one type of love. You know, the Hollywood romance, slow music plucking at your soul while you watch two people in love run towards each other on a golden beach. And love towards a friend, well that existed too, if they did something for you in your life that held some meaning.

Then I discovered a different type of love. A realistic one. A true one. Something pure. Not associated with materialistic possessions, like hanging around with Maxamed because he has an amazing sports car, or going round Shamsa’s house all the time because she has a beautiful stereo system you can both jiggy with.

No. This love is a type of love that is going to make the Prophets jealous of the friends or couples on the Day of Judgement. Now that made my mouth drop. Two people who love each other purely for the sake of Allah, that will get you sitting on high pillars on the Day of Judgement, shining bright with Allah’s light, while the Prophets and sincere martyrs watch in envy down below. Hah! lool

I thought it was hard, years back, when I learnt of the concept of loving someone for the sake of Allah. I didn’t really get it at first. But you slowly get the hang of it. Learning to love someone purely for who they are, not what they own. Learning to love someone for the sake of Allah makes you a better person, and makes the other person better too, because you both strive to do good things and never engage in things that are questionable. sax saaxiib

Friends for the sake of Allah will never use you, belittle you, oppress you or hurt you. They will actually do the opposite. And I learnt that this type of love has no boundaries, it has technological abilities to actually extend itself on the Internet, where Somali sisters and brothers love each other for Allah’s sake. They have a laugh together, support each other, and mostly they understand each other. You’re left feeling a soft glow inside your heart, a candle has been lit by this person and that person, for no other reason but the fact that they love the person you are, the believer you have become, the soul that they will meet in another life time.

Not all Somali can possess this type of love. Even those Somalis who claim to be religious but are in fact twisting religion to suit their needs or just to hide behind it like a mask, will not know how to love for Allah’s sake. They only know how to hate. And that’s a shame. ceeb badanaa.

It’s a beautiful feeling between friends. So imagine between husband and wife? Knowing that even if the other half makes you mad, you learn to compromise and tolerate because you love that person for Allah’s sake, because you know Allah is the most Merciful, al rahman, so why wouldn’t you be?

It fulfils one’s life, but we have to work at it to earn it, to maintain it, to keep it going. We have to check our intentions and make sure we are not doing anything to hurt the other person, not saying anything that will make the other person uncomfortable. Courtesy is a gracious act that Islam has taught us. soow ma'ahan walaalayaal

I thank Allah for the gift of love. It is a beautiful blessing and does not limit itself to humans. It can be towards nature, animals, so many things have been created for us to love. Alxamdulliaahi

So for those of you who have love as a blessing in your life, cherish it, look after it, have a smile on your face for having that merciful feeling inside your beautiful heart that glows with this precious light. waalayaal saaxiibtinimo waa shay qaali ee xajista yaah.

And before I leave you with those thoughts, I’d like to say a few words that won’t take any more of your time. I love you for the sake of Allah my dearest Somali friends.

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Hadiths and Qur’an:

Allah will ask on the Day of Judgment: “Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, on a day when there is no shade but Mine, I shall shade them with My shade.” (Muslim)

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“Among Allah’s servants are people who are neither prophets nor martyrs, but whom the prophets and martyrs will deem fortunate because of their high status with Allah.” The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Inform us of who they are.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told them that they are people who loved each other for Allah’s sake, even without being related to one another or being tied to one another by the exchange of wealth.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went on to describe their great reward on the Day of Resurrection: “By Allah, their faces will be luminous and they will be upon light. They will feel no fear when the people will be feeling fear, and they will feel no grief when the people will be grieving.” Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) read the verse: [Behold! verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve] (Yunus 10:62). (Abu Dawud)

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Seven types of people who will enjoy Allah’s shade on a day when there is no shade but His. Among those mentioned are “two men who love each other for the sake of Allah, meeting for that reason, and parting with this love (still cherished by both of them)” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).