The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 36
36 The Reality of Love Essence of Islam-III The fourth objection is that Islamic teaching never en- joins love for the followers of other religions; it only en- joins love for Muslims. In reply, let it be clear that all this is the unfortunate out- come of the New Testament which is neither complete nor perfect, and because of which Christians digressed from the truth and reality. If one reflects deeply on what love is, when it should be exercised, and what hatred is and when it should be exercised, then not only does one comprehend true philosophy of the Holy Qur'an, but the soul also achieves the perfect light of true understanding. Remember, love is not pretence or affectation. It is one of the human faculties. The essence of love is to have sincerity for something and to be drawn irresistibly to- wards it. Just as the real characteristics of an object are only truly perceived when it reaches perfection, the same is the case with love, in that its qualities are openly re- vealed when it is extreme and reaches perfection. Refer- ring to this, Allah the Almighty says: اشْرِبُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ 34 That is: 'They loved the calf as if their hearts were per- meated with it. ' In point of fact, when a person falls in love with someone and his love is total, it becomes his food and his drink, as it were. Indeed he takes on the complexion of the charac- ter and lifestyle of the beloved. The greater the love, the more a person is involuntarily drawn towards the quali- ties of the loved one, so much so, that he becomes his 34 Al-Baqarah,2:94 [Publisher]