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Some Manifestations of Allah`s Love for Humankind
Author : Dr. Hassan Abu_Arqoub
Date Added : 25-03-2025

Some Manifestations of Allah`s Love for Humankind

 

Anyone who examines the noble verses of the Quran and the honorable Hadiths will find an abundance of love in them, proving that Islam is a religion of love. This stands as a refutation of the extremists of our time who perceive religion as hatred, enmity, killing, and destruction. The true essence of Islam follows a completely different path and never aligns with such a distorted understanding. This article is an attempt to clarify that Islam is indeed a religion of love.

The Holy Quran has guided us in several verses to the manifestations of Allah’s Love and honored mankind. As mentioned literally in the following verse: "And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on land and sea, and provided them with good things, and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference." [Al-Isra/70].

Among the manifestations of this honor, which encompasses all human beings, is that mankind has been given authority over other creatures, including plants, birds, animals, and inanimate objects—the entire universe has been subjected to human service. Additionally, humans have been distinguished with a beautiful form, an appealing appearance, intelligence, and the ability to invent and create.

Therefore, Allah The Almighty Created everything on earth for the benefit of humankind so that they may utilize its creatures and resources. Allah Says (What means): "He is the One who created for you all that is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven and fashioned it into seven heavens, and He has perfect knowledge of all things." [Al-Baqarah/29]. The purpose is not only for worldly benefit but also for spiritual and eternal guidance. These creations serve as signs pointing to The Existence and Oneness of Allah. Thus, human benefit from these creations extends to both this world and the hereafter.

Moreover, Allah, The Almighty, has detailed some of these blessings that He intended for humankind to benefit from in His Saying (What means): "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of the night and the day, the ships that sail in the sea for the benefit of people, what Allah sends down from the sky of water—giving life thereby to the earth after its death and dispersing therein every moving creature—and the directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the sky and the earth are signs for a people who use reason." [Al-Baqarah /164].

The creation of The Heavens and the earth and everything within them is for the benefit of humankind. Allah, The Almighty, details these blessings in a manner that highlights His favor upon His servants. The alternation of night and day is among the greatest blessings—night provides rest and tranquility, while the day is for work and livelihood. Ships sailing through the sea allow humans to travel and benefit from the bounties of the ocean. Rain sent from the sky nourishes the earth, providing water for drinking, growing crops, and sustaining livestock. The presence of various animals serves multiple purposes—some for carrying loads, others for swift travel, and some for food. Clouds bring rain and provide shade from the heat. All these blessings were created for humankind to live happily on this earth. They are clear signs of Allah’s love for humanity, as well as undeniable proof of His existence, oneness, and absolute power.

Anyone who reflects on the verses concerning the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) will clearly see manifestations of Allah’s love for humanity. Allah Honored Adam by making him a vicegerent (Khalifah) on earth, a status not given to any other creature. Allah Says (What means): "And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority (Khalifah)." [Al-Baqarah /30]. Moreover, Allah Granted Adam immense knowledge that even the angels could not attain. He taught Adam the names of all things, demonstrating the superiority of human intellect and learning, as stated in the following verse (What means): "And He taught Adam the names—all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said: "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." They said, 'Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who are the Knowing, the Wise." [Al-Baqarah/31-32] This noble knowledge was then passed down to Adam’s descendants. Furthermore, Allah, The Most Exalted commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam in honor of him and his offspring. All the angels obeyed except Iblis, who refused out of arrogance, as stated in the Holy Quran (What means): "And [mention] when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam’; so they prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers." [Al-Baqarah/34]. Thus, Allah’s selection of Adam for vicegerency, the gift of knowledge, and the command for the angels to prostrate before him are all clear indications of His immense love and honor for humankind.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on applying perfume while fasting?

Applying perfume does not break the fast. However, it is better to avoid it, as fasting is a practice of simplicity and restraint, while perfume is a form of luxury.

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

The Jurisprudential Significance of the Ḥadīth: "Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr Prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking..."
"Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking: 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumītu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr' ten times — ten good deeds will be recorded for him, ten bad deeds will be erased from him, he will be raised ten levels, he will spend that day in protection from everything disliked and guarded from the devil, and no sin will be able to befall him on that day except associating partners with Allah" — does this noble ḥadīth apply to the imam, and what is meant by "extraneous speech"?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite, immediately after the final salām, the specific remembrance reported in the sunnah to be said before turning away from one's place of prayer. The imam then leaves his praying spot, and the act of "turning" is fulfilled when the imam faces the congregation — even without physically leaving his spot — by positioning his right side toward them and his left side toward the qiblah, and this applies even while he is engaged in supplication.
Al-ʿAllāmah Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Tuḥfah (Vol.2/P.105): "It is most virtuous for the imam, once he has given the salām, to rise from his place of prayer immediately afterward." He adds that an exception must be made for the remembrances that are specifically required to be recited before he turns away. He then notes, citing Sharḥ al-ʿUbāb: "Yes, an exception to this rising immediately after the salām applies to the Fajr prayer, due to the authentic report that the Prophet ﷺ, when he prayed Fajr, would remain seated until the sun rose." He further cites, from al-Khādim, the ḥadīth concerning one who recites, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer while still in the position of crossing his leg to rise: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah..." and the rest of the well-known ḥadīth. He comments that this makes explicit that this particular remembrance is to be recited before the worshipper turns his legs to leave, and the same applies to Maghrib and ʿAṣr, as reported in those contexts as well.
What is meant by "speech" in the relevant ḥadīth is extraneous worldly speech that is not called for after the prayer and for which there is no legitimate excuse. The remembrances reported to be recited upon concluding the prayer, however, do not fall under this category of extraneous speech, since they are themselves required by the sharīʿah.
Al-ʿAllāmah ʿAlī al-Shabrāmalsī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Nihāyah (Vol.1/P.551): "If someone greets a person with salām while he is occupied with reciting this remembrance [i.e., 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh...'], should he return the greeting — without this causing him to forfeit the promised reward, since he is engaged in an obligatory matter — or should he delay returning the greeting until he finishes, this being a legitimate excuse for the delay?" He continues: "I say: the more likely view is the former, and the prohibition on speech is to be understood as applying to extraneous speech for which there is no legitimate excuse. Based on this, should the worshipper give precedence to this remembrance ('Lā ilāha illā Allāh...') or to reciting Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ ('Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad')? This requires consideration, though it is not unlikely that the remembrance takes precedence, given that the Lawgiver urged hastening to it through his words 'while crossing his leg.' This is not considered ordinary speech, since it is not extraneous to what is required after the prayer."
Accordingly, it is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite this remembrance and to give it precedence over the other remembrances of the prayer, ensuring it is said before they move from their place. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on congratulating others on the arrival of Ramadan?

Congratulating others on the arrival of Ramadan is permissible.
If someone does it to express their love for worship and the blessings of Ramadan, and congratulates their fellow Muslim, they have done something good.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Shall I not tell you something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread peace (Salam) among yourselves." [Narrated by Muslim]
Giving Salam is a prayer for peace and safety.