Love is a divine gift from God to His creatures. In fact, some of the Qurānic signs that allude to procreation, the act that allows for humanity to continue forward, point out the reality of this divine blessing. The Qurān states, “And among His signs is that He created spouses for you from yourselves that you may rest in them, and He placed between you love and mercy.” (30:21) Thus in the most pragmatic activity required for the continuity of our species, God opted to plant the quality of love and mercy as the glue that would bind the union together.

In another place, God has stated, “He is with you wherever you are.” (57:4) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

Allah will say on the Day of Judgment, ‘Son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me.’ ‘My Lord, How could I visit You when You are the Lord of the Worlds?’ ‘Did you not know that one of My servants was sick and you didn’t visit him? If you had visited him you would have found Me there.’ Then Allah will say, ‘Son of Adam, I needed food but you did not feed Me.’ ‘My Lord, How could I feed You when You are the Lord of the Worlds?’ ‘Did you not know that one of My servants was hungry but you did not feed him? If you had fed him you would have found its reward with Me.” Son of Adam, I was thirsty, but you did not give Me something to drink.’ ‘My Lord, How could I give a drink when You are the Lord of the Worlds?’ ‘Did you not know that one of My servants was thirsty but you did not give him a drink? If you had given him a drink, you would have found its reward with Me.’ (Al-Bukhari)

God is obviously not in need of any mercy nor compassion from creation. Rather, God created us with love, mercy, and compassion for we are in need of it. The Quran states that Ādamites (The Children of Ādam) are the representatives (khulafā) of Allāh in the earth. The representative points to the one represented in all their affairs.

As stated in the Qurānic sign above, God creates us in love, mercy and compassion. This aforementioned prophetic tradition shows that we are expected to deal with each other in the same manner while in the world. The one who is able to do that the best is the most gifted of representatives. Perhaps his / her greatest skill is his /her awareness of God in all situations; able to recognize Allāh in all scenarios he /she is able to give Him His right in them. The right of Allāh in dealing with the creation is to treat them as He intended them to be treated, i.e., with love, mercy and compassion. Therefore, the true representation of Allāh in the earth comes through that Child of Ādam who is most merciful toward the creation whoever and wherever they are for he/she is not veiled from their Lord in any situation, so as to forget their specific task in representing Him.

Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch

Aug 2015

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