The Love of Allah (s.w.t.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Once at the time of haj, there was a gathering in Makkah of some friends of Allah (s.w.t.), the youngest among whom was Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi (q.s.).  In that gathering, there was a discussion on the subject of the love for Allah (s.w.t.) and as to who is the lover of Allah (s.w.t.).  Many of them expressed their views on the subject, but Shaykh Junayd (q.s.) kept quiet.  He was pressed to say something. 

With his head bowed down and tears in his eyes, he said, “The lover of Allah (s.w.t.) is he who forgets his own self, remains engaged in Allah's (s.w.t.) remembrance with due regard to all its requirements; sees Allah (s.w.t.) with the eye of his heart, which is Burnt by the Heat of Allah's (s.w.t.) fear; Allah's (s.w.t.) remembrance affects him like a cup of wine, he speaks the Words of Allah (s.w.t.) as if Allah (s.w.t.) Speaks through his mouth; if he moves, he does so under the Command of Allah (s.w.t.), he gets peace of mind only through the obedience of Allah (s.w.t.) and when such a stage is reached, his eating, drinking, sleeping, awakening and, in short, all his actions are for the Pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.), he neither pays heed to the worldly customs, nor does he attach any importance to unfriendly criticism by people.”