Loving Allah SWT is the ultimate purpose of a Muslim’s life and the highest form of worship. Love for Allah is not merely a feeling in the heart; it must be reflected in our actions, words, and daily intentions. As His servants, there are numerous ways we can express our love for Allah, and Prophet Muhammad SAW serves as the perfect example of sincere love for the Creator. 

In this article, we will explore how a Muslim can show love for Allah and how Prophet Muhammad SAW provided a perfect model of love for Him, supported by Quranic verses, hadiths, and examples from his life. 

Obeying Allah’s Commands and Avoiding His Prohibitions

True love for Allah is demonstrated through complete obedience to His commands and refraining from what He has prohibited. Allah SWT emphasizes that love for Him must be expressed by following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW: 

“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins.'” (QS. Ali Imran [3]: 31) 

This verse teaches us that to show our love for Allah, we must follow the guidance of Prophet Muhammad SAW, who perfectly modeled obedience to all of Allah’s commands. By obeying Allah and His Messenger, we prove our genuine love and seek His mercy. 

Devotion and Diligence in Worship

One of the most evident signs of love for Allah is through dedicated and sincere worship. Prophet Muhammad SAW was the best example of this. He not only performed the obligatory prayers, such as the five daily prayers, but also engaged in additional acts of worship, particularly the night prayer (tahajjud). Aisha RA once asked the Prophet why he worshiped so intensely, even though he was guaranteed Paradise. He responded: 

“Shall I not be a grateful servant?” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim). 

Devoted worship, done with full concentration and sincerity, is a way to express gratitude and love for Allah. For the Prophet, prayer and worship were not just obligations but a means of communicating with Allah and showing deep devotion. 

Remembering Allah (Dhikr) in All Circumstances

Remembering Allah (dhikr) is one of the most profound ways to express love for Him. Allah SWT says: 

“So, remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” (QS. Al-Baqarah [2]: 152). 

Prophet Muhammad SAW constantly remembered Allah in every situation. Whether in standing, sitting, or lying down, he was always in a state of dhikr, and he encouraged his followers to do the same. Dhikr is a powerful means of maintaining a close relationship with Allah and expressing continuous love for Him. 

Gratitude for All Blessings

Gratitude (shukr) is a vital form of love. Allah has bestowed countless blessings upon humanity, and showing gratitude for these blessings is a way to express our love for Him. Prophet Muhammad SAW demonstrated gratitude in every aspect of his life. He said: 

“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.” (HR. Tirmidhi). 

Gratitude is not just expressed by saying “Alhamdulillah,” but by using Allah’s blessings in good and righteous ways, as He intended. 

Patience in Facing Trials

Trials and tests are part of life, given by Allah to every servant. Love for Allah is reflected in our patience when facing these trials. Prophet Muhammad SAW is the ultimate example of patience. Throughout his life, he faced numerous challenges and hardships, yet he always remained patient and trusted Allah completely. Allah SWT says: 

“And be patient with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His pleasure.” (QS. Al-Kahf [18]: 28). 

Patience is a manifestation of love for Allah because it shows that we trust in His wisdom and believe that every trial is a way to bring us closer to Him. 

Placing Allah’s Love Above All Other Love

Love for Allah must be the highest form of love, surpassing all worldly attachments. Prophet Muhammad SAW always placed Allah above everything else, even when faced with difficult choices. When the Quraysh tribe offered him wealth and power to stop his message, the Prophet firmly refused and said: 

“By Allah, if they placed the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left to stop this mission, I will not stop until Allah makes it prevail or I perish.” (HR. Thabrani). 

This demonstrates that the Prophet’s love for Allah was greater than his desire for worldly comforts and temptations. 

Praying for Allah’s Love

Prophet Muhammad SAW frequently prayed for deeper love for Allah. One of the prayers he often recited was: 

“O Allah, grant me Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that will bring me closer to Your love.” (HR. Tirmidhi). 

This prayer reflects the Prophet’s constant desire to remain close to Allah and to ensure that his heart was always filled with love for Him. He also encouraged his followers to ask Allah for the same, as a means of cultivating sincere love in their hearts. 

Loving Allah is the duty of every Muslim, and this love must be demonstrated through obedience, sincere worship, continuous remembrance, gratitude, patience, and prioritizing His love above all else. Prophet Muhammad SAW set the perfect example of how to love Allah with deep sincerity and devotion. As his followers, we must strive to follow his example and love Allah as he did.