Faith: emotion, passion & desire in Qur’an…قرآن اور جذبہ

In one earlier post, I wrote on importance of reason. A useful comment on the post indicated the importance of emotions. A human is a body and mind made up of feelings. Indeed, emotions are fuel of faith. A faith without emotions is a lifeless mass; and without passion it is a dead soul. Both are critical for sustainability & growth of faith. While I reiterate that emotions must be moderated by rationality, I would now focus on Qur’anic view on faith in context of love, passion, feelings & desire. However, I must add that quoting excerpts from Qur’an hardly fulfills the beauty of the book which is best experienced by regular, wholesome reading.

While discussing the attitude of Israelites, Allah says in Surah a-Baqrah:

ثم قست قلوبكم من بعد ذلك فهي كالحجارة او اشد قسوة وان من الحجارة لما يتفجر منه الانهار وان منهالما يشقق فيخرج منه الماء وان منها لما يهبط من خشية الله وما الله بغافل عما تعملون

[2.74]Yet after that your hearts became as hard as rock or even harder. Indeed among the stones are those from which rivers burst. And others split so that water issues from them; and others crash down through fear of Allah. Allah is not inattentive of what you do.

Allah pronounces at one place:

صبغة الله ومن احسن من الله صبغة ونحن له عابدون

[2.138](Adopt) The color of Allah! And what is better then color of Allah. We are His worshipers.

While describing the inner feeling and desire of Prophet (SAW), Allah says in Surah al-Baqrah:

قد نرى تقلب وجهك في السماء فلنولينك قبلة ترضاها فول وجهك شطر المسجد الحرام وحيث ماكنتم فولوا وجوهكم شطره وان الذين اوتوا الكتاب ليعلمون انه الحق من ربهم وماالله بغافل عما يعملون

[2.144]We have seen you turning your face towards the heaven, We shall surely turn you to a direction that shall satisfy you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; wherever you are, turn your faces to it. Those to whom the Book was given know this to be the truth from their Lord. Allah is not inattentive of what they do.

Allah advises that:

فاذكروني اذكركم واشكروا لي ولاتكفرون

[2.152]So remember Me, I will remember you. Give thanks to Me and do not be ungrateful towards Me.

Describing attitude of certain persons and believers, Allah says:

ومن الناس من يتخذ من دون الله اندادا يحبونهم كحب الله والذين امنوا اشد حبا لله ولو يرى الذين ظلموا اذ يرون العذاب ان القوة لله جميعا وان الله شديد العذاب

[2.165]And among the people are those who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah), loving them as Allah is loved. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment.

Calling his creatures, Allah says:

واذا سالك عبادي عني فاني قريب اجيب دعوة الداع اذا دعان فليستجيبوا لي وليؤمنوا بي لعلهم يرشدون

[2.186] When My worshipers ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the supplication of the suppliant when he calls to Me; therefore, let them respond to Me and let them believe in Me, in order that they will be righteous.

For Allah, there are some who:

ومن الناس من يشري نفسه ابتغاء مرضاة الله والله رؤوف بالعباد

[2.207] And there are among people he who would give away his life desiring the Pleasure of Allah. Allah is Gentle to His worshipers.

ومثل الذين ينفقون اموالهم ابتغاء مرضاة الله وتثبيتا من انفسهم كمثل جنة بربوة اصابها وابل فاتت اكلها ضعفين فان لم يصبها وابل فطل والله بما تعملون بصير

[2.265] And the likeness of those who give away their wealth with a desire to please Allah and to reassure themselves, is like a garden on a hillside, if heavy rain strikes it, it yields up twice its normal crop, and if heavy rain does not strike it, then light rain. Allah is the Seer of what you do.

For love of Allah, one has to fill the following criteria:

قل ان كنتم تحبون الله فاتبعوني يحببكم الله ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم والله غفور رحيم

[3.31] Say (Prophet Muhammad): ‘If you love Allah, follow me and Allah will love you, and forgive your sins. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. ‘

Allah has also prescribed that:

لن تنالوا البر حتى تنفقوا مما تحبون وماتنفقوا من شئ فان الله به عليم

[3.92] You shall not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love. Whatever you spend is known to Allah.

In context of war, Allah says in Al-Imran:

الذين قال لهم الناس ان الناس قد جمعوا لكم فاخشوهم فزادهم ايمانا وقالوا حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل

[3.173] Those to whom the people said: ‘The people have gathered against you, therefore fear them, ‘ but it increased them in belief and they said: ‘Allah is Sufficient for us. He is the Best Guardian. ‘

Allah gives the mandate of life, such as:

قل ان صلاتي ونسكي ومحياي ومماتي لله رب العالمين

[6.162] Say: ‘My prayers and my worship (for example, pilgrimage and sacrifice), my life and my death, are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Note the theme in these verses:

ادعوا ربكم تضرعا وخفية انه لايحب المعتدين

ولاتفسدوا في الارض بعد اصلاحها وادعوه خوفا وطمعا ان رحمة الله قريب من المحسنين

[7.55] Supplicate to your Lord with humility and in secret. He does not love the transgressors.

[7.56] Do not make mischief in the earth after it has been put right. Pray to Him with fear and hope; His Mercy is near to the righteous.

انما المؤمنون الذين اذا ذكر الله وجلت قلوبهم واذا تليت عليهم اياته زادتهم ايمانا وعلى ربهم يتوكلون

[8.2] Indeed the believers are those whose hearts quake at the mention of Allah, and when His verses are recited to them it increased them in faith. They are those who put their trust in their Lord.

التائبون العابدون الحامدون السائحون الراكعون الساجدون الامرون بالمعروف والناهون عن المنكر والحافظون لحدود الله وبشرالمؤمنين

[9.112] Those who repent, those who worship Allah and praise (Him); those who journey, those who bow, those who prostrate themselves; those who order righteousness and forbid evil, and those who observe the limits of Allah give glad tidings to the believers.

فان تولوا فقل حسبي الله لااله الا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم

[9.129] Therefore, if they turn away, say: ‘Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god except He. In Him I have put my trust. He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.

الذين امنوا وتطمئن قلوبهم بذكر الله الا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب

[13.28] those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Be aware! In the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.

A note on text & translation:

I have quoted Arabic text from a digital copy of Qur’an and English translations from ‘The Noble Koran’ by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Translations of Holy Qur’an by Shaykh Ahmad Darwish and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall. However, where appropriate, I have modified the translation to the best of my understanding. I, therefore, owe the responsibility for any mistake in the text or translation. Reader is requested to correct/indicate any mistake.