Tuesday 21 May 2019

Ramadan 2019/1440: Thought of the Day 16


The quote for Day 16 of Ramadan from my box of things to think about is:

“True devotion is for itself (Allah): not to desire Jannah and Jahannum.” ~ Rabia Basri (Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya RA)

This quote is based on the supplication of the great Rabia Basri: “O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell, and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for Your Own sake, grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.” (source).

It makes me think of sincerity of intention and the purity of our love for Allah (SWT).  We grow up learning about heaven and hell in Islam, the one acting as a motivator and the other a deterrent from doing things we shouldn’t.  At the same time Allah rains down so much mercy and love on us that heaven and hell are secondary, the first thing that should make us submit to Allah (SWT) is His sheer love for us and our gratefulness.


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