Wanting God

[seekeroftruth]

Wanting God

Qisas.com

A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him.

"Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the

hermit. The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find

God."

The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him

into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for

a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally

pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped

to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell

me, what did you want most of all when you were under water."

"Air!" answered the man.

"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you

want God as much as you just wanted air."

http://qisas.com/stories/40

[Sleepeheadd]

lol!

[bintashraf]

That was nice. Shows you really have to want what you ask for!

[seekeroftruth]

* memory of it ; brings it to your attention again *

[umm_madina]

Assalamualikum,

Jaazak-Allah khairan for this. A nice question would be, how do we increase our desire of wanting God ( I have some thoughts, but would be most interested in others)

wa'salam

[UmmeGibrel]

...By loving him through your actions, which may please Him...Once you start pleasing Him, you will definately know it. It is all connected to faith(Iman), and only faith...isn't that so..?

[umm_madina]

Assalamualikum sister,

I agree with your points and would like to give attention to knowledge, as it relates to the sunnah.

Say: ‘If you love Allah then follow me: Allah will love you and forgive your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Surah Al Imran: ayah 31

"you can't really love someone unless you know that person".

Some relevant hadiths would include the following:

Anas ibn Malik narrates that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “None of you believes until I become more beloved to him than his parents, his children, and all of humanity. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Anas relates that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “There are three qualities that make those who possess them taste the sweetness of faith. They are: for a person to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone or anything else, to love for the sake of Allah alone, and to hate returning to disbelief as much as being thrown into the fire. [Bukhari]

Anas ibn Malik narrates that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Abd Allah b. Hishâm relates the following:

We were with the Prophet (peace be upon him) who had taken `Umar b. al-Khattâb by the hand. `Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, you are more beloved to me than anything besides my own self.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Nay. I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, your faith will not be complete until I am more beloved to you than even yourself.”

So `Umar said: “Now I swear by Allah, you are more beloved to me than even myself.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “O `Umar, now it is right.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]

Anas relates to us the following: A man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) when the Final Hour would be. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied with a question: “And what have you prepared for it?”

He said: “Nothing, save that I love Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).”

To this the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “You will be with whom you love.”

wa'salam

[umm_madina]

Assalamualikum,

Also, recently came accross the following:

God revealed to Da'ud (peace be upon him): You think that you love Me. If you love Me, give up your love for the world from your mind, because love for Me and love for the world cannot unite in the mind of man. O Da'ud, love Me sincerely and mix with the people of the world outwardly and observe religion for Me and not for man. Remember what is in conformity with My love and rely on Me what seems difficult to you. I have kept you before upon guidance and control, I become now your Guide and Proof. I give you before you ask. I help you in your dangers and difficulties. I swear by Myself that I will not give rewards except to one whom I know to be reliant on Me and whose search and will are sincere and selfless.

O Da'ud, when you cannot remain satisfied without Me, I become likewise for you. I remove disgrace and solicitude from you and give satisfaction to your mind, as I have inflicted promise on Myself that whoever remains satisfied with his work, I entrust him to himself. Ascribe everything to Me, so that your deeds may not go against you and you may not be a helping hand to sins and your companions may not be deprived of your good. You will find no limit and end to the knowledge of My Ma'rifat.

O Da'ud, don't make such a learned man an intermediary between you and Me who casts screen over My love. They are robbers for those who are desirous of My love. Give up greed always by the help of fasting. Be careful of giving up fast as I know that love for Me by the help of fasting is dear to Me. O Da'ud, love Me by going against your baser self. I will then prevent your greed and I will look at you. You will ten see that the screen between you and Me has been lifted. The reason is that I shall have to give you rewards and I will help you for the reason that you may be fit for this reward. Hold fast to allegiance to Me.

O Da'ud, had those persons desirous of My love known how I remain anxious for them, how I shower My favors on them, how I wish that they should give up sins, they would have surely died being attached to Me and their glands would have been cut off on account of their love for Me. O Da'ud, this is My wish in connection with those who work hard for Me. How anxious am I for those who advance towards Me. O Da'ud, when a man becomes independent of Me, he becomes more needy of Me than his other conditions. When a man turns away from Me, I feel sympathy for him. When he returns to Me, he seems to Me to be good.

- Hujjatul Islam, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali; Ihya' Ulum-id-Din (Revival of Religious Learnings), Book of Constructive Virtues

[UmmeGibrel]

Jazakallah sister...

[poorguy]

Assalamualikum,

Jaazak-Allah khairan for this. A nice question would be, how do we increase our desire of wanting God ( I have some thoughts, but would be most interested in others)

wa'salam

Thinking about death always. Thinking about how would it be if the one we call "I" is no longer in the vehicle it used to reside, where will it go and how will it fair. Thinking of how families and friends would bathe and attend to our lifeless body which once used to be an object of ostentation by most humans. Thinking of how would it be to be left ALONE in the grave with Munkar and Nakir ready to ask questions.Thinking of whether would it be possible of us to answer it correctly and also thinking of eternity that lies ahead.......
But of course thinking of the Grace and Compassion of ALLAH Subhanaa huwa ta'ala will insyaAllah make one feel comfort and hopeful to receive HIS Mercy and Compassions and that hopefulness will insyaAllah make us wanting ALLAH more and nothing else.......
Ya ALLAH you are the Perfect One and The Most Compassionate......Please forgive us and overlook our faults and protect us from the Hellfire for the sake of YOUR Beloved Servant and messenger who is the best of your creation and the leader of mankind Saiyyidina Muhammad Mustafa Salallahu 'alaihi waalihi wassalam.
ameen Ya Rabbal 'alameen.