Allah Almighty says: {Say, “If you love Allah then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.”} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 31] Allah also says: {O you who believe, Whoever among you renounces his faith, Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him. They will be humble towards the believers but strict towards the disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah and fearing no reproach from any critic. This is Allah’s favor which He gives to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 54]
1) The first verse: {Say, “If you love Allah then follow me; Allah will love you} It is called the Test Verse, as Allah Almighty tests by it those who claim to love Him. So, it can be known by whether or not they are complying with the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), for this is the proof of the truthfulness of their claim.
2) When Allah Almighty loves a slave, he attains by such love all happiness in the worldly life and the Hereafter.
3) Whoever turns away from the love of Allah Almighty and declines closeness to Him, Allah will replace them by those who are worthier of His love than them.
386/1- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah the Almighty says: ‘Whoever shows hostility to an ally of mine, I will declare war against him. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing supererogatory acts of worship till I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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Ally (of Allah): the pious believer.
1) Obligatory acts are dearer to Allah than voluntary ones. The higher the obligation is, the dearer to Allah Almighty it is.
2) Performing as much voluntary and supererogatory acts of worship is a reason for earning the love of Allah Almighty.
3) Guidance to what is correct of deeds and words is the fruit of obedience to Allah. Adherence to performing the obligations of Allah Almighty along with observing voluntary acts of worship ensure for one’s correctness of words and deeds and all his affairs.
387/2- He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If Allah Almighty loves a slave, He would call Jibrīl and say: ‘Indeed, Allah Almighty loves so-and-so, so love him.’ So Jibrīl would love him and then would make an announcement in the heavens: ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ So all the dwellers of the heavens would love him, and then he would be granted acceptance on earth.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
In another narration by Muslim’s: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Indeed, when Allah Almighty loves a slave, He calls Jibrīl and says: ‘I love so-and-so, so love him.’ So Jibrīl loves him. Then he (Jibrīl) calls out in heaven, saying, ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ And the inhabitants of heaven love him. Then acceptance is established for him on earth. And if Allah hates a slave, He calls Jibrīl and says: ‘I hate so-and-so, so hate him.’ So Jibrīl hates him. Then Jibrīl calls out to the inhabitants of heaven, ‘Indeed, Allah hates so-and-so, so hate him. So they hate him, and hatred is established for him on earth.”
The inhabitants of heaven: the angels.
1) One of the signs of Allah’s love for a slave is that he is granted acceptance on earth, which means that he becomes acceptable to and loved by the believers.
2) The criterion in determining whether a person is loved or hated is how the good and virtuous people feel about him. The hatred the wicked people show to a righteous man has no effect, just like their love for those who are wicked like them.
388/3- ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) appointed a man to lead a military unit. The man used to recite for his companions in their prayer (a portion of the Qur’an) then would conclude the recitation by reciting (Surat al-Ikhlās): {Say: He is Allah, the One... } When they returned, they mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “Ask him for what reason he does that.” When they asked him, he said, “Because it is a description of Ar-Rahmān (The Most Compassionate), so I like to recite it in the prayer.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Tell him that Allah Almighty loves him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to hasten to ask the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about anything that happens to them which they had no prior knowledge about its ruling. This reflects their perfect prudence and their excellence, may Allah be pleased with them.
2) The superiority of Surat al-Ikhlās as it includes acknowledgment of the Oneness due to Allah Almighty. It is a chapter that highlights the attributes of the Most Compassionate, may He be Glorified.
3) When one does something that Allah loves, seeking thereby to get closer to Him, Allah Almighty loves him.
4) Fulfilling the requirements of Tawhīd is one of the greatest means a slave may pursue in order to attain the love of Allah Almighty. Therefore, this Surah is all about explaining the Tawhīd (proclaiming the Oneness of Allah) that is due upon the slaves.