such a person instead thanks Me for My blessings.^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! True love of Allah can only be found when we know how to acquire it. The most important way is to have true love for the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and to obey him in every affair. This is because Allah declared obedience to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم being a condition of loving Him.

Following the Prophet is to love Allah

Allah declares in the Quran:

قُلْ  اِنْ کُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّوْنَ اللّٰہَ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِیْ یُحْبِبْکُمُ اللّٰہُ وَ یَغْفِرْ لَکُمْ ذُنُوْبَکُمْ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ غَفُوْرٌ  رَّحِیْمٌ (۳۱)

˹Dear Beloved Prophet,˺ say, “O People! If you love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and will forgive your sins. And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.”^[2]

This verse teaches us that our claim of loving Allah will only be truthful if obey His Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Summarising this verse, Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes:

It is as though Allah is saying, “O Prophet of Mine! Those who claim to love Me without your wasīla, or who consider I love them and now think they are not in need of you, or who seek to reach Me in a way other than obeying you; tell them!

‘If you want to love Allah, do not compete with nor consider yourselves equal to me. Do not advance ahead, but instead, become loyal and follow behind me. Make your speech, actions,