excellent act of worship”, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم announced, “but they too are not the answer to my question.” The Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم further guessed by saying jihād, to which he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained, “Jihād is a great act of worship, yet the answer to my question is something else.”

The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then provided the answer himself; “Indeed, the strongest rope of faith is for you to love for the sake of Allah.”^[1]

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه It is now clear that the strongest rope for safeguarding faith is loving for the sake of Allah Almighty.

This is a hugely significant point. Love prevents a person from going astray. We should all hold ourselves to account. Many may have experienced the whispers of Satan, leading them to miss salah or become lazy in fasting. This should not happen; it is wrong to miss prayers or not fast—these are sinful actions. Yet, the point I want to make is this: if a person loves Allah Almighty, His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and the saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ; such a person will never even think of disrespecting them.

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Muslims still have a strong sense of honour. Mischief arises on occasion, and some may even find themselves drawn to it. Yet, when the one spreading this mischief says something disrespectful about Allah Almighty, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم, the Ahl al-Bayt, or the saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ, then hatred for that person fills our hearts and we refuse to listen to anything they say. Due to loving Allah Almighty, His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and His saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ, we are saved from falling into trials.