A Sufi Perspective of Divine Love
The mystical aspect of Islam, which is known as Sufism, greatly emphasizes the reality of Divine love, forgiveness and mercy, so much so that this path is commonly referred to as the religion of love. Sufis(who are the followers of this path) consider love as the key concept in their faith and the main purpose of their existence. Without tasting this Divine love, Sufis may not proceed on their journey to realize the Divine. This love guides seekers into an inner realm, where Divine reunion is achievable. Using various spiritual practices, Sufis endeavor to become the reflection of Divine love. A Divine power, love is the cause of creation, the mean by which people can arrive at the knowledge of God and thus fulfill the purpose of creation.
In Sufism, love is the cause of existence, the inspiration behind which the whole universe came into being. In a Hadith Qudsi known as “Hidden Treasure,” God states, “I was a hidden treasure, and I loved to be known. So I created the Creation in order to be known." According to this Hadith (sacred saying), God desired to be known both through and by His creations, and this knowing is attained through love—the same original force behind the whole of existence. To Sufis, therefore, the purpose of creation is knowing God, and love is the mean by which they fulfill such an objective.
This Divine love, which for the most part is associated with Divine Mercy, has been repeatedly portrayed in the Qur’an—the main Holi scripture in Islam. Many verses refer to the mercifulness and kindness of God and each chapter of this text starts off with the phrase: “In the name of God, the All-merciful, the Ever-merciful. The qualities of “All-merciful” (Rahman) and “Ever-merciful” (Rahim) both come from the same root, “Rahma,” an abstract noun deriving from the concrete noun, “Rahim,” meaning “womb.” This Divine love and mercy of God toward His creation can be likened to a mother’s love toward her newborn because this kind of mercy is unconditional. This Divine mercy is also universal and is directed toward all creations: “… my mercy encompasses all things” (Qur’an 7:156). In that sense, the whole universe can be seen as Divine womb since this kind of Divine mercifulness is upon everything and everyone. This is an unconditional type of mercy that encompasses all creations, regardless of any effort on the part of creations. Nothing can exist without this universal Mercy, and everything is a gift from a creator who is all-merciful.
The Everlasting Mercifulness quality of God, on the other hand, is quite different than His universal mercy and is very particular. According to the Qur’an, “So God gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. God loves the doers of good” (3:148). This means not all people can spontaneously receive this particular kind of mercy. For example, when aiming at achieving a specific goal, particular Divine mercy is needed. Though the desire and ambition for achieving that specific goal, as well as any innate abilities by itself, is a universal Divine Mercy, individuals’ effort and particular Divine Mercy will determine whether or not the goal can be obtained. In other words, whereas universal mercy is for everyone at all times, just like a mother’s love for her children, the particular mercy is for the ones who are willing to get more involved and are more determined. This is a very conditional type of Divine Mercy which depends on the level of engagement by creations: “God is the Lord of those who believe” (Qur’an 2:257). This means God preserves His particular love and mercy for people who obey, follow, and trust Him. Thus, the particular Divine Mercy is not granted to everyone since some people may fail to value and take advantage of their connection with the Divine. Nevertheless, the particular mercy is available to everyone who is willing to put the effort and show more engagement with the Divine. The goal is to take advantage of the universal mercy (which embraces everyone and everything), and seek out the particular mercy (which is reserved for special people).
This Divine love—either universal or particular—is the mean by which Sufis get to experience the Divine. In other word, love is the vehicle by which the truth of reality of God is revealed to one’s heart, a truth that recognizes God as the Beloved for His lovers. The heart is the place where The Beloved and the lover unites, and this oneness is the ultimate aim of Sufis—a holy goal that can be realized through love. This love, thus, is an essential part of a Sufi path and a significant component in reaching God-realization.
To fully know the path of Sufism, (a path that is deeply embedded in Islam), one must understand the Divine love and its significance in creation and God-realization. Through fully comprehending both universal and particular Divine mercy, Sufis get to taste the Divine and further recognize the truth regarding the source of existence. In their journey, Sufis strive to see this innate love in order to achieve proximity with their creator. This nearness is possible only through recognizing the Divine love within everything and everyone. Love marks the beginning, the middle, and the end of a Sufi path and is indeed a beautiful doorway to the Divine.