Question:
salam aleikom
alhamdulillah I performed hajj 3 times and I always feel that my love for medina mounawarra increase and that this love is greater than the love of mecca and the kaaba.
How can I explain this and is their is a mistake by feeling that I love medina more than mecca?
Jazakumullah khair
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
What you are experiencing is the normal for murids or servants on the path to Allah swt. That is because our way is graduated in 3 levels. The first level is that of love and it has three station: love of the Shaykh or guide is the first station. This leads one to love of the Prophet (s). When love the Prophet (s) increases, that leads to the final station, love of Allah swt.
So first you love. That love becomes so huge that you cannot see anything in your life except the object of your love. When you reach that level without any confusion and without any whim then you surrender. When you surrender that will take you to the next station: Presence.
Love of Madina al-Munawarrah is in reality love of the Prophet (s). So what you are feeling is a sign that from the station of love of the Shaykh, that your shaykh is taking you by the hand to reach love of the Prophet (s).
In the Station of Presence one again has three stages: Presence of the Shaykh or guide is the first station. This leads one to Presence of the Prophet (s). When the Presence of the Prophet (s) increases, that leads to the final station, Presence of Allah swt. That station is described by the hadith of Jibril, in which the Prophet (s) described the State of Ihsan as “to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him and if you cannot see Him, then know that He sees you.”
The Station of Presence in turn takes one to the Station of Annihilation. Again this station has three stages: Annihilation in the Shaykh, Annihilation in the Prophet (s) and finally Annihilation in Allah’s Divine Presence.
So congratulations that your love of the Prophet (s) is overwhelming you. That is leading, stage by stage to love of Allah swt.
Taher
with permission of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
