“I Love You"

2/13/2004 - Social Religious - Article Ref: IC0011-237
By: IslamiCity

Nothing to worry about ... This is not about the malignant 'I Love You' virus that will erase the data on your hard disk, nor is it about the superficial dialogs that actors exchange in soap operas bringing tears to those sensitive viewers.

For decades, linguists have documented the changing meanings of certain expressions which are intimately related to a particular culture, period of time, heritage, civilization, tradition, and geographic location. Not only has the expression 'I Love You' lost its value in today's world. Its true significance has been simplified and denigrated to the sensational way it is printed in greeting cards, or heard in songs, or generally portrayed in our fast and furious pop culture.

He (Muhammad pbuh) advised us to say, "I love you not but for the sake of Allah." Hadith

However, it would not take much to reflect upon the Islamic teachings to bring this tiny phrase back to its proper context. Recalling Prophet Muhammad's instruction to us not to shy away from saying 'I Love You For the Sake of God' to those God-loving individuals whom we feel close to, is just another reminder of the importance of communicating truthful feelings in a most honorable and meaningful way.

And (moreover) He has put affection between their hearts. Even if you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have produced that affection, but Allah hath done it: for He is Exalted in might, Wise. [Quran 8:63 ]

This short expression encompasses so many other divine values such as the understanding that an individual must always love for others what he or she loves for him or herself. In addition, by consciously carrying this prophetic instruction, one's love for God and his prophet supercedes any love for others, and the inhibition of being misunderstood for saying it, even amongst people of the same gender, automatically disappears.

By keeping our Love God centric, it will always remind us of our true responsibility towards the recipient of our love, be it our parents, spouses, children, family, friends, neighbors and humanity.

May God instill in us the love of humanity and make us remember the Sunnah of conveying our feelings to our family, friends and all those who are dear to us. And may He restore the meaning of this tiny expression to the level and respect it deserves.