A study of the word "love" in the Qur'an
Hubb Allah fi al-Qur'an
Farid Mahally
I am reading an article on LOVE
in the Qur'an.
You can find it on the web.
One of the most compact, penetrating discourses on love is found in I John 4:7-21.
The word is used 27 times in these verses. The central basis for men to love one another is rooted in the nature of God Himself. "God is love."
What is accepted as commonplace in Christianity is a dim reflection in the Qur'an. While "God is great" [Allahu akbar] is a statement of faith, affirmation and expression, "God is love" [Allahu muhibba] is absent from the attributes of God.
Such a profound contrast between the two religions, Islam and Christianity, demands an inquiry as to why.
Since Christians are known as "the people of the book" referred to in the Qur'an, it is appropriate for us to look at the Muslim holy book to seek to discern those elements of God's character described therein.
This article seeks to categorize and analyze the various Qur'anic verses that incorporate the word "love."
A good read ................