How to elevate earthly love to divine love?

Love is a precious gem that the Almighty God has placed in the hearts of human beings. This profound feeling, manifested in various forms such as love for a spouse, children, family, friends, and even the beauty of nature, is not only commendable but also a great blessing and a sign of Divine power and mercy. The Holy Quran clearly states that among His signs is that He created for you mates from yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy (Surah Ar-Rum, verse 21). This verse teaches us that earthly love, especially within the framework of marriage, can be a source of peace and affection, and a bridge to a deeper understanding of Divine wisdom and grace. But the question is, how can these limited and transient loves be directed towards unlimited and eternal Divine love? How can a love that sometimes leads us to worldly attachments and heedlessness of God be transformed into a means of drawing closer to Him? Elevating earthly love to divine love does not mean negating or destroying human loves, but rather purifying, directing, and placing them in their proper place within the hierarchy of affection. This process requires a heart that gradually frees itself from superficial and fleeting attachments and turns towards the original source of all beauty and perfection, which is the essence of the Most High. Divine love is the highest and most complete form of love that true believers experience with their whole being. The Quran states: "And those who believe are stronger in love for Allah" (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 165). This intensity of love is not merely a transient emotion, but a deep spiritual state that manifests in all aspects of a believer's life, guiding them towards obedience, servitude, and Divine pleasure. As the Quran states: "Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful'" (Surah Al-Imran, verse 31). Following the Prophet (PBUH) and divine commandments is a true sign and result of loving God. To elevate earthly love to divine love, several fundamental steps, rooted in Quranic teachings and the prophetic tradition, are essential: 1. **Prioritizing Divine Love:** The first and most crucial step is to recognize the true place of God in our hearts and lives. The Holy Quran, in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 24, expresses this priority unequivocally: "Say, [O Muhammad], 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, the wealth which you have obtained, and the commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.'" This verse explicitly warns that none of the worldly attachments, no matter how cherished, should ever precede the love of God and His Messenger, or hinder obedience to Divine commands. Elevating earthly love means never allowing these loves to distract us from God's remembrance or lead us to sin. Instead, they should be utilized in a way that brings us closer to God. 2. **Seeing Divine Manifestations in Earthly Phenomena:** All the beauty, perfection, and affection we observe in the world are reflections of God's infinite beauty, perfection, and love. When we love our spouse, we can see it as a blessing from God and, through that, come to understand the greatness and mercy of the Creator. Gazing at a child's smile, feeling the gentle touch of a friend's hand, or admiring a beautiful natural landscape, all can remind us of the source of these beauties, namely, the Almighty God. The deeper this perspective becomes, the more spiritual and divine our earthly love becomes. This transforms earthly love from a mere personal attachment into a mirror reflecting Divine beauty. 3. **Orienting Earthly Love towards God's Path:** Earthly loves can be tools for achieving Divine pleasure. For example, love for one's spouse and children, when accompanied by a divine intention and within the framework of Islamic law, is itself a great act of worship. Proper upbringing of children, upholding the rights of one's spouse and family, showing kindness to parents (Surah Al-Isra, verse 23), and benevolence towards others are all manifestations of love used in the path of God. These actions not only strengthen human relationships but also yield eternal rewards and pave the way for drawing closer to God. This means employing our love not just for our own sake, but for God's pleasure and in His path. 4. **Constant Remembrance of God (Dhikr):** A heart that is constantly mindful of God will find no room for excessive and distracting attachments. The remembrance of God, including reciting the Quran, performing supplications (Tasbih), praying, and contemplating Divine signs, purifies the heart and makes it receptive to true Divine love. The Quran states: "Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured" (Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 28). This spiritual tranquility is a sign of closeness to the Originator of existence and a reduction of anxiety stemming from worldly attachments. 5. **Following Divine Commands and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH):** True love for God is intertwined with obedience to His commands and adherence to the Prophet's (PBUH) way of life. The Quran states: "Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful'" (Surah Al-Imran, verse 31). The more our actions conform to Divine pleasure, the deeper and more reciprocal our love for Him will become. This obedience includes abstaining from sins and fulfilling obligations, which gradually guide the heart towards God. 6. **Gratitude:** We should express gratitude for the blessing of earthly love and recognize that everything comes from Him. Gratitude opens more doors of Divine mercy and increases Divine love in the heart. When we are grateful for the blessing of having a loving spouse or righteous children, we are, in fact, expressing gratitude to the Creator of these blessings, which itself is a bridge to His love. In summary, elevating earthly love to Divine love is a gradual process achieved through a shift in perspective, proper prioritization, and directing actions and emotions towards Divine pleasure. This does not mean negating earthly love but rather purifying and exalting it, so that it transforms from a means of heedlessness into a ladder for closeness and union with the Eternal Beloved. Whenever our earthly love reminds us of God, compels us to obey Him, and steadies us in the path of serving creation and pleasing the Creator, then we can truly say that this love has been elevated and has taken on a divine color. In this way, earthly loves not only become sweeter and deeper but are also imbued with an eternal and lasting meaning, as they become connected to the inexhaustible source of love.