Allah Loves First

One of the Salaf once said:

LOVE

“I used to think that the servant is the one who loves Allah first in order for Allah to love him, until I read:

{ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ }

“Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him.” [Al-Mā’idah 5:54]

So I knew that the one who loves first is Allah.

REPENT

And I used to think that the servant is the one who repents first in order for Allah to accept his repentance, until I read:

{ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوا }

“Then He turned to them so they could repent.” [Al-Tawbah 9:118]

So I knew that Allah is the One who inspires you to repent in order for you to repent to Him.

PLEASED

And I used to think that the servant is the one who becomes pleased with Allah first, then Allah becomes pleased with him, until I read:

{ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ }

“Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.” [Al-Tawbah 9:100]

So I knew that Allah is the One who becomes pleased first.”