Loving Allah is not only a feeling. In Islam it is the heart of faith, the thing that gives worship its sweetness and obedience its meaning. Many readers ask the same question in different words: Allah se mohabbat kaise karein? How do we build a real, lasting love for our Creator and feel closer to Allah, beyond words and occasional emotion?
If you are wondering how to love Allah, this article looks at what the Quran and hadith say about the love of Allah, and then turns that guidance into seven practical steps you can start today.
Why Love of Allah Is the Heart of Faith
The Quran describes believers as those who are firmest in their love for Allah (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:165). Love of Allah is therefore not an optional extra reserved for a few. It is the mark of a believer whose faith has taken root.
The Sweetness of Faith Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained the same truth in a well-known hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. A person tastes the sweetness of faith when three things are true of them: Allah and His Messenger are dearer to them than anything else, they love another person only for the sake of Allah, and they dislike returning to disbelief as much as they would dislike being thrown into a fire.
Love of Allah in the Quran and Hadith
Three themes appear again and again in the Quran.
- Love is shown through following the Prophet ﷺ. In Surah Aal-Imran (3:31), Allah tells the Prophet to say to the people that if they love Allah, they should follow him, and Allah will love them in return. Love is not only claimed, it is lived.
- Allah loves those who love Him. Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:54) speaks of a people whom Allah loves and who love Him. Love in Islam runs in both directions.
- Remembrance brings the heart peace. Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:28) teaches that hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. The more we remember Him, the closer the heart moves toward Him.
The hadith add to this picture. The sweetness of faith hadith above shows love of Allah shaping our priorities and friendships, and the hadith qudsi in step 4 shows Allah drawing close to the servant who draws close to Him through worship.
Allah Se Mohabbat Kaise Karein: 7 Practical Steps to Feel Closer to Allah
1. Get to know Allah through His names and attributes
We love what we know. Learn the meanings of Allah’s beautiful names, such as Ar-Rahman, Al-Wadud and Al-Ghaffar, and reflect on how you have seen each one at work in your own life.
2. Make daily remembrance a habit
You do not need hours. A few minutes of morning and evening adhkar, steady every day, does more for the heart than a burst of effort once a month. Consistency builds attachment.
3. Follow the Sunnah
The Quran links the love of Allah with following the Prophet ﷺ. Choose one Sunnah you are not yet practising, whether in worship, manners or daily routine, and make it permanent before adding another.
4. Protect your obligatory worship, then add voluntary acts
A hadith qudsi recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari teaches that a servant keeps drawing closer to Allah through voluntary worship, after the obligatory acts, until Allah loves him. Start with your five daily prayers on time, then add extra prayer, fasting or charity at a level you can sustain.
5. Ask Allah for His love in dua
Love of Allah is a gift, and the Prophets asked for it. See the dua below.
6. Love for the sake of Allah and keep good company
The hadith of the sweetness of faith places loving others for Allah’s sake among the signs of true faith. Spend time with people who remind you of Allah, and be that person for others.
7. Reflect on His blessings and be grateful
Take a few minutes each day to name specific blessings: health, family, guidance, a meal, a safe night. Gratitude turns attention from what is missing to what Allah has already given, and love grows from noticing His care.
Dua to Love Allah More
A supplication attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is recorded in Jami at-Tirmidhi:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَالْعَمَلَ الَّذِي يُبَلِّغُنِي حُبَّكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ حُبَّكَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ نَفْسِي وَأَهْلِي وَمِنَ الْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ
In meaning, the person asks Allah for His love, for the love of those who love Him, and for the kind of deeds that lead to His love. They also ask that Allah become dearer to them than their own self, their family and even cold water. Making this dua part of your day is a simple way to put step five into practice.
Signs That Allah Loves You
No one can claim certainty about their own standing with Allah, and Islamic teaching asks us to live between hope and fear. Still, the hadith point to qualities that show Allah’s care for a servant. Treat them as encouragement to keep going, not as a test to grade yourself.
- A growing pull toward worship. The hadith qudsi in Sahih al-Bukhari describes a servant who draws near to Allah through voluntary worship until Allah loves him.
- Understanding of religion. The Prophet ﷺ said that when Allah wills good for someone, He gives them understanding of the religion (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
- Acceptance among righteous people. In a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, when Allah loves a servant, Jibril is told to love him, the announcement is made in the heavens, and acceptance is then placed for him on earth.
If you notice these in yourself, give thanks and ask Allah to keep you steady. If you do not, begin with the steps above.
A Short Booklet to Start With
If you would like a short, focused read on this subject, the Urdu booklet Allah Se Mohabbat by Khurram Murad is a good place to begin. At 24 pages it can be read in a single sitting. According to its description, it draws on the Quran and hadith to explain the sweetness of faith and the love of Allah, and it includes the supplications taught by the Prophet ﷺ and made by the Prophets. It is available from the Manshurat online Islamic bookstore with delivery across Pakistan.
For further reading, you may also like
- Insan Allah Ka Khalifa by Khurram Murad
- Jamal-e-Seerat by Khurram Murad
- More short reads in our Booklets collection
- Books on character and inner growth in Tarbiyat
Frequently Asked Questions
How to increase love for Allah?
Start with what He has told us: know Him through His names, remember Him daily, follow the Sunnah, guard your prayers, ask for His love in dua, and keep good company. Small steps held consistently work better than large steps that stop.
Is loving Allah only an emotion?
No. The Quran connects love of Allah with obedience and with following the Prophet ﷺ (3:31). Emotion matters, but love is proven by action.
What is the dua to love Allah more?
The supplication from Jami at-Tirmidhi quoted above asks for Allah’s love, the love of those who love Him, and deeds that lead to His love.
Is there a short book I can read on this topic in Urdu?
Allah Se Mohabbat by Khurram Murad is a 24-page booklet on this theme, available from Manshurat.
How to build a relationship with Allah?
Spend time with Him every day through prayer, dhikr and Quran, speak to Him in dua, and act on what pleases Him. Start small and stay consistent.
What are the signs that Allah loves you
The hadith mention a growing pull toward worship, understanding of the religion, and acceptance among righteous people. See the section above, and remember that no one can be certain of their own standing.
Final Thoughts
If you want to know how to build a relationship with Allah, remember that the love of Allah grows the way any relationship grows: through knowing, remembering, spending time and acting on what pleases the one you love. Pick one step from this list, practise it for a few weeks, and then add the next. May Allah grant us His love and make us among those He loves.
