Where does love come from, and why is the human heart so moved by it? Saki Mahbub, an assistant teacher at Nadir Hossain Girls' High School in Rajbari, takes up the question from an Islamic point of view in a piece on Prothom Alo's religion page. Love, the writer argues, is not merely a worldly matter but a priceless blessing from Allah.
The writer notes that modern science and psychology explain the feeling through hormones released by the pituitary gland and stimulation of the hypothalamus through the nervous system. But who, the writer asks, created what science calls the effect of hormones? Islam's answer, according to the piece, is that the true source of love is Allah, who is Himself al-Wadud, the Most Loving, and who has placed a small share of His boundless love in human hearts as a trust.
The piece cites several verses of the Quran. Surah al-Anfal, verse 63, says that Allah puts affection and love into the hearts of His servants. Surah ar-Rum, verse 21, calls love between spouses one of Allah's signs: He created mates for people from among themselves so that they may find peace in them, and placed love and mercy between them. Surah al-Furqan, verse 54, says Allah created human beings from water and established ties of lineage and marriage among them.
To honour this blessing, the writer urges care in three things. The first is marriage, described as the Quran's beneficial rule for taking a partner. As the writer sees it, the Western culture of living together brings disappointment and a distorted outlook into people's lives, and love finds its true worth and peace within the sacred, lawful bond of marriage.
The second is keeping away from infatuation and sin. Immorality or passing desire is not love, the piece says; real love purifies the soul, makes people responsible and leads them towards good. Entering an unlawful relationship in the name of love, on a passing impulse, is called ingratitude for Allah's blessing.
The third is staying within the limits Allah has set. Love, the piece says, is not only an emotion but nourishment for the soul, and it brings peace when it is expressed within the bounds laid down by Allah and His Messenger. By valuing this blessing rightly and keeping love pure, the writer concludes, people can make both this life and the hereafter beautiful and peaceful.
This piece is based on Saki Mahbub's article in Prothom Alo. The views are the writer's own.
Source: Prothom Alo
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