God: The True Epitome of Love

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious

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The 99 names of Allah

Before I begin today’s reflection, I just want to say that for a long time I tried to run away from my Muslim identity. I wanted to remain liberal so I could fit in. But the further I went away from my identity, the deeper I went into a well of despair. Even while writing this piece, I was second guessing myself a lot, but at the end of the day being Muslim is my identity, and I choose to be proud of it.

Because Allah showed me unconditional love despite everything, and what could be a greater blessing than that?

As Ramadan 2025 is about to begin, I want to talk to you about Allah and His immense, unconditional love.

What is Ramadan?

But first, for those of you who don’t know what Ramadan is, let me give you a brief explanation. During Ramadan, Muslims all over the world fast for 30 days. We wake up before dawn to eat Suhoor which is our breakfast, and at sunset we break our fast with Iftar. Ramadan is considered to be one of the most blessed months in the Islamic calendar.

However, Ramadan is not only about avoiding food and drink, it’s a month of self reflection, and a month to spend time improving ourselves. Lots of Muslims think of Ramadan as a time to reset, and to strengthen spiritual practices that they can continue into the year.

Allah Loves Unconditionally

Today, however, I want to talk about our relationship with Allah, the most important relationship we will ever have in this life. The one that we often forget, or don’t talk about enough.

Every Ramadan, Muslims have a plan for the month, on how they want to make the most of this Holy month.

But this post is not about that plan, this post is about taking a moment on reflecting Allah’s love for us and how we can build a strong relationship with Him through His gifts.

And if you’re a non-Muslim reading this piece, I hope you can see a side of Islam that’s never talked about in mainstream media. Muslims are normal people, as much as the world likes to believe we aren’t. I promise. We are kind. We are loving. We are ordinary. Just like every other human being in this world.

For me personally, this Ramadan, I want to focus on one thing only, and that is to build a stronger relationship with Allah. Because most of my life, I didn’t have a relationship with Allah, and I feel sorry for the years I let go by.

I’m not here to tell you to be steadfast in your daily five prayers, or to read the Quran. You’re an adult, and you already have been taught the principles of Islam.

But I want to talk about how you and I both can build a stronger, beautiful relationship with Allah. A relationship based on love.

Often the faith of Islam and Allah, are portrayed from a place of fear and punishment. But did you know that Allah is the most Merciful of all?

Take this Hadith for example:

"Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Allah’s love is the one and only truly unconditional love in this life. Every other type of love is conditional to some extent. Even a mothers love. Because I truly believe that we imperfect humans don’t hold the power to have unconditional love for anyone. But Allah does, because He is Perfect.

Do you know why I say this? Because I’ve felt Allah’s love. Countless times in life of course, and I’m more blessed than I deserve to be. But I want to talk to you about a time, when I didn’t think Allah would love me at all. I was so disconnected from my faith.

I hadn’t ever prayed regularly, or even picked up the Quran to read it. It wasn’t even my default move to turn to Allah when I felt anxious or I was in trouble or when I needed help. I never even really made any dua (prayer), because I didn’t think I was worthy.

That’s when a miracle happened in my life. Now there have been many miracles in my life before too, but this one was different. I’m not going to give you details of the miracle because the miracle itself isn’t as important. It’s the very fact that the miracle happened, that’s what matters.

You see, I was striving for something, I was so desperate to achieve a certain thing in my life. I was working hard, I was worrying, I was stressing. I was doing everything, and it certainly was an impossible thing now that I think about. I didn’t have much hope, but I kept trying. I tried everything in the worldly sense, but I never once thought to turn to Allah. Because in my mind, since I never prayed regularly, Allah would not listen to my prayers.

So I never prayed for it. My wishes, my prayers, they remained tightly closed inside my heart. I never uttered the words. I never turned to Allah. But Allah was listening.

Allah, He answered my unsaid prayers. The ones that I had been so hesitant, so shy to ask for. Despite not being a Muslim in the true sense of Islam, Allah made a miracle happen in my life. None of my hard work actually came into play in making that miracle come true.

It was only Allah, and Allah. And it’s always Allah. It will always be Allah.

Do you know what happened then? That was the beginning of my existential crisis. This is not a movie, so I didn’t immediately fall to my knees and become a fully practicing Muslim. It took me a few months, maybe even a year to actually start practicing my faith. But then things changed.

I went from never praying to praying five times a day. For the first time in my life, I read the English translation of Quran. I cannot stress enough just how much peace these simple things brought into my life. Somedays I would read the Quran for only 10 minutes a day, but it changed my life.

Why did this happen? Because of Allah’s love and mercy. I truly believe this. I was going through a hard time in my life, not financially or anything, but I was feeling so lost. I was in a maze, but I couldn’t find my way out. I tried everything, but only when I turned to Allah was I able to leave that maze.

Now that you know about my story, I want to tell you about the the three gifts Allah has given to us Muslims, which I think are not talked about enough. They’ve been given to us humans to know that Allah loves us.

1.) The Gift of Tahajjud

Also known as the night prayer or Qiyam-ul-Lail, Tahajjud is a special gift from Allah for Muslims. It is an optional prayer that can be prayed in the last third of the night before fajr (the dawn prayer).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night and says: 'Who is calling upon Me, so I may respond to him? Who is asking Me, so I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, so I may forgive him?’"

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

What could be more special than having a time to strengthen your connection with Allah? Allah is giving us an opportunity to wake up, and ask Him for anything our heart desires. What could be more loving than that?

“The dua (prayer) made at tahajjud is like an arrow which does not miss its target.”

Imam Ash-Shafi’i

I’ve had countless prayers come true when I’ve prayed Tahajjud, but most importantly I’ve felt a peace like no other after performing this prayer.

That peace alone is a great gift, in my humble opinion. Tahajjud in itself is a gift from Allah for us Muslims, because it gives us an opportunity to build our relationship with Him like no other.

2.) The Gift of Layl tul Qadr - Night of Decree

Also known as the Night of Decree, this is the night the Quran was revealed, in the month of Ramadan. The award for praying on this night is equivalent to a thousand months. Here is Quranic evidence for the significance of this night:

Surah Al-Qadr (97:1-5):

"Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.

And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is?

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

The angels and the Spirit [Jibreel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."

The night of decree is a once-a-year opportunity for immense forgiveness, mercy and rewards. What could be a greater night than that? Each year, in one of the odd nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, an opportunity lies for us to start over, to start fresh. What could be more merciful, and loving than that?

3.) The Gift of Tawwakul

Last but not least, I want to talk about what I think is the greatest gift for us Muslims from Allah. It is the gift of Tawwakul. The word is an Arabic term which means reliance or trust in Allah. The concept of Tawwakul is to have complete trust in Allah.

It’s knowing that what Allah has decreed for us will happen. This is not to say we do not put in any effort or hardwork, but for me having complete Tawwakul in Allah is to know that nothing is truly in my control. I spent a lot of years trying to control every aspect of my life, and worrying about the future. It led me to nothing but despair.

Once I began practicing Tawwakul, it was as if a heavy weight fell off my shoulders. I no longer had to worry about outcomes that I had zero control over. All I had to do was show up, and do my best. The rest was in Allah’s hands. And even if things didn’t go my way, I knew that it was Allah’s decree. And that brings you peace like no other.

This realization alone is the greatest gift believing in Allah can give you. Life becomes much easier once you accept that there’s nothing that you control. Allah is giving us humans the permission to leave everything to Him. What could be more loving and merciful than that?

As Ramadan begins, my only wish for this month is that it brings love and peace to you. This is your chance to build a strong relationship with our Creator, and feel His love. He certainly loves you, even if you think it’s not evident. I am sure of this. You just have to reach out to Him.

And with that, there’s only one thing left to say:

Ramadan Kareem 🌙🌟

Wishing you a wonderful day,

Wajeeha