The Language of The Heart

Love stories from the Qur'an.

Read here fore free!

Have you stopped to consider what makes love, a feeling so magical and fulfilling? How in Islam the love between two spouses is not just a mere emotion but an act of faith. How this sacred bond is weaved through trust, stitched with the fabric of understanding, and adorned with patience and gratitude?

It's not the kind of fleeting love that people romanticise in films as something exciting and passionate, driven by intense emotions and desires.

Love was never meant to give you a feeling of adrenaline rush or butterflies in your stomach!

In fact, real love is supposed to bring feelings of peace and calmness to your heart and nourish your soul. It is a reflection of Allah's mercy, a safe haven amidst the life's struggles from which one finds comfort through their spouse.

Allah says in the Quran: And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect. (Surah Ar-Rum, Verse 21)

The first love story :

The first ever love story to occur between two humans in this world was that between Adam (AS) and his wife, Hawwa (AS). Prophet Adam (AS) was initially alone in Jannah (Paradise), and he asked for a companion, someone for himself. Even the eternal bliss of Paradise didn't feel complete to him without someone to enjoy it with and so Allah created the soul of Hawwa (AS) from his. They both lived in happiness until one day they disobeyed the commandment of their Lord, and were sent down to earth in different parts of the world. Adam (AS) searched tirelessly for her roaming around the earth, longing to be reunited with her for he couldn't bear her absence. The one whom he loved in Jannah, he wished to love and embrace in the dunya as well.

Finally, he found her at Mount of Mercy (Jabbal Rahma) on the plains of Arafat, in Makkah. He descended from the mountain and embraced her.

Imagine the overwhelming emotions, the joy, relief, and gratitude that must have filled their hearts as they embraced each other after a long period of time.

Isn't it beautiful how we wish to love and embrace the one we love in this Dunya, and reunite with them in Jannah as well?

A story of love and sacrifice:

Many know the story of Prophet Ayyub (AS) by the virtue of his immense patience yet there is another important aspect to it portraying the devotion between him and his wife, Rahma.

He was tested with severe trials that no one can imagine having all together; losing his wealth, property, his children and not to mention his health which caused him to be severely ill and thereby live in isolation. The only person that remained with him when he had nothing was his wife.

Imagine a woman being married to not just a Prophet of Allah, but a man of wealth and honour.When she was inflicted with great trials she did not think of deserting her husband in times of hardship. When all others left him she stood firmly by his side and remained till the very end. She served him lovingly. Not like some women who are in marriage for gold-digging.

Once she came to him and said, "O Ayyub, you are the prophet and the messenger of Allah. You have the closest relationship to Allah. Ask Allah to take you out of this harm that you are in!"

So he asked her: "How many years of ease did we have?"

She replied: "Fifty".

He asked again,"How long have we been suffering for?"

She said, "Seven."

Ayyub (AS) then said, "I am shy before my Lord. I am ashamed to ask Him for help and to be so impatient that I cannot at least repay that fifty years of happiness we had with some years of difficulty."

There came a time then when no one would offer work to her fearing she'll bring her husband's curse in their home. After days of poverty and increasing hardships, she finally managed to find a house wherein to work she was instructed to cut all her hair. And so she did! She sacrificed the thing that was part of her beauty just so she could get some food for herself and her sick husband.

Upon seeing this Ayyub (AS) was deeply moved and couldn't bear it, his care for her was a reflection of her care for him. At that moment, he made a du'a, which Allah has mentioned in the Quran: And (mention)] Ayyub, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 83)

Thereafter, Allah not only returned everything that he had lost to Ayyub (AS)but He even doubled them. SubhanAllah! Ayyub (AS) had understood the lesson of love and sacrifice that she taught him.

The shield of love

Prophet Ibraheem (AS) faced great disappointment at the hands of his own people so much that Allah granted him the permission to leave his hometown.

Despite all the pain and rejection Allah blessed him with a loyal companion, his wife, Sarah (RA) who provided her unwavering support and loyalty to him.

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) displayed profound protection for his wife when they encountered a tyrant king known for wanting beautiful women. Out of fearing for her safety and honor he said to her , "Oh Sarah, you know there is no one but you and me who are believers on this land, so when these people come to ask who am I to you, tell them that I am your brother."

When the king attempted to approach Sarah(AS), she turned to Allah in prayer: saying 'Oh Allah, if you know that I have guarded my chastity, my dignity, my honor, my body, from any other man, except my husband then do not let this disbeliever, this tyrant ruler touch me'.

Her supplication was accepted, and thus the king got paralysed each time he tried to harm her.

With that lie, Prophet Ibraheem (AS) saved the honour of his wife, and they exited the land untouched. Though he had to lie and didn't forgive himself for that, he still fulfilled the role of a guardian of his family and protected his beloved wife from the cruel king as a it is a man's role to protect his family.

A union of two souls

One of the most special stories demonstrating the bond of an ideal couple from history was that between our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and his wife, Khadijah (RA). Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), a man of integrity, honesty and humbleness met Khadijah (RA), a woman of grace, beauty and wisdom.

They shared a love that was timeless and universal. After entering into prophet hood, she was the first to publicly accept and believe in him being the messenger of Allah.

It was she who placed a cloak over him and comforted him, to show him her love saying, "Do not worry! But receive the good tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, for by Allah, you keep good relations with your kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist those who are stricken with calamities."

It was she who was the first to bow and prostrate with him. Their relationship was based on mutual respect, care and trust, standing by each other's side through thick and thin.

Her departure from this heart deeply affected the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). When he and his family was exiled to the hills outside of Makkah, she went there with him, and the three years of hardship eventually led to her death.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mourned her deeply, and even after her death, he would send food and support to Khadijah's friends and relatives, out of love for his first wife.

He loved her so much that despite it being a common custom to have many wives at that time he didn't take another wife while she was alive.

Once, years after Khadijah (RA) died, he came across a necklace that she wore. When he saw it, he remembered her and began to weep. His love for her never died, so much so, that his later wife Aisha (RA) once felt jealous of her. So she asked the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) if Khadijah (RA) had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (SAWS) replied:

"She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand."

A legacy of knowledge and love

In the soft, glowy nights of Madinah, laughter echoed through the home of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and his wife, Aisha (RA). Their bond was unlike any other, full of affection, playfulness and understanding. She was young and intelligent and complemented his wisdom perfectly.

Aisha (RA) and the Prophet (SAWS) would use code language denoting their love. She asked the Prophet (SAWS) how would he describe his love for her?

Prophet (SAWS) said, "Like a strong binding knot." The more you tug the stronger it gets."

Every so often she would playfully ask him, " How is the knot?" He would reply, "As strong as the first day (you asked)."

SubhanAllah! That was the strong love they shared.

Prophet (SAWS) once reached home late at night and slept infront of his house as he didn't want to wake Aisha (RA) up. However, what he didn't realize that on the other side Aisha (RA) was already sleeping behind the door waiting for him.

If this isn't true love then what is ?

Unlike husbands who at times overlook how their wives feel, he was one of the most understanding husband. He (SAWS) once said, "Indeed, I know when you are happy with me and when you are annoyed; when you are happy with me you say: "I swear by the Lord of Muhammad" and when you are annoyed you say: "I swear by the Lord of Ibraheem".

Isn't it so sweet that he could read behind her words ? That's the level of attention he used to give his wives!

In the bond of marriage, it's often the little acts of kindness, those little yet subtle gestures that increase love and closeness between spouses. The Prophet (SAWS) would drink from the same side of the cup where his beloved wife, Aisha (RA) had placed her lips, a gesture that spoke volumes of his affection for her. Aisha talked about the times when she enjoyed meals with him and he enjoyed his meals only when she sat next to him. She also said that he would place morsels of food into her mouth and she would do the same. Isn't this far more loving and romantic than the story of Romeo and Juliet?

This example of Prophet reminds us that love isn't always about grand gestures; it's about the everyday moments of care that strengthen the bond between two hearts.

Amr ibn al-'As(RA) once reported: I said, "Which person is most beloved to you?" The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Aisha." I said, "I mean among men." The Prophet said, "Her father." I said, "Then who?"The Prophet said, "Umar ibn al-Khattab," and the Prophet mentioned other men. (Sahih al-Bukhārī)

One day, during a journey, the Prophet (SAWS) suggested Aisha (RA) that they race each other. They both ran, and Aisha (RA) outran him, winning the race. The next time, the Prophet (SAWS) challenged her again to another race. This time, he outran her and smiled, saying, "This is for that race."

This shows us that living with your spouse doesn't have to always be just about serious conversations and fulfilling duties but also moments of shared joy and laughter bringing in waves of comfort and ease into relationships.

In these stories, we find the essence of what true love means , a halal bond of marriage built on faith, sacrifice, trust, and compassion. From Adam and Hawwa's (AS) reunion on earth to Prophet Muhammad's (SAWS) moments of care and affection with his wives, each story reminds us that love is a reflection of Allah's mercy and a test for us at the same time.

Ibn al-Qayyim once said, "As for love for one's wives then there is no blame in loving them, rather it is from his completeness, and Allah has blessed His worshippers with it (love)".

Loving one's spouse is not a weakness rather an act of faith through which you act as a reflection of Allah's attributes of Mercy and Compassion, it completes a believer's faith as you fulfill your spiritual responsibilities together in this world while obeying Allah.

May Allah allow us to follow the footsteps of our Prophets' and foster a deep and loving bond with our spouses to attain the pleasure of Allah and reach our eternal home in Paradise.

"Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." (Surah Al-Furqan, Verse 74)