Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
How do you love quietly?
A dear sister wrote me recently and asked that question. Since she has a spiritual inclination, I answered her this way:
To love quietly is to do the work that is meant for you in this life, and to serve all whom you come in contact with, even in small ways. That is quiet love – for others and for God, who is in all His creation. To love a particular person quietly, is to pray for him, to help him when you can, and to listen.
Her question also reminded me of this post about the old woman washing the steps of a Buddhist temple, which you can read here.
Please add your own thoughts and answers in the comments, and here is a quote for inspiration :)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. – ( 1st Corinthians 13:4-8)
Ya Haqq!
Thank you that was really beautiful
God loves quietly – I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. – Proverbs 8:17
Beautiful!
Beautiful as usual, and as you are, my brother!
Wa salam,
Abdallah
Dear brother Irving :) Salaam/ greetings of peace :)
I always come to your blog for gems like this post :)
Thank you for sharing, as always.
Quiet Love makes me think of loving (that is, being patient with someone or with circumstances) despite the odds- it means to continue to hope, to serve, to fulfill your tasks, no matter how hard it may seem… To quietly serve your purpose is to do so without complain- with obedience, perseverance, and even reverence- … :)
Quiet Love may very well be a silent devotion that seeks no reward, and aspires only to Love!
May Allah guide us all and keep us on the straight path.
Peace & Love.
Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
Thank you all for your comments and worthy additions to the answer to the question. They are much appreciated :) indeed, service in silence that aspires only to love comes closer than any other, as Proverbs states so eloquently.
Ya Haqq!
Lovely quotes :)
O you who have departed from your own self,
and who have not yet reached the Friend:
do not be sad, (for)
He is accompanying you in each of (your) breaths.
Sheikh Ansari – Kashf al_Asrar
In love, nothing exists between heart and heart.
Speech is born out of longing,
True description from the real taste.
The one who tastes, knows;
the one who explains, lies.
How can you describe the true form of Something
In whose presence you are blotted out?
And in whose being you still exist?
And who lives as a sign for your journey?
Rabia al-Adawiyya
O Lord,
Whatever share of this world
You could give to me,
Give it to Your enemies;
Whatever share of the next world
You want to give to me,
Give it to Your friends.
You are enough for me.
O Lord,
If I worship You
From fear of Hell, burn me in Hell.
O Lord,
If I worship You
From hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates.
But if I worship You for Yourself alone
Then grace me forever the splendor of Your Face.
Rabi´a al-Adawiyya, translation by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut – ‘Perfume of the Desert’
If you are seeking closeness to the Beloved,
love everyone.
Whether in their presence or absence,
see only their good.
If you want to be as clear and refreshing as
the breath of the morning breeze,
like the sun, have nothing but warmth and light
for everyone.
Shaikh Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir – ‘Nobody, Son of Nobody’ – Vraje Abramian
A seeker went to ask a sage for guidance on the Sufi way.
The sage counseled,
“if you have never trodden the path of love, go away and fall in love; then come back and see us.”
Onto Thee, O Beloved, do i yearn to turn all my love, so as nothing remains of me but Thee and Thee alone i seek till it come through…
If only we could all love quietly as you describe!
Thank you Shakil and Safa for your wisdom and understanding; they are a welcome addition to the post :)
And to sweet and lovely Lara, you do love quietly every day. Ask Quinn, ask Rossa, ask your mother (who taught it to you), ask anyone who knows you. Part of loving quietly is that we never think we do enough of it, or are deficient in it, or not consistent in it. That’s human nature. Love is God’s nature in us, so it is a good mix :)
Love and Ya Haqq!
Love in this world is presented so that we can learn the true love.
Thanks Irving.I’m always with you brother.
Tawhid..tawhid..the unifier of all things is tawhid..~
thank u mr.Karchmar..