Your Character in the Shade of Allah’s Name Al-Wadud
الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا
الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد
وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين
We are continuing in this talk with the study of the names of Allah as part of our answer
to the fourth question in the series of the topic entitled:” Your Life in Light of Eternity”, as
a reminder, this topic addresses the following four questions:
What is the purpose of our lives on earth?
What is the nature of this life on earth?
What is our role on earth to fulfil the purpose of our lives on it?
What are the traits and qualities that we must possess to fulfill our role and achieve our
purpose on earth?
We already addressed the first three questions, and we started the answer to the fourth
question which is adopting in our character elements of the Names/Attributes of Allah.
We already discussed 15 names and today, we will Insha’Allah discuss another name of
Allah that is very important when teaching our children about Allah. This name is Al-
Wadud.
16 Al-Wadud (الودود) – “The Affectionate”, “The Most Loving”
Allah name Al-Wadud was revealed one time in the Quran in Surat al-Buroog (84:14). It
is revealed another time as Wudud, (without “Al”) in Surat Hud (11:90). Allah says:
﴿إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ يُبۡدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ (١٣) وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلۡوَدُودُ (١٤) ذُو ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡمَجِيدُ (١٥) فَعَّالٌ۬ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ﴾ سورة البروج
“Surely, He begins (creation) and restores it (13) And He is the Most-Forgiving,
the Most-Loving, (14) The Master of the Throne of Glory, (15) The Doer of all that
He intends.” (Al-Burooj 85:13-16)

﴿وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ﴾ سورة هود
"But ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him (in repentance): for my Lord
is indeed Full of Mercy and Most-Loving.” (Hud 11:90)
As a fundamental truth in Islam is that our relationship with Allah should be far more
motivated by loving Him than fearing Him. This point is clear in verse 54 of Surat Al-
Maeda (5:54)

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَنْ يَرْتَدَّ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ (المائدة ﴾
“O’ you who believe, if any of you turn back from his religion, Allah will bring
forth people whom He loves and they love Him.” (Al-Maeda 5:54)
Note that in this verse, the love of Allah comes first (يُحِبُّهُمْ) before our love for him (يُحِبُّونَهُ).
But, when we look at the 99 names of Allah, we note that none of them refers to love

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directly, there is no name such as ‘The Loving One” (الحبيب). However, Allah ‘s name
Al-Wadud (الودود) goes farther than love.
What is the difference between the “two Arabic words: Wud” (ود) and “Hub”(حب)? Both
are translated in English as love. However, “Hub” is a love manifested by emotion and
feelings. But the “Wud” is love manifested by actions.
You may love someone but do nothing for him/her. But if you have “Wud” for someone,
you will do whatever is possible to make him/her happy. So, Allah is the (وَدُودٌ); He loves
you and does a lot for you to make you happy. Allah’s love for you far exceeds the love
of a mother to her infant.
Imam Hammad ibn Salamah ibn Dinar (91-167 H) said:
عن محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري ، قال : سمعت بعض أصحابنا يقول : عاد حماد بن سلمة سفيان الثوري ، فقال
سفيان : يا أبا سلمة ، أترى يغفر الله لمثلي ؟! فقال حماد : والله لو خيرت بين محاسبة الله إياي ، وبين محاسبة أبوي
لاخترت محاسبة الله على محاسبة أبوي ، وذلك أن الله تعالى أرحم بي من أبوي .
“If I am given the choice between Allah and my parent on who should judge me
on the day of Judgment, I would choose Allah because He is more merciful on me
than my parent”.
Allah created the sun to provide us with light and heat; and he created darkness to allow
us to sleep. This could have been enough, but He fashioned the sky in a way for us to
enjoy looking at it during sunrise and sunset.
Allah could have created for us one type of food that will be satisfactory for our survival,
but He created many different varieties of plants, animals, birds and fish to eat. He
even created things that we don’t eat but just for us to enjoy them. Allah created flowers
with beauty and fragrance just for our pleasure. He created different kinds of beautiful
birds with beautiful voices, and He created many kinds of colorful fish for us to enjoy
watching them.
Allah could have only created for us the necessities for our survival, but Allah created
many more things because He is Al-Wadud (الودود) and He wants to make our worldly
life more enjoyable.
While all the things that Allah created to make our life enjoyable being benefits for both
the believers and the disbelievers, Allah has something special for the believers and this
is His special love, as He said:

﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ وُدّاً ﴾ سورة مريم
“For those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them Al-Rahman will bestow
“Wud” (special Love).” (Maryam 19:96)
How would you feel if any dignitary/celebrity mentioned you by name? Surely, you
would be so excited and very proud. Why don’t you feel the same excitement when
Allah, the Lord of the universe and the King of all kings mentions your name and tells
everyone that He loves you? The Prophet (PBUH) said:

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إِنَّ اللهَ إِذا أحبَّ عبدا دعا جبريلَ ، فقال : إِني أحبُّ فلاناً فأحِبَّه ، قال : فيُحِبُّه جبريلُ ، ثم ينادي في السماءِ ،
فيقول : إِنَّ اللهَ يحبُّ فلاناً فأحِبُّوه ، فيحبُّه أهل السماء ، ثم يوضَعُ له الَقبُولُ في الأرض .[ البخاري عن أبي
هريرة]
When Allah loves righteous slave, He will call Jibril and tell him: I love so and so,
you should love him. Jibril will love him and call everyone in Heaven and say:
Allah loves so and so, you should love him and all in the Heavens love him and
he will be accepted by people on Earth.
It is Allah, Al-Wadud (الودود), Who asks you to love Him. Not because your love will add
anything to Him, but because He wants everyone in Heaven and earth to love you too.
It is natural that you may not want to expose your weaknesses to anyone and shed your
tears in front of anyone. But, when you are with Al-Wadud (الودود), you can because He
loves you and wants to help you.
Allah, Al-Wadud (الودود), wants you to go to Him and share with him your fears, your
pain, and your needs. Sit in a private place and call upon Him, Al-Wadud (الودود), and
tell Him that you are in pain; you are afraid about your job, afraid about your business,
afraid what will happen to your kids, lean on Al-Wadud (الودود), ask Him to help you.
When you need comfort at a time of sorrow, when you need sympathy at a time of
agony, or when you just want to cry on someone’s shoulder, Allah Al-Wadud (الودود) is
always there for you.
.
When the Prophet (PBUH) was rejected by the people in Taif and feeling weary,
wounded and exhausted; He called upon Al-Wadud (الودود) to express his distress and
sorrow without asking for anything, He said:

‏(‏اللهم إليك أشكو ضَعْف قُوَّتِى، وقلة حيلتى، وهوإني على الناس،
“O’ Allah, to you alone I complain of my weakness, the meagerness of my
resources and lowliness before men.
When the wife of Imran expressed concern when she delivered a girl because she
hoped for a son to commit him to the High, she called upon Al-Wadud. She said: (رَبِّ إِنِّي
وَضَعْتُهَا أُنْثَى) (O my Lord, I have delivered of a female!). But Allah, Al-Wadud (الودود) knows
how to please her and assured her by saying:
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا
قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ هَذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
And so it was that her Lord graciously accepted her and made her grow in purity
and beauty, and He entrusted her to the foster care of Zakariya. Whenever, he
entered (her) sanctuary to see her, he found her with provisions. He said: "O
Maryam! From where this comes to you." She said: "It is from Allah: for Allah
provides for whoever He wills without measure." (Al-Imran 3:37)
To whom can you go to express your pains, fears, sorrow and needs other than Allah,
Al-Wadud (الودود) who loves you without expecting anything in return. He, who wants to

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befriend you without gaining anything by your friendship. He wants to support you,
guide you and help you for no reason other than for your righteousness and sincerity.
Allah Al-Wadud (الودود) wants to bestow His love upon you. He wants to become your
confidant and consoler because your heart is filled with His love. If you truly love Allah,
you will feel that you are always with Allah, Al-Wadud (الودود) and He will place your love
in the heart of all those in Heaven and Earth.
Elements to Adopt in our Character
Some elements from Allah’s name Al-Wadud to adopt in our character
1. As a believer, you should reciprocate Allah’s unconditional love for you with
showing your love for Allah through your full obedience.
2. Demonstrate your love of Allah by ensuring that you possess the qualities that
Allah loves. Allah loves those who: do good (الْمُحْسِنِينَ), have Taqwa (الْمُتَّقِينَ), act
justly (لْمُقْسِطِينَ), purify themselves physically and spiritually (الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ), always
return to Him (التَّوَّابِينَ), put their trust in Him (الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ), and are always patient
(الصَّابِرِينَ).
3. Demonstrate your love for Allah’s creations by treating them with kindness and
mercy.
4. Since Allah’s love for us is not based on any expecting benefit from us, we
should love each other for no personal gain but for the sake of God.
The prophet (PBUH) said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمْ اللَّهُ فِي ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ الْإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ
وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ بِعِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَرَجُلَانِ تَحَابَّا فِي اللَّهِ اجْتَمَعَا عَلَيْهِ وَتَفَرَّقَا عَلَيْهِ وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ
ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا حَتَّى لَا تَعْلَمَ يَمِينُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ شِمَالُهُ وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ خَالِيًا
فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ] صحيح البخاري و صحيح مسلم [
“There are seven whom Allah will shade on a day when there is no shade but His.
They are a just ruler, a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, one whose heart is
attached to the mosques, two who love each other, meet each other, and depart
from each other for the sake of Allah, a man who is tempted by a beautiful woman of
high status but he rejects her, saying , ‘I fear Allah,’ and one who spends in charity and
hides it such that his right hand does not know what his left hand has given, and one
who remembered Allah in private and he wept.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
(من أحب لله وأبغض لله وأعطى لله ومنع لله فقد استكمل الإيمان ) رواه أبو داود (صحيح الجامع)
“If anyone loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake
and withholds for Allah’s sake, he will have perfect faith”.