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Love

M. Fethullah Gulen

Apr 1, 1994

Love is the most essential element in every being, and it is a most radiant light and a greatest power which can resist and overcome every force. Love elevates every soul which absorbs it, and makes it prepared for the journey to eternity. A soul which has been able to make contact with eternity through love, exerts himself to implant in all the other souls what he gets from eternity. He dedicates his life to this sacred duty, for the sake of which he endures every kind of hardship to the end, and just as he pronounces ‘love’ in his last breath, he also breathes ‘love’ while being raised on the Day of Judgement.

A soul without love is impossible to be elevated to the horizon of human perfection. Even if he lived hundreds of years, he could not make any advances on the path to perfection. Those who are deprived of love, since being entangled in the nets of selfishness, are unable to love anybody else and die unaware of love which is deeply implanted in the very essence of the existence.

A child is received with love when he is born, and grows up in a warm atmosphere composed of affectionate, loving souls. Even if he may not enjoy the same love in the same degree in later phases of his life, he always longs for it and pursues it throughout his life.

There are impressions of love on the face of the sun, water evaporates high towards those impressions, and after it has been condensed in drops high above, the drops come down joyfully onto the earth on the wings of love. Then, thousands of kinds of flowers burst through love and offer smiles to their surroundings. Dew drops on leaves glitter with love, and twinkle with amusement. Sheep and lambs bleat and skip about with love, and birds and chicks chirp with love and form choruses of love.

Each being takes part in the big love orchestra of the universe with its own particular symphony and tries to demonstrate, by free will or through its disposition, an aspect of the deep love in the existence.

Love is implanted in a man’s soul so deeply that many people leave their home for its sake, many families are ruined and, in every corner, a Majnun groans with the love and longing for a Leila. As for those who have not been able to uncover the love inherent in their being regard such kinds of manifestations of love to be madness!

Altruism is an exalted human feeling, and what generates it is love. Whoever has the greatest share in this love is the greatest hero of humanity who has been able to uproot whatever of the feelings of hatred and rancour in him. Such heroes of love continue to live even after their death. These lofty souls, who, by kindling each day a new torch of love in their inner world and making in their hearts a source of love and altruism, were welcomed and loved by people, got the right of living eternally from such an Exalted Court that, let alone death, even Doomsday will not be able to remove their traces.

A mother who can die for her child’s sake is a heroine of affection; an individual who dedicates his life to his nation and country is a self-sacrificing member of his community, and a man who lives and sacrifices himself for humanity is a monument of immortality who deserves to be enthroned in hearts. For them, love is a weapon with which to overcome every obstacle, and a key to open every door. Those who possess such a weapon and key will sooner or later open the gates to all parts of the world and spread everywhere the fragrance of peace from the ‘censers’ of love in their hands.

The most direct road leading to the hearts of people is the road of love. This road is the road of prophets. Those who follow this road are not rejected; even if they are rejected by one or two people, they are welcomed by thousands. Once they are welcomed through love, nothing could prevent them from attaining their object.

How happy and prosperous are those who follow the guidance of love. How unfortunate, on the other hand, are those who are unaware of love which exists deep in their souls, lead a ‘deaf and mute’ life!

O God, the most Exalted! Today when hatred and rancour have invaded everywhere like the layers of darkness, we take refuge in Your infinite love and entreat at Your door that you may fill up the hearts of your mischievous, pitiless slaves with love and human feelings!