# Is love one of God's attributes in Islam?

*Is love an attribute of God? Sufi and Kalam traditions*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/xznxiyp0b5s/s/19/
- Date: 2020-07-03 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Prof. Dr Khalil Andani | The Oral Text & the Ontology of The Quran | Mindtrap with Mufti #28 (1:33:10–1:35:02)
- Status: a view quoted in order to be discussed, not a position held
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xznXIYp0B5s&t=5590s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/xznxiyp0b5s/

**Topics:** God and the divine attributes; Christians and other faiths; Sufism and tasawwuf

**Question as asked:** Did love not being a fundamental attribute of God play a role in historical discussions between Islam and Christianity?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** The guest says Sufi traditions understand God's mercy as love even though Kalam rarely speaks of it, and rejects the polemic that the God of Islam is not loving.

## Longer summary

A chat question asks whether love not being a fundamental attribute of God played a role in historical discussions between Islam and Christianity. Mufti Abu Layth notes that God is said to love certain people, but that love is not listed as an attribute. The guest says it depends on the tradition: in the Sufi tradition of Ibn Arabi, Rumi and others the meaning of Rahman is loving compassion, and some mystics said God's very essence is rahmah, whereas the Kalam tradition hardly speaks of it, which is why Sufis criticised the theologians as dry. He says he has not researched its role in Christian-Muslim relations, notes the modern Christian polemic that the God of Islam is not loving, and rejects generalised statements because there is more than one Islam.

## Sources and names cited

- Dr Khalil Andani (guest)
- Ibn Arabi
- Rumi
- rahmah
- kalam

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:33:10–1:35:02)

[1:33:09] Here's another question from PI. Did love not being a fundamental Did love not being a fundamental attribute of God play a role in historical discussions between Islam and Christianity? That's an interesting question. Love isn't actually help, even though it's mentioned as an act Allah saying in Allah youhib, you know, he loves this youhibu shakireen, youhibul those people who are taqwa or do good, but it's not an attribute of God.

[1:33:37] Uh Take it away, professor. What's going on here? I think it depends which which Muslim tradition truth tradition or truth discourse we're talking about. I would argue that in the Sufi tradition and the tradition of Ibn Arabi and Rumi and others, when they refer to God as Rahman, the meaning of Rahman is is love.

[1:34:01] Loving compassion. I think there's a strong argument to be made because many of these Sufi mystics, they said God's very essence is Rahma. So, God's very substance is Rahma, which includes love. Rahma is not It doesn't just refer I mean, the translation compassion is good, but it's not very full. So, I think at least in some traditions, the esoteric mystical traditions, there certainly is an emphasis on God's love.

[1:34:30] I would agree that in the Kalam tradition, you don't really hear about it. And that's why the Sufis criticize them with the Kalamun for being dry and sort of you know, lacking in emotion and lacking in devotion. Now, as for its role in Christian-Muslim relations, it's hard to really say. I haven't really researched that. I don't know. I know today it's a Christian polemical talking point that the God of Islam is not a loving God, but again, it depends which theological school you follow.

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment xznXIYp0B5s/s/19. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/xznxiyp0b5s/s/19/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.