Love is the sail which charts the course of life. Poet Khalil Gibron wrote, "Do not change the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, will change the course of your life." Love may be the only reason for living. Love cannot be demanded but has to be given before it is expected in return.
Love mandates us to please the beloved and avoid acts which displease the beloved.
The challenge before us is how to inculcate love in this world full of hate. Hate between men and women, between rich and poor, between white and coloured people, between tribes and nations and so on. How can we become love givers and plant seeds of love that we may receive God's love?
The source of our love is God Himself and the beneficiary of our love should be His creations.
How can we be recipients of God's love? According to Quran, God loves those who are conscious of Him, who turn to Him for repentance, who keep themselves clean, who do good, who trust in God, who does justice, who patiently persevere. We also must avoid being those whom He does not love.
God does not love evildoers, mischief-makers, oppressors, reflectors of faith, arrogant people or prodigal liars. Such folks not only deprive themselves of God's love but His guidance.
