Title: Regarding Love for God Question: Please answer the following: How can one, WHO does not know God, develop love with Him? How can one, WHO knows God ONLY because the word God is quite often spoken about, develop love with Him? How does one know that love with the God has developed? How can one maintain and enhance the love with the God? Thank you for your assistance. May God bless you all, eternally. Amen. Malik Shahid Ahsan Pakistan Answer: It would only be natural for anyone to first get to know the BEING who deserves the zenith of all our affection and love. Without this knowledge, it becomes rather improbable to effectively develop a strong philosophical and intellectual foundation, which fosters and nurtures belief in Him; nurturing, which underscores strength and conviction of belief; and belief, which becomes an intrinsic impulse, galvanizing actions that become a living proof of love for Him. Simply hearing the word GOD everyday without apportioning thoughts for Him, or cutting short the traversal of thoughts to conscious belief, or shirking responsibility to act out this belief could be among the impediments in developing love for Him. Thus, the first most natural step is introduction. It is remarkable how we claim to be intuitively knowledgeable about Him, yet how facile this knowledge turns out to be when put to an acid test. The response titled ' The Islamic Introduction to God ' provides a fitting introduction to God. You ask: How does one know that love with the God has developed? When belief in God, quintessentially, permeates one's heart and mind and is rooted deeply, it, by virtue of its very existence, necessitates two things: Pious conduct Enjoining truth, patience and constancy Pious conduct is conduct that is consonant with the wisdom of God that underlies the creation of this world. All its bases are well established in human nature and intellect, while God's revelations are for the purpose of guiding humans towards this conduct. Likewise, belief has to be followed up by enjoining what is understood as the truth, admonishing from what is contrary to true nature and wisdom, and exhorting to patience and constancy. When these encircle the core of human efforts, the inevitable result is Tazkiya (purification and purgation of mind, body and soul from all defiling aspects), the ultimate aim of existence. Whenever an individual's conduct, emanating from faith, is finely balanced with and attuned to its internal spirit and he/she feels to be in the presence of God, the resulting quality is named Ehsan . The Quran says: وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (النساء 4 : 125 ) Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend. (4:125) You can then be quite sure to have developed real love for God. For the last part of your question, I recommend the following link: How can I Strengthen my Faith? I also urge you to read two other responses, providing a detailed analysis of related issues, wherein you will find more incisive answers to all your queries as well. Practical Effects of the Belief in God Our Relationship with our Creator Regards, Razi Allah March 25, 2003