For example...

For example, one may speak of the word ‘ishq of the mother for her children or their love for her; one may speak of even higher stages of ‘ishq for the most lofty human sentiments, like ‘ishq for knowledge or ‘ishq for service to society, and all are correct.

Hence, the application of the word ‘ishq to God in such poetry as that of Hafiz or Imam Khomeini, or in the writings of the mystics should not be viewed with suspicion and must be considered perfectly permissible from a religious point of view. Furthermore, in the noble Qur’an it has been said: “ Those who believe have intense love for Allah ” ( wal-ladhina amanu ashaddu hubban lillah ) (2:165). Intense love is nothing but ‘ishq , as has been reported in the dictionaries.

This word also occurs in hadith s. Kulayni, for example, narrates from the sixth Imam, peace be with him, that he said: “The Prophet ( s ) said, ‘The best of people is one who loves ( ‘ishq ) worship, embraces it, loves ( hubb ) it with his whole heart, and occupies his body with it, and prepares for it, and he does not care whether he has comfort or trouble in this world.’” The use of the word ‘ishq in this hadith provides positive proof that the meaning of ‘ishq is not restricted to passionate affairs, nor even to material affairs.

Of course, the application of the term, Beloved ( ma‘shuq ), for God as a Name is forbidden and is considered incorrect by the scholars of Islamic law, for the divine Names are fixed ( tawfiqi ). One should only consider terms to be Names of God when this is expressly indicated by God Himself through the revelation to His prophets.

This is different, however, from the use of such a term not as a Name of God, but as an adjective when it is not intended as a Name of God, as in poetry and mystical expressions, and as such it poses no difficulty from the point of view of Islamic law. The meaning of ‘the Beloved’ and ‘Friend’ is also found in the following hadith qudsi : “When a servant is occupied completely with My service I will make his desire and pleasure to be remembering Me.

Whenever I make his desire and pleasure to be in remembering Me, he will love Me and I will love him, and when he loves Me and I love him, I will remove the veil from that which is between Me and him.” There are several other hadith s like this in which the word ‘ishq or its cognates appears.