First published on: The 99 Names of God: The Affectionate [Al-Wadud]

 Jehad Adel

The Noble True Love Meanings

The Arabic root for the word “Al-Wadud” is “Wudd” وُدّ which means love. In fact, this word has a different connotation from another arabic word that also means love; “Hubb”.

“Hubb” حُب can be used for any kind of love. It has a romantic connotation. It is only in the heart. In contrast, the word “Wudd” means a special kind of love. It never has a romantic connotation; it is a noble one.

It means the shown actions of love. One of the Muslim scholars said:

It is not strange for the servant to love The Master. What is amazing is when The Creator who has no need for the creations chooses to love them even though He does not need us in any way.”

If we look deeply at the human beings love, we will find that they have love for good things that comes back; happiness, rest, money, prestige, etc. For the Creator, the matter is totally different, and this is nobility.

This Name means that God loves His creation, so He grants them his graces. Consequently, they love Him. On the other hand, some of His servants choose not to love Him, so they live in a sad status and go astray. God says in Quran:

“And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ (118). Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. But the word of your Lord is to be fulfilled that, “I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together” (119). [Quran.com/11]

“Al-Wadud” in The Quran

This Name is mentioned two times in The Holy Quran. The first one is:

And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Affectionate.” [Quran.com/11/90].

The second verse is:

And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,” [Quran.com/85/14].

In those two verses, the Name “The Affectionate” is accompanied by another two Names” The Merciful” and “The Forgiving”. In fact, this delivered a very important meaning; if the servant does wrong acts, then he repents, God forgives him and loves him! Maybe there is a king in this life who forgive a servant, but can this king love him after that without any interest or benefit ?!!

It is God who gives us the chance till the last moment even if we do not deserve that.

Examples and influences of His love in our life

Firstly, He creates us “in the best of structure” as God says. He gives us the mind to think and reach the truth, and to use it to discover the earth and facilitate our life on it. Moreover, God says:

And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth – all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. [Quran.com/45/13].

It is God love that provide us with different kinds of food to eat whatever we prefer. It is God love to create those beautiful animals, fish and birds to please our eyes.

Some of them we eat in different ways, and others we just look at them to contemplate, and be happy. Also, there is a special kind of love that He places in the hearts of the spouses towards each other. God says:

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” [Quran.com/30/21]

It is of important also to say that there is another aspect of God love which he grants for the righteous servants. Prophet Muhammad says: “When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him’. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so- and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him”. [Reference]  

How to apply?

 If we realize all of that, we will love God for sure, and this is the first application. If we know more about God, we will love Him more, worship Him, and be ready to sacrifice for His sake more till we reach His paradise at the end. Throughout the history of muslims, we know a lot of examples for that concept. We know Abu-Bakr who gives all his money for charity one day. Also, we should love each other for no interests but for the sake of God. This love has a valuable rank in Islam. Prophet Muhammad says: “If anyone loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for Allah’s sake, he will have perfect faith. [Reference]

To conclude, Islam is the religion of love. He gives the true love special position. If we reach that, we will live happily in this life and in the Hereafter.

This article is a part of “The 99 Names of God” series, the series begins with “The Name: Arrahman” as well as the importance of Knowing Our Creator.