Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu ASALATU WASALAMU ALAYKA YA RASULLALLAH Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam *Subhanahu wa Ta'ala Once

at the time of Hajj, there was a gathering in Makkah of some friends of Al lah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala the youngest among whom was Junaid Baghdadi Radi Allahu anhu. In that gathering, there was a discussion on the subject of 'Love for Alla h Subhanahu wa Ta'ala' and as to who is the lover of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Many of them expressed their views on the subject, but Hazrat Junaid Radi Allahu anhu kept quiet. He was pressed to say something. With his head bowed down and tears in his eyes, he said, "The lover of Allah Sub hanahu wa Ta'ala is he who forgets his own self, remains engaged in Allah Subhan ahu wa Ta'ala's remembrance with due regard to all its requirements; sees Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'alawith the eyes of his heart, which is burnt by the heat of All ah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala's fear; Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala's remembrance affects h im like a cup of wine, he speaks the word of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala as if All ah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala speaks through his mouth; if he moves, he does so under t he command of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala he gets peace of mind only through the o bedience of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and when such a stage is reached, his eati ng, drinking, sleeping, awakening and, in short, all his actions are for the ple asure of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala he neither pays heed to the worldly customs, nor does he attach any importance to unfriendly criticism by people." Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu