Al-Wadood (The Loving)

The One Who Loves His Prophet and Messengers and those who follow them and they in turn love Him – He is more beloved to them than anything else. Their hearts have been filled with love of Him, their tongues are constantly moist with praising Him and their hearts are always drawn to Him in love, sincerity and repentance.

“And ask forgiveness from your Lord and turn to Him in repentance. Verily my Lord is the Most Merciful, the Loving.” (11:90)

“And He is Oft-Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14)

[Source: The Explanation of the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allaah - Taken from Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan, Abdur-Rahmaan Naasir as-Sa`dee's Tafseer]

From the root w-d-d which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

• - To love
• - To like
• - To wish
• - To desire
• - To be fond of
• - To be favourably disposed
• - To be friendly
• - To be affectionate, tender, fond, attached, devoted
• - To be amicable

The word mawaddat, (meaning friendship, love, affection, amity, favourable disposition, etc.) appears in the Quran in the following verses: 4:7, 5:82, 29:25, 30:21, 42:23, 60:1, 60:7. In 60:1 and 60:7, mawaddat seems to be used in a sense opposite to adaawat or enmity.

Wadd(an) was a name of idol worshipped by the Arab pagans at the time of the advent of Islam. [71:23]

One of the attributes of Allah is Al-Wadood. This appears in the Quran at two places (11:90, 85:14).

Al-Wadood means: -The Most Loving

It must be emphasised here that Allah has clearly mentioned in the Quran people whom He loves and whom He does not love. Please see the following verse.

On those, who believe and work deeds of righteousness {which are right and just (according to the Quran) and are beneficial for themselves as well as for the society}, will (Allah) the Most Gracious bestow love.[19:96]

It is clear from the above verse, what one needs to do before expecting to be loved by Allah. The verse 19:96 also makes clear the definition of Al-Wadood as follows:

The One Who is the Most Loving to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness.

(Also written as al-wadud, al-wadood, the Most Loving: ya wadud, ya wadood)