Excerpt Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il fī Ḍaw’ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
Can the word "Ishq" (عشق) be used for Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ? Please clarify using evidence from the Qur’an and Ḥadīth.
In the Qur’an and authentic Ḥadīths, the word repeatedly used for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is محبت (love) — not عشق (Ishq).
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ﴾
"O you who believe! Whoever among you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him."
[Surah al-Mā'idah: 54]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once held the hand of Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه and said:
"O Muʿādh! By Allah, I love you."
Muʿādh replied: "May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah, I too love you."
☑ These references affirm that the language of love (محبت) is what's used for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ — not Ishq.
The word عشق has never been used in any Qur’anic verse or any authentic Prophetic narration to describe love for Allah ﷻ, the Messenger ﷺ, or between the Sahabah.
There exists a fabricated narration attributed to ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, in which the Prophet ﷺ allegedly said:
"مَن عشق وكتم، وعف، ثم مات، فهو شهيد"
"Whoever falls in love, hides it, remains chaste, and dies, he is a martyr."
This narration is found in Tārīkh Baghdād, Tārīkh Dimashq, and similar books — but has been graded fabricated (موضوع) by Shaykh al-Albānī:
This false narration was likely fabricated by someone infatuated with romantic ideologies and has no basis in the religion.
The Prophet ﷺ declared several categories of martyrs, such as:
▶ Lovers or “ʿāshiqīn” are not among them.
Using the term "شہیدِ عشق" (martyr of love) is a baseless cultural expression with no legitimacy in Islam.
⚠ ʿIshq is a spiritual disease — likened to a wine for the soul, intoxicating and diverting one from:
The heart of an ʿāshiq (lover) ends up worshipping the beloved, making them the focus of emotional servitude — which is shirk in emotional devotion.
No sane person would say:
If this term is not used for one's mother or sister, how can it be justified for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ?
✖ The term ʿIshq (عشق) is:
✔ Therefore, it should not be used for Allah ﷻ or the Messenger ﷺ.
Use محبت (love), as taught by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
❖ Question:
Can the word "Ishq" (عشق) be used for Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ? Please clarify using evidence from the Qur’an and Ḥadīth.
❖ Answer: The Appropriate Term is "Maḥabbah" (محبت), Not "ʿIshq" (عشق)
In the Qur’an and authentic Ḥadīths, the word repeatedly used for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is محبت (love) — not عشق (Ishq).
Qur’anic Evidence:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ﴾
"O you who believe! Whoever among you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him."
[Surah al-Mā'idah: 54]
Prophetic Example of Expressing Love:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once held the hand of Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه and said:
"O Muʿādh! By Allah, I love you."
Muʿādh replied: "May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah, I too love you."
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 5/244-245 Ḥadīth: 22470, Abū Dāwūd: 1522, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 2020
☑ These references affirm that the language of love (محبت) is what's used for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ — not Ishq.
✖ The Word "ʿIshq" Is Not Found in the Qur’an or Authentic Sunnah
The word عشق has never been used in any Qur’anic verse or any authentic Prophetic narration to describe love for Allah ﷻ, the Messenger ﷺ, or between the Sahabah.
⚠ Fabricated Ḥadīth About "Ishq"
There exists a fabricated narration attributed to ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, in which the Prophet ﷺ allegedly said:
"مَن عشق وكتم، وعف، ثم مات، فهو شهيد"
"Whoever falls in love, hides it, remains chaste, and dies, he is a martyr."
This narration is found in Tārīkh Baghdād, Tārīkh Dimashq, and similar books — but has been graded fabricated (موضوع) by Shaykh al-Albānī:
Reference: Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ḍaʿīfah wa al-Mawḍūʿah Ḥadīth: 309
This false narration was likely fabricated by someone infatuated with romantic ideologies and has no basis in the religion.❖ True Martyrdom Does Not Include the "Lover"
The Prophet ﷺ declared several categories of martyrs, such as:
- Those killed in battle,
- Those who die from stomach disease,
- Those burned,
- Women who die in childbirth, etc.
▶ Lovers or “ʿāshiqīn” are not among them.
Using the term "شہیدِ عشق" (martyr of love) is a baseless cultural expression with no legitimacy in Islam.
❖ The Nature of "ʿIshq" and Its Harm
⚠ ʿIshq is a spiritual disease — likened to a wine for the soul, intoxicating and diverting one from:
- The remembrance of Allah,
- True Divine love,
- Devotion, and
- Purity of servitude.
The heart of an ʿāshiq (lover) ends up worshipping the beloved, making them the focus of emotional servitude — which is shirk in emotional devotion.
❖ ʿIshq Is Not Used for Mothers, Sisters, or Daughters
No sane person would say:
- “I have ʿishq for my mother”
- “I am ʿāshiq of my daughter”
If this term is not used for one's mother or sister, how can it be justified for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ?
Conclusion:
✖ The term ʿIshq (عشق) is:
- Not found in the Qur’an or Sunnah
- Culturally contaminated
- Ambiguous — used in both noble and vile contexts
- Associated with worldly obsession, sometimes even immorality
✔ Therefore, it should not be used for Allah ﷻ or the Messenger ﷺ.
Use محبت (love), as taught by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
