
Lesson 1 · Mahabbah · ages 8-11
Loving him more than anyone
The Prophet ﷺ taught that real iman includes loving him more than your own father, children and everyone else — and love grows by getting to know him.
- Part of believing
The Prophet ﷺ said none of us believes until he is dearer to us than our father, our children and all people.
- Allah asks for it in the Qur'an
Allah tells the believers that the Messenger is closer to them than their own selves.
- Love follows knowing
You cannot love someone you know nothing about — reading his seerah is how children start to love him.
- Love is not only feeling
Feelings come and go; love of the Prophet ﷺ is proven by what we choose to copy.
- Sadness and joy for his sake
Being happy when his sunnah is honoured and sad when it is mocked is a sign that the love is real.
ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا
An-Nabiyyu awlaa bil mu'mineena min anfusihim wa azwaajuhoo ummahatuhum wa ulul arbaami ba'duhum awlaa biba'din fee Kitaabil laahi minal mu'meneena wal Muhaajireena illaaa an taf'alooo ilaaa awliyaaa'ikum ma'roofaa; kaana zaalika fil kitaabi mastooraa
“The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.”
قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Qul in kaana aabaaa'ukum wa abnaaa'ukum wa ikhwaanukum wa azwaajukum wa 'asheeratukum wa amwaaluniq taraftumoohaa wa tijaaratun takhshawna kasaadahaa wa masaakinu tardawnahaaa ahabba ilaikum minal laahi wa Rasoolihee wa Jihaadin fee Sabeelihee fatarabbasoo hattaa yaatiyallaahu bi amrih; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmal faasiqeen
“Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."”
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Qul in kuntum tuhibboonal laaha fattabi' oonee yuhbibkumul laahu wa yaghfir lakum zunoobakum; wallaahu Ghafoorur Raheem
“Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."”
“None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father and his children.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 15
Do this before next time
Read one seerah story tonight and tell a parent one thing about the Prophet ﷺ you love from it.





