How to Fall in Love with the Beloved

What is the Beloved? Many call the Beloved by different names-- God, Allah, Yahweh, Deva, Light, Source, etc. From a Sufi standpoint, the Beloved is One, and the many beautiful names given by the world's spiritual traditions refer to this same Truth. The goal of a Sufi is simply to come into union with the Beloved. Union with the Beloved also has many names--enlightenment, sainthood, self-realization, waliyat, moksha, and many more. The Qadriya Sufi Way is one of many ways of achieving union with the Divine. It is a way of life and practice that will bring one to this goal, simply by creating love within an individual and freeing them from attachment to the ego (nafs) and the world (dunya). So how does one create love or begin to fall in love with the Beloved? Falling in love with the Beloved is easy.

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Follow these simple steps and see for yourself if love for the Beloved begins to increase within you.

Forgive Others

Sit down and make a list of all the people who have wronged or hurt you in the past. Write each name down on a piece of paper. Next go through this list and forgive each person completely. Include everyone, your parents, siblings, exes, bosses, friends, anyone you can think of. Once you have set each person free and forgiven them, crumple up the paper and throw it away.

Forgive Yourself

Know that no matter what you have done, you can be forgiven. The Beloved or the Universe is ultimate mercy and forgiveness. Even people like Hitler, the Beloved forgives and delivers from tribulation. Ask for forgiveness from your own heart and from the Universe. Say the mantra “Astagfeyruhla” 99 times and move forward. Once you’ve asked for forgiveness, know you are forgiven, and do not look back, do not feel guilt.

Say Sorry

Now that you have started, be exceptionally careful not to hurt anyone or anything. If you hurt an insect or a plant, immediately apologize and ask for forgiveness. If you hurt someone’s feelings, say sorry and strive to do better. Remember the Beloved.

Wake Up Early

Next, wake up early in the morning in the last third of the night when everything is still. Sit and reach out to the Beloved. Try to connect to the Beloved by singing litanies, meditating, or reflecting. You can say the mantra “Allahumma inni as’aluka hubbaka” which simply means “Oh Beloved, give me Your love.” Do this every day.

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After practicing these 4 steps, forgiveness to others, forgiveness to yourself, saying sorry, and waking up, your love for the Beloved should begin to increase in your heart. The spiritual journey is simply falling in love. A wise person once said, “Fall in love, and then you will reach.”

Check out our infographic with a step by step guide on how to begin to fall in love with the Beloved.

For more information on how to fall in love with the Beloved check out this YouTube video on our channel "Ecstatic Sufi."