❤️ Kinds of Love عشق Ishq ❤️

❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗 💘 ❤️ 

Love and emotion arise from the knowledge of both the physical and the spiritual being. The depth of one’s love grows with the maturity of the mind, the refinement of reverence, and the strength of patience and perseverance. Each of these virtues sets its own measure for the purity of love.

When a human being falls in love with another, the first spark arises from attraction, but soon the nafs (self of desire) seeks possession, closeness, and touch. Such love, though natural, is bound to the senses; it is ʿishq-e-nafsānī, a love that is moved by the body and limited by time.

But ʿishq-e-majāzī (metaphorical love) becomes noble when it transcends the self. If the heart turns that same intensity toward the Divine, when it existed before the stirrings of the nafs, it becomes ʿishq-e-ḥaqīqī (true love). This is pure love (pākīzah muḥabbat): born not of desire, but of recognition, the soul remembering its Source.

Love (maḥabbat) is a sign of wisdom, compassion, understanding, and patience; it teaches forbearance and nurtures the heart. But ʿishq is of another order, it is the fire that consumes reason. Like the wild vine, it clings to its beloved with total abandon, unaware that its embrace may choke or free. It knows no caution, only longing.

Yet within this madness (junūn) lies a secret of the spirit, for when ʿishq burns away the illusions of the self, only the Beloved remains. Thus, the lover dies to the nafs and is reborn in the Light of Truth.

As Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said:

“He who knows his soul knows his Lord.” (Man ʿarafa nafsahu faqad ʿarafa rabbahu.)

So know that love begins in the self, but true ʿishq ends in God.

❤️ 

Taj Mahal presents two kinds of Reflections on Two Loves

The Taj Mahal stands, radiant and eternal, an emblem of love’s splendour in this fleeting world.

Yet ponder, O seeker! What love does it truly proclaim?

An emperor raised a palace of marble for his beloved’s dust,

A monument that defies decay, yet cannot awaken the dead.

Shah Jahan’s heart mourned a form now lost to time,

And in that mourning, the artisans carved beauty upon stone.

Beauty that captivates the eyes, but not the soul.

This is love that clings to form, not essence.

It is the ʿishq-e-majāzī, the love that breathes in the senses.

But beyond the marble, beyond the fragrance of roses fading at dawn,

There lives another love, the ʿishq-e-ḥaqīqī, a divine love, a truth. 

A love that builds no tombs, but awakens the spirit to eternity.

The lover of God raises no monuments of stone;

He builds within his soul a sanctuary of light.

His tears carve not marble, but the mirror of the heart.

Where every reflection is the Beloved’s face.

Thus, the Taj Mahal stands as both a glory and a warning:

For those who seek beauty in form, it is paradise;

But for those who seek the Eternal, it is only a veil.

❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗 💘 ❤️ 

Know that there are two kinds of souls, the nafs al-ammārah, which commands toward desire, it is common in humans as well as animals, and the nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah, which finds peace in the remembrance of its Lord. Between these two realms walks the lover, tested by the burning fire of ʿishq.

The word ʿishq in Arabic signifies an intense, all-consuming love, a passion so powerful that it overtakes the heart until reason bows before it. Its root, ʿashaqa, is derived from the vine that clings tightly to what it embraces, covering it completely, and at times, suffocating it by its very hold.

Thus, ʿishq is a love that entwines and binds, wrapping the heart as a vine encircles a tree. If it is love of the body, it devours; if it is love of the soul, it purifies; and if it is love of the Divine, it liberates.

So beware the ʿishq of the ammārah soul, for it darkens the heart with desire for what perishes. 

The martyrs in the path of God, like Isa (Jesus), ʿAli, Ḥasan, and Ḥusain, peace be upon them, offered their lives out of love for the Almighty. Their sacrifice was not born of desire for glory, but from devotion to the Eternal Truth.

Imam Ali says seek, therefore, the ʿishq of the nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah, the soul at peace, for it does not bind you to the dust of this transient world, but to the Light of the Everlasting.

In humans, there are many kinds of love; there is one that transcends the desires of the body and the cravings of the heart.

❤️ 💙 💜 

Platonic love is a deep, non-sexual affection between two people that is based on the meeting of minds and souls rather than physical attraction or desire.

The term comes from the philosopher Plato, especially from his work The Symposium, where he described love as a path that begins with physical attraction but rises toward appreciation of the soul, beauty, and truth itself.

Essence: Emotional and spiritual connection

No sexual or romantic involvement

Rooted in mutual respect, virtue, and shared ideals

A pure friendship or mentorship where two people inspire each other intellectually or morally without any romantic intent.

Bodily love refers to physical or sensual affection, often connected to sexual attraction, desire, and pleasure. It’s the kind of love that focuses on the body and the senses rather than the soul or intellect.

Essence: Based on physical beauty and attraction

Expressed through touch, intimacy, and pleasure

Can be passionate but often transient if not joined with deeper emotional or spiritual bonds

Romantic or sexual desire between lovers that centers on physical closeness and gratification.

3. Divine Love

Definition:

Divine love is unconditional, selfless, and transcendent love that comes from or leads one toward God, the Divine, or the Absolute Truth. It is often seen as the highest form of love, beyond human ego or desire.

Essence: Pure, unconditional, and eternal

Rooted in compassion, mercy, and devotion

Seeks union with the Divine or service to creation as an expression of God’s love

The love a saint feels for God, or the compassion a person shows to all beings, is a reflection of divine mercy.

❤️ 💙 💜 

It is the love of the soul, when two hearts are joined not by passion, but by purity of intention, sincerity of faith, and the light of understanding.

This love seeks no possession and kindles no fire of lust. It blossoms in the garden of virtue, watered by respect, and shaded by righteousness. It is the meeting of two spirits who find rest in truth, joy in wisdom, and companionship in remembrance of the Almighty.

Such love is not measured by nearness nor diminished by distance, for it dwells beyond the bounds of time and place. It refines one’s character, strengthens faith, and lifts the heart toward the light of God.

Blessed are those whose affection is pure and whose friendship is free of worldly desire, for in their love, the reflection of Divine Beauty is seen.

From Nahjul Balagha

Sermon 279, On Brotherhood and Sincere Companionship

“The best of brothers is he who wishes good for his brother without being prompted by any worldly motive.”

Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 279

This reflects the essence of pure, selfless love, love based on virtue and sincerity, not material or bodily desire.

Saying 11 (Maxims)

“Your friend is your true brother who shares your joy and sorrow, and who hides your faults and spreads your virtues.”

This supports the theme of spiritual companionship rooted in truth and moral excellence.

References from the Holy Qur’an

1. Surah Al-Rum (30:21)

 “And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, there are signs for people who reflect.”

 This verse illustrates love based on tranquility, mercy, and divine purpose, not mere desire.