Insights from Cape Malay Traditions: The Essence of Love for the Sake of the Divine

The Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

As articulated by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), "Love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah; this is the foundation of faith" (Tirmidhi, 1915). This teaching emphasizes that true love transcends mere affection and is anchored in a shared belief and reverence for the divine. The teachings urge followers to foster love that is not influenced by personal gain or earthly desires but is a reflection of a spiritual journey aimed at pleasing Allah.

Expressions of Love in Cape Malay Culture

When looking at the traditions and rituals of Muslims in South Africa, particularly the Cape Malay/Muslim people, as I’ve shown in my ‘Through Your Lens’ project, Cape Malays devote themselves to the action of praising the Divine.

In 2020, I first learned about the term ‘loving for the sake of Allah’. You always hear about it, but what does it mean to LOVE someone for the SAKE OF ALLAH? Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah; this is the foundation of faith." (Tirmidhi, 1915) "Allah will ask on the Day of Judgment: 'What did I give you, and how did you repay Me?' Say: 'We loved for Your sake and hated for Your sake.'" (Ibn Majah, 211)

Loving for the sake of Allah means having affection and loyalty towards a thing solely because of the connection to Allah. This concept is central to Islamic ethics and emphasises selflessness, sincerity, and devotion to Allah. Although this verse is specific to marriage, I’d like to quote and touch on it as well:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, these are signs for people who give thought (Surah Ar-Rum 30:21)

Reflecting on this verse, I believe loving for the sake of Allah brings about ‘tranquillity’, that tranquillity that you feel naturally brings about ‘affection’, thus showing mercy and compassion. To apply it to this specific passage, I would say that partaking in devotional acts should bring tranquillity to the soul, creating an affection for Allah and resulting in more acts, hoping for Allah’s mercy.

Throughout the past few years, as I began to explore my faith and culture, I not only witnessed but also managed to experience the intimate relationship one develops with Allah through one’s devotion to Him, as well as the ‘need’ to want to do things that would please Him, the same way you would do things to please those beloved to you. Cape Malays have a beautiful way of expressing their love to Allah, ensuring all their actions are based around Him…

I remember growing up, my mother would always tell me to say ‘Bismillah’ (In the name of Allah - God) before cooking and she’d say it extra loud before putting anything in the oven, “Bismillah is a blessed spice of its own to the dish”. Run inside when its maghrib with your friends, because “the ‘shaytans’ (the devils) are out to play now”; make sure your hair is covered when the adhan goes off; dhikr or Qur’an only on Thursday nights, and let’s not forget taking ‘Barakat’ (parcels) to neighbours before ‘Boeka’ (iftaar - breaking fast) time.

As I wrote in my ‘Cape Malay Magic: Where Spice meets Spirituality’ piece, “A friend of mine from Pakistan made me feel so proud to be Cape Malay when he said: “Walking in their homes feels like I’m walking into a home that Allah visits often. Those people are the Awliya (friends) of Allah. They are soooo welcoming and friendly and partake in so much sunnah and have so much Deen in their hearts and homes…”

All these acts seem small, but at the end of the day, they are a form of ‘ibadah’ (worship), and when you intentionally do them to receive Allah’s blessings, love and mercy, they are a form of love for Allah’s sake. All of this is done Fi Sabilillah