Let's discuss LOVE.
It's never realy touched upon on here.
So:
What is it?
Are there different types?
What are the ways you think we show our love for something/anything?
What does Islam say?
Is it a taboo in Islam? do you think it is?
Why is it important?
How and when does it become one of the essentials in life?
Who can we love and who we can't?
What's BAD about it?
As much as I want you all to show off your hippiest sides, I also want you guys to seriously criticise love. Any experiences or examples you may have would be beneficial.
Remember, we can share images on here too 
So go!
I think all form of Love is Halal/safe... until (if it isn't considered halal) it causes judgemental consequences. Who agrees?
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
I read the word "criticise" in there
... Just offering up food for thought...
First two statements:
1. If Muslims try to take glory or victory or pride in something other than God, it is I think meant to be something that will often fail. I think there is a verse on such a subject too.
2. Love is often portrayed as tragic. Especially in literature of the non fairytale variety. It ends in death and destruction. (disclaimer - since I have not read much of this literature, this is a gross generalisation based on little to no evidence).
Combining the two... if people take the love for this world or another person to a level where it impedes and gets in the way of loving God, does that mean that it will be guaranteed to have tragic consequences?
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
us humans dont know whats good for us. hence the quranic verse that we may love something that is bad for us.
And our "nafs" might make us "love" things from the dunya (money, cartoons, plants, cars, houses, whatever) and therefore get attached to here. this is definatly bad.
So i htink i disagree with your statement Ocean. But i might not have understood your point i nthe first place.
euh...
hmm
Considering everything, here and the after
Can we question the nature of man?
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
question what on the nature of man?
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
Sorry, this is why i didn't want to create a topic. I talk in vague terms.
OK Love is natural thing. So why is it difficult for a child to discuss it with her/his parents? Why is it so complicated to express it? Why does it feel complicated?
and does it have to be tamed? (in all respects)
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
Are the complications a cultural thing?
Or something to do with fear or fear of vulnerability.
I don't really know, but I doubt any aversions to the expression of love are universal.
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
to some people "love" is seen as a weakness.
Also love is about the individual person. Thereofre talking about it is embarassing as it shows you for who YOU are. no hiding. you cant generalize love.
love is hard to control. hence the aprehension
whats the difference between
caring and loving
Admiring and loving
so many feelings are misinterpreted for Love.
Love is hard to define.
euh...
Love is hard to define
and
Love is hard to find
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
it could be argued that love in itself isnt hard to find. Its just that humans love different things.
and while thinking about it.
its not about finding love. (because its just a feeling thats in everybody) its about finding something/one to love. <--thats the hard part
euh...
Love is beautiful - just because one hasnt found their other half, that doesnt mean that they havent found love.
It's possible to be in love with ones parents, siblings, children or even a friend. Love is present is so many different ways...
On a critical note I have a major problem with people who do haram/wrong things in the name of love - i.e. obsessive, psycho behaviour.
What about romantic love between men?
#' It's a good thing tears never show in the pouring rain...
As if a good thing ever could make up for all the pain '#
Love between Humans is an ability
Love between Humans and God is an Emotion
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
Does that make any sense?
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
love or lust?
They both can exist, acting on the latter would be wrong.
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
my head hurts. stop sounding so mysteriously philosophical and please develop!!
euh...
Love between Humans and God is an emotion? Really? If that's the case can I balme it for the mess Muslims are in at the moment?
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
So does mine.
Everybody is a believer when things are going well. - Hamza Yusuf
"I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than attempting to satisfy them."
'want more for others and less for yourself'
To elaborate what i mean is that when one falls in love with god its pure emotion but when humans fall in love with each other its ability not emotion which is the controlling force.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
my head...
euh...
Isn't emotion a material in a materialistic world?
I'm sorry but why can't there be emotions between living beings?
On that note, how do you define the term "emotion"
"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
What about prayer, fasting,sacrifice, patience?
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
Its my opinion but the reason why i believe there isnt love between human beings in the emotion sense because you choose who you would rather have feelings for e.g. you choose not to have feelings for somebody who is hideous...im not saying this with regard to families just with regard to 'love'
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
I don't know what you think, but i don't think that there is anything about love that is to be criticised.
Love is the one thing that makes a person, and without love, there would not be any other feeling.
Love is too strong to deny.
...
and, i seriously don't think Love is a taboo in Islam.
We love our parents, Islam teaches us to do so.
...
From experiences and knowledge, i think everyone has the right to love, but (yes, there is a 'but'), but sometimes, I can't explain, but I'll give an example:
person x and y have been old friends, their friendship is based on respect and trust.
Person X loves person y. y doesnt love x back. Can't x see how he is torturing y,if y doesnt like him back. Doesnt x understand that he should leave y alone?
If he really cared for y , shouldnt he let her be the judge of her life....
This kind of thing make me wonder, is there such a thing as "too much love?????"
Love is a serious mental disease.
Love, well it's like a rose, beautiful but has thorns.. defo has thorns, sigh
' Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! '
[Romeo & Juliet: Act 1, Scene 1]
Jihad of the Nafs
(The Struggle of the Soul)
What is it?
A feeling. It can be small or it can take a person over.
Are there different types?
Love is the same phenomenon, it can have different depths and, certainly, different expressions.
What are the ways you think we show our love for something/anything?
Thinking about the object of love. Deference towards it. Pining and yearning for it. Loss of self and the awareness of self in the beloved.
What does Islam say?
Love is right. Love God, love people, love virtue.
Is it a taboo in Islam? do you think it is?
There are many types of loving relationships, you're probably referring to the roamntic kind. It's not a taboo for men and women to love each other but it should happen within a social structure with clearly defined commitments towards the responsibilities of a loving, romantic relationship. The institution of marriage is recognition and celebration of the phenomenon of romantic love - it favours love as something eternal rather than temporary, as something infinately penetrating rather than skin-deep, as something exclusive rather than common. Husband and wife become transformed by their relationship-dynamic and continue to grow in each other.
Why is it important?
We were made for love. Love is to recognise a memory of a connection.
How and when does it become one of the essentials in life?
When man wants to know his soul, it is improtant that he loves something. To survive without love is a superficial existence based purley upon momentary instincts. To discover his depths, man has to get connected to something, love is a teacher and the reaching out stage of attachment becomes a recieving type of attachment.
Who can we love and who we can't?
We can love everyone, because God loves humantiy enough to birth them and sustain them and honour them. Romantic love is more exclusive, we should try to reserve it for marriage.
What's BAD about it?
If you love something that's not good for you, the effects of that love can destroy you. And if you love something that's good for you, still it can be difficult. Love can have its obsessive side and make people think irrationally, an insignificant action by the beloved becomes scrutinised and over-analysed by the anxious lover - not necessarily a bad thing, but amusing to watch it happen and see it make beggars of princes.
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
SOmething polemic to think about:
"Hate is a part of love - You cannot hate if you do not love"
agree or disagree? discuss.
You can only be young once, but you can be immature for life.
It sounds simple enough...but i don't seem to understand it
This is fluffy he is the destroyer of the worlds. Do not anger fluffy if you value your life.
@ the Power of Silence.
A Love-based attachment tends to begin with making effort/reaching out.
You force yourself to have a good attitude towards the object that you intend love. You force yourself to be 'loving' and to try to get to know the person better.
After a little while, a dynamic is established and instead of reaching out withe effort, you are connected without effort. Then you feel comfort from seeing the person. Or you enjoy your prayers etc.
The more you get from teh relaionship, the more new things you learn. At first you're learning about the other person, but you realise you're learning about you too.
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
oh i understand now!
"force" - doesn't it sort come naturally? if you get what i mean
This is fluffy he is the destroyer of the worlds. Do not anger fluffy if you value your life.