This article describes the people, qualities, deeds, and things that are most beloved to Allah, based on the Quran and Hadith. It draws upon and further expands the research presented in the book “Allah Loves…” by Omar Suleiman.

(A) The People whom Allah Loves the Most

1) The Doers of Good (Al-Muhsineen)

“Surely, Allah loves the muhsineen.” – the Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

Al-Muhsineen are those who do ihsan, meaning they strive for goodness. They show excellence in their worship of Allah and in their behaviour towards people.

2) The Righteous (Al-Muttaqeen)

“Surely, Allah loves the muttaqeen.” – the Quran (Aali Imran 3:76)

Al-Muttaqeen are those who have taqwa, meaning those who are pious and mindful of Allah. They strive to practice self-restraint and abstain from what is prohibited.

3) The Repentant (Al-Tawwabeen)

“Surely, Allah loves the tawwabeen.” – the Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:222)

Al-Tawwabeen are those who make tauba, meaning those who frequently turn to Allah in repentance. They express remorse for their sins and sincerely seek Allah’s forgiveness.

4) The Pure (Al-Mutatahireen)

“Surely, Allah loves the tawwabeen and He loves the mutatahireen.” – the Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:222)

Al-Mutatahireen are those who purify themselves. They keep themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually clean.

5) The Patient (Al-Sabireen)

“And Allah loves the sabireen.” – the Quran (Aali Imran 3:146)

Al-Sabireen are those who remain patient, steadfast, and determined in the face of hardship.

6) The Just (Al-Muqsiteen)

“Surely, Allah loves the muqsiteen.” – the Quran (Al-Ma’idah 5:42)

Al-Muqsiteen are those who act with justice and fairness.

7) Those who Trust Allah (Al-Mutawakkileen)

“Surely, Allah loves the mutawakkileen.” – the Quran (Aali Imran 3:159)

Al-Mutawakkileen are those who put their trust in Allah. Once they make a decision, they stand by it, and rely upon Allah to choose what is best for them.

8) The Strong (Al-Qawwi)

“A strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer…” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 2,664)

Al-Qawwi usually implies the physically strong and powerful. However, it can also include those who are mentally tough and those who have strength of character.

9) The Self-Sufficient (Al-Ghani)

“Allah loves His servant who is mindful of Him (Al-Muttaqi), free from want (Al-Ghani), unnoticed among people (Al-Khafiy).” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 2,965)

Someone who is Al-Ghani may not necessarily possess much, but relies on their own means and refrains from asking people for their needs. 

10) The Unnoticed (Al-Khafiy)

See the above hadith (Muslim 2,965).

Al-Khafiy is someone who does not invite people’s attention. They prefer to remain unnoticed or hidden among people, rather than seeking prominence or trying to show off.

11) Those who Benefit People

“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people…” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tabarani 6,026 – Sahih)

12) Those who Follow Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

“Say, (O Prophet,) ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (Aali Imran 3:31)

13) Those who Love to Meet Allah

The Prophet ﷺ said, “He who loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and who dislikes meeting Allah, Allah abhors to meet him.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 2,685a)

This hadith does not mean that one should long for death; rather, it means looking forward to meeting Allah at the time when death approaches the person, as explained by the Prophet’s ﷺ wife, Ayesha, in the above hadith. Someone who “loves to meet Allah” carefully prepares for this meeting by performing good deeds and seeking to avoid sins.  

14) Those who Love Surah Ikhlas

The Prophet ﷺ once dispatched an army under the command of a man who used to end his recitation of the Quran during salah with Surah Ikhlas. When they returned to Madinah, the people mentioned the man’s habit to the Prophet ﷺ, who said, “Ask him why he does so.” When the people inquired, he answered, “I do so because it mentions the qualities of the Beneficent and I love to recite it.” The Prophet ﷺ said (to them), “Tell him that Allah loves him.” (Bukhari 7,375)

15) Those who Love Hasan and Husayn

“Allah loves anyone who loves Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. They are two of my distinguished descendants.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 364 – Hasan)

Hasan and Husayn were the grandsons of the Prophet ﷺ, born to his daughter, Fatima bint Muhammad, and Ali Ibn Abi Talib.

16) Those who Love the Ansar

“None loves the Ansar but a believer, and none hates them but a hypocrite. So, Allah will love him who loves them, and He will hate him who hates them.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 3,783)

The Ansar, meaning The Helpers, were the Muslims of Madinah who sheltered the emigrants from Makkah and made great sacrifices for the cause of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ had the highest regard for them due to their sincerity and loyalty towards Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

17) Those who Love for Allah’s Sake

The Prophet ﷺ narrated that a person once visited his brother in another town, and Allah deputed an angel to wait for him on his way. Then the following discussion occurred between them.

The angel: “Where do you intend to go?”

The man: “I intend to go to my brother in this town.”

The angel: “Have you done any favour to him (the repayment of which you seek)?”

The man: “No, (I visit him only because) I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.”

The angel: “I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (i.e. your brother, for Allah’s sake).” (Muslim 2,567a)

(B) The Qualities that Allah Loves the Most

18) Beauty (Al-Jamaal)

“Allah is Jameel (Beautiful) and He loves jamaal (beauty).” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 91a)

Allah has been described in this hadith as Jameel – meaning Beautiful and Graceful. The beauty which He loves includes both inward beauty, such as being righteous, compassionate, and selfless, and outward beauty, such as having a decent appearance and wearing fine clothes without extravagance.

19) Gentleness (Al-Rifq)

“Indeed, Allah is Rafiq (Gentle), and He loves rifq (gentleness) in all things.” (Ibn Majah 3,689 – Sahih)

Rifq means gentleness, kindness, and leniency.

20) Forbearance (Al-Hilm)

The Prophet ﷺ said to a man named Ashajj: “You possess two qualities which Allah loves: al-hilm (forbearance) and al-anah (deliberateness).” (Muslim 17c)

Hilm means having tolerance and clemency, thus signifying the ability to remain calm when provoked or tested. It also means having insight.

21) Deliberateness (Al-Anah)

See the above hadith (Muslim 17c).

Anah implies being proper, thorough, and deliberate, as opposed to being hasty or careless. 

22) Honour (Al-Ghayra)

“There is a kind of ghayra (honour or protective jealousy) which Allah loves and a kind which Allah hates. As for that which Allah loves, it is ghayra when there are grounds for suspicion. And as for that which He hates, it is ghayra when there are no grounds for suspicion.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Ibn Majah 1,996 – Sahih)

As this hadith makes it clear, Allah loves ghayra only when it is expressed in a healthy manner when there is substantive cause for it. Ghayra is not an excuse for being over-possessive, for subjugating someone, or for resorting to violence in the name of honour.

23) Balanced Pride (Al-Khuyala)

“There is khuyala (i.e. pride) which Allah hates and khuyala which Allah loves. That which Allah loves is khuyala when fighting (in Allah’s cause) and when giving sadaqa and that which Allah hates is khuyala shown by oppression.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Abu Dawud 2,659 – Hasan)

The khuyala which Allah loves is a sense of pride, achievement, and satisfaction attained when engaging in a noble pursuit, as opposed to being arrogant, boastful, or oppressive.

(C) The Deeds that Allah Loves the Most

24) Regular Good Deeds

“…The most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and consistent one, even if it were little.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 6,464)

25) Good Deeds in the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days,” meaning the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The people asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Not even jihad in the cause of Allah?” He replied, “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back (i.e. dies).” (Ibn Majah 1,727 – Sahih)

26) Asking Allah for His Blessings

“Ask Allah of His Bounty for, verily, Allah the Mighty and Sublime loves to be asked.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tirmidhi 3,571 – Sahih according to Al-Suyuti)

27) Asking Allah for Well-Being (Al-Afiyah)

“…Allah is not asked for anything more beloved to Him than to be asked for well-being (al-afiyah).” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tirmidhi 3,548 – Hasan)

Al-Afiyah means well-being, including protection from diseases, distress, and all other forms of harm.

28) Making a Muslim Happy

“…The most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or forgive his debt, or feed his hunger.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tabarani 6,026 – Sahih)

(Part of this hadith was quoted earlier under the heading “Those who Benefit People”)

29) Offering Salah on Time

The Prophet ﷺ was asked, “Which action is most beloved to Allah?” He replied, “Establishing salah on time, honoring one’s parents, and jihad in the cause of Allah.” (Nasai 611 – Sahih)

30) Honouring One’s Parents

See the above hadith (Nasai 611).

31) Striving in Allah’s Cause (Jihad)

See the above hadith (Nasai 611).

Jihad means striving in the way of Allah. It can take the form of fighting against oppressors, upholding truth and justice, looking after a needy person, striving against false temptations, and other acts of resilience committed with the intention to please Allah.

32) Utilizing Allah’s Concessions

“Verily, Allah loves for you to take His concessions, just as He loves you to fulfill His edicts.” (Ibn Hibban 354 – Sahih according to Al-Arna’ut)

Taking Allah’s concessions means eagerly accepting and utilizing the relaxations in religion granted by Allah such as shortening the salah during travel, wiping over the socks in wudu, postponing the fasts of Ramadan due to illness, etc.

33) Fulfilling Allah’s Commands

See the above hadith (Ibn Hibban 354).

Fulfilling Allah’s edicts means following the religious laws and obligations that Allah has prescribed for us in various matters, such as worship, business, marriage, inheritance, ethics, interactions with people, and so on.

(D) The Things that Allah Loves the Most

34) Drops and Traces in Allah’s Cause

“There is nothing more beloved to Allah than two drops and two traces. (The drops include) a tear shed out of fear of Allah and a drop of blood shed in Allah’s cause. As for the two traces: a trace resulting from Allah’s cause and a trace from one of the duties that Allah has made obligatory.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tirmidhi 1,669 – Hasan)

35) Concealment

“Allah loves concealment, so when any one of you performs ghusl (i.e. takes a bath), let him conceal himself with something.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Nasai 407 – Sahih)

Concealment is used in this hadith in the context of modest and privacy. However, the hadith also generalizes Allah’s love for concealment, which can include concealing other things such as our charitable acts and others’ faults. 

36) Effects of Allah’s Favours

“Indeed, Allah loves to see the results of His favors upon His servants.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Tirmidhi 2,819 – Sahih)

This means that a person upon whom Allah has bestowed wealth should let the effects of that blessing be seen. For example, the person must be dressed well instead of wearing shabby clothes, and appear decent and elegant instead of looking untidy or deprived.

37) The Mosque

“The parts of land dearest to Allah are its mosques…” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 671)

38) Congregational Salah

“A man’s prayer said along with another is purer than his prayer said alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one, and if there are more (people), it is more beloved to Allah, the Almighty, the Majestic.” – the Prophet ﷺ (Abu Dawud 554 – Hasan)

39) Sneezing

“Allah loves sneezing but dislikes yawning; so, if anyone of you sneezes and then praises Allah, every Muslim who hears him (say ‘Alhamdulillah’) must say, ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’…” – the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 6,226)

40) The Odd Number (Witr)

“Allah is Witr (i.e. One) and loves the witr (i.e. odd numbers).” – the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 6,410)

Witr can mean both “single” and “odd numbers”. Allah is One, so He has been described as Witr. He loves odd numbers, which is why numbers such as three, five, and seven occur frequently in Islamic contexts. For example, there are five daily prayers, the Kaaba is circled seven times during tawaf, the Night of Qadr is among the odd nights in Ramadan, and so on.

(E) The Words that Allah Loves the Most

41) The Four Beloved Phrases

“The most beloved phrases to Allah are four: Subhanallah (Glorify be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illallah (No god but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).” – the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 2,137a)

42) The Two Impactful Words

“Two words that are very easy for the tongue to say, and very heavy in the balance (of reward), and most beloved to the Gracious (are): Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi subhanalla hil adheem. (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; glory be to the Most Magnificent.)” – the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 6,682)

43) Other Words of Remembrance

“The words which Allah loves the most are: Subhanallahi la shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer, la hawla wala quwwata illa billah, subhanallahi wa bihamdihi. (Glory be to Allah, Who has no partner. His is the kingdom and to Him belongs all praise, and He has power over all things. There is no power or strength except through Allah. Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him.)” – the Prophet ﷺ (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 638 – Sahih)