Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said:
"The reason which cause the mahabbah (love of Allah) to develop are ten:
Firstly: Reciting the Qur`aan, reflecting upon it and understanding its meanings.
Secondly: Drawing closer to Allah through the performance of optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory deeds.
Thirdly: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah - in all circumstances - with the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah intensifies.
Fourthly: Giving precedence to what Allah loves - when being overcome with desires - over what one personally loves and desires.
Fifthly: Causing the heart to contemplate over the Names and Attributes of Allah . Being a witness to what they necessitate and causing the heart to be enlightened in the garden of this realisation.
Sixthly: Witnessing the blessing and the favours of Allah ; the apparent and the hidden.
Seventhly: Subduing the heart and humbling it before Allah , causing it to be in awe of Him.
Eighthly: Being in seclusion during the time in which Allah descends to the lowest Heaven; reciting the Qur`aan, and finishing this recitation with seeking Allah 's forgiveness and sincerely repenting to Him.
Ninthly: Sitting in the gatherings of the sincere and true lovers of Allah ; reaping the benefits of their teachings, and not speaking except when you know there is benefit in doing so and that such speech will increase you in good and benefit others as well.
Tenthly: Keeping clear from all those matters which will cause the heart to distance itself from Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.
So these are ten matters which cause the lover to reach the station of true love for Allaah, so that he may then reach Allah - his Beloved."
Source: Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/17-18)
Tags:Deeds Allah like the most, how to acquire love of Allah, deeds which shows love for Allah.