Understanding the Concept of “Ḥubb” (love), and its Applications in the Qurʾan, Sunnah, and Jurisprudence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Ali Hoseinifar ¹
• Abdoljabar Zargoosh nasab ²
• Nabi Sobhani ³

¹ PhD Graduate, Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Knowledge, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Knowledge, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Knowledge, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

10.22067/jfiqh.2023.79976.1493

Abstract

The terms “yuḥibbu” (he loves) and “mā ʾuḥibbu” (I do not love), and similar expressions are frequently used in Āyahs and narrations cited by jurisconsults. These terms are related to the voluntary action of a Mukallaf (person responsible for his religious duties), which is the subject of the field of jurisprudence. Therefore, a question is raised of whether their meanings and applications in Qurʾan, Sunnah, and the jurisconsults’ expressions can be derived independent of clues and based on the context and their literal meanings. The present research considers the literal meanings of these terms and systematically analyzes the instances of using their derivatives in Qurʾan and Sunnah. The study also explores and reflects on the writings of Imāmī jurisconsults and provides a descriptive and analytical overview of the functions of these terms. It seems that When the optional action is loved with the Divine sources, it is the reason for the permission and preferring of the action. On the other hand, the lack of divine love (approval) indicates the impermissibility of the action from the Mukallaf (person responsible for his religious duties).

Keywords

• Semantics
• Ḥubb
• bughż
• will
• being loved

Main Subjects

• other

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©2024 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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