On one occasion, while Zun-noon Misri (rahimahullah) was performing tawaaf, he heard a voice full off grief and sorrow. When he turned, he saw a woman clinging to the cloth of the Ka’bah saying:
“O my Beloved, You alone know who my beloved is
My frail body and my tears are exposing my secret
My Beloved, I have concealed my love for a very long time, now my heart cannot contain it anymore”
He says: “On hearing these words, my heart was deeply affected and I burst out crying. Thereafter I heard her say: ‘O my Master! Out of the love that You have for me, forgive my sins.’ When I heard these words, I could not contain myself and said: ‘O woman, is your love for Allah Ta‘ala not sufficient that you had to ask Him to forgive you due to His love for you.’ She retorted: ‘Move away, do you not know that there are such people on this earth whom Allah Ta‘ala loves before they even love Him. Did you not hear of the verse:
فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ
Soon Allah Ta‘ala will bring about a nation who He will love them and they will love Him.
See! In this verse Allah Ta‘ala’s love for them is mentioned first.’” (Aa’yaanul Hujjaaj, pg. 170)
Lessons:
1. Love is a two way thing. When we develop a little love for Allah Ta‘ala and live our lives according to the dictates of that love, Allah Ta‘ala will reciprocate it with such love, contentment and tranquillity that no price can be attached to it.
2. The love of Allah Ta‘ala is not something which is exclusive to men. Often a woman can out do a man in the love of Allah Ta‘ala. The basic condition is to turn completely towards Him.