اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَالعَمَلَ الَّذِي يُبَلِّغُنِي حُبَّكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ حُبَّكَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ نَفْسِي، وَأَهْلِي، وَمِنَ المَاءِ البَارِدِ
O Allah, I ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the love of the deeds which will cause me to attain Your love. O Allah, make Your love dearer to me than myself, and my family, and than cold water.
Allahumma inni as'aluka hubbaka, wa hubba man yuhibbuk, wal 'amalalladhi yuballighuni hubbak. Allahumma ij'al hubbaka ahabba ilayya min nafsi, wa ahli, wa minal ma'il barid.
When to Read
This is a beautiful general dua that can be recited at any time, but it's particularly potent during the times when supplications are readily accepted, such as after obligatory prayers, during the last third of the night, or on Fridays. You can make it a habit to recite it daily, perhaps after Fajr or Isha, to constantly remind yourself of your goal and seek Allah's help in achieving it.
How to Read
Begin with sincere intention, seeking Allah's pleasure. Raise your hands in supplication as the Prophet ﷺ taught us. Start with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. Recite this dua with a hopeful heart, understanding its profound request. Afterward, reflect on how you can implement deeds that bring you closer to the love of Allah and His Messenger.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly asks Allah to bestow His love upon us, and more importantly, the love of those who are beloved to Him. This includes the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, and the righteous believers. It also seeks the guidance to perform actions that will lead us to His love. The ultimate plea is to make Allah's love paramount in our hearts, surpassing even our love for ourselves, our families, and our basic comforts like cool water, signifying the depth of devotion sought.
Source & Authentication
Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: 'My slave does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the obligatory acts which I have enjoined upon him. My slave continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory acts so that I shall love him. When I love him, I shall be his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks. If he asks of Me, I shall certainly give him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I shall certainly grant him refuge.' Then he mentioned the like of it, saying: 'My slave does not cease to draw near to Me with voluntary works until I love him.' Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a *hasan gharib* hadith. (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3234). The dua itself is found in a separate narration also attributed to Tirmidhi, as cited above.