Question:
Is it permissible to describe Allah with the attribute of الشوق (desire) like some say “Allah desires to hear your supplication”?
Answer:
The names and attributes of Allah are only taken from the Quran and Sunnah, so therefore we don’t describe Allah with that which Allah and His Messenger ﷺ didn’t describe Him with. This word ‘desire’ we don’t know it to be established in the Quran or the Sunnah but rather we say “he loves”, [the Prophet ﷺ said] “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)”. (Narrated Anas ibn Mālik [Al-Bukhari and Muslim])
Likewise The word ‘love’ [Allah says in the Quran]
{إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِين}
“Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.” (Sura Al-Baqarah, Ayah 222)
Allah loves worship and obedience from his slaves and from that is supplicating. It is mentioned in a hadith [that the Prophet ﷺsaid]:
“Whom so ever doesn’t ask Allah he becomes angry with him” narrated by Abu Hurairah. However it is not authentic because in it’s chain of narrators is Abu Sālih Al-Khūzē and he is deficient in his narration.
Whatever the case may be, this word ‘desire’ is to be avoided but rather it is said that Allah ‘loves’ from his slaves piety and obedience, Allah loves from his slaves to be thankful and supplicate.
And Allah knows best.
Answered by: Shaikh Abu Abdillah Muhammad Ba Jamaal (May Allah preserve him)
Source: https://t.me/OfficialChannelShaykhBaajammaal/165
Translated by: Abu Musa Jamaal al-Britani