Love of God: A Guide to Practical Islamic Spirituality: Worship with Meaning and Compassion for Humanity

Embark on a captivating journey into Islam and experience the profound beauty of one of the world’s great faiths.

Love of God brings together the essence of Islamic teachings and practices in a clear, cohesive, and inspiring narrative that welcomes readers of all backgrounds. Distinguished by its authenticity, clarity, and warmth, the book draws directly from the Quran and the prophetic traditions to illuminate the path of divine love and spiritual fulfillment.

Responding to a growing desire to understand Islam in its fullness, Love of God presents the faith as a complete, integrated way of life. While many works focus on theology, mysticism, or ritual in isolation, this book unites these dimensions into one accessible model—revealing that divine love in Islam is both a theological truth and a lived spiritual experience, a force that links belief, worship, and the transformation of the heart.

Organized into three engaging parts across seventeen concise chapters, it offers an insightful synthesis of Islamic spirituality and practice:

• Part One explores the ethical and spiritual foundations of the Quran—the heart of Islamic belief.
• Part Two unveils the inner meanings of worship, linking prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to their deeper spiritual purpose.
• Part Three engages timeless questions and paradoxes in Islamic thought, offering profound yet relatable reflections.

Whether you are a seeker, student, or lifelong believer, Love of God serves as both a guide to personal spiritual growth and an excellent resource for understanding Islam’s universal message of compassion, devotion, and harmony in everyday life.

Love of God: Practical Spirituality in Islam underwent a rigorous scholarly review and editorial process to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and consistency with the Quran and sound Hadith sources, both in content and citation. Editors were carefully selected for their strong command of both Arabic and English, enabling precise evaluation of the text’s language, sources, and interpretations.

Dr. Hamed Ghazali, Principal and Superintendent of the Houston Quran Academy, Houston, Texas (USA), writes:

“I found Love of God: Practical Spirituality in Islam to be a distinctive and valuable contribution. The author presents the central Qur’anic themes of faith, God-consciousness, righteous action, and worship with clarity, balance, and spiritual depth. Its thoughtful structure and accessible language make it well suited for Islamic studies curricula as well as for serious individual study.”

Dr. Ibrahim Negm, Senior Advisor to the Grand Mufti of Al-Azhar, Cairo, Egypt, and Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, states:

“Dr. Yousuf H. Rahman’s Love of God: Practical Spirituality in Islam is a significant contribution to Islamic scholarship. By restoring practical spirituality to its rightful centrality while maintaining uncompromising academic standards, the work achieves a rare balance. Its tripartite structure—from spiritual foundations to obligatory practice and contemporary application—reflects a sophisticated pedagogical design that serves both scholars and sincere believers.”

(Dr. Negm’s full testimonial appears inside the book.)

Dr. Yousuf Habibur Rahman is a distinguished economist and fiscal policy expert who served at the New York City Office of Management & Budget (OMB) from 1986 to 2013, spanning four mayoral administrations. During his long tenure, he played a central role in shaping key economic and fiscal policy reforms, overseeing major public projects, and directing the city's economic and tax revenue forecasting. For over a decade, he held the position of Chief Economist of New York City and represented the OMB at professional conferences across the United States.Alongside his government service, Dr. Rahman maintained a deep and sustained engagement with academia. He served for over 25 years as an adjunct professor of public policy at New York University's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, specializing in econometrics and public finance. Earlier in his career, he held full-time faculty positions at the State University of New York and, briefly, at the University of Dhaka.Dr. Rahman's contributions extend well beyond the realms of government and academia. A respected figure in the Downtown Manhattan Muslim community, he co-founded Masjid Manhattan near Wall Street and has long been a source of spiritual and civic leadership. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he played a vital role in offering guidance, support, and reassurance to the local Muslim community during a time of intense adversity and scrutiny. He is also a lifetime member of the Long Island Muslim Society of New York, where he regularly delivers lectures on the spiritual foundations of Quranic teachings.Since retiring from public service, Dr. Rahman has dedicated himself to Islamic scholarship and spiritual education. LOVE of GOD - Practical Spirituality in Islam, is the culmination of over a decade of rigorous study and research, contemplation, and devotion. He regards this endeavor as a profound blessing from the All-Loving Lord.