the believer; he detests death, and I dislike to distress him—yet death is inevitable for him. Thus His words, “until I love him,” refer to an absolute, perfect love.

As for the root of love, it is attained by fulfilling the obligatory duties, for Allah loves the God-fearing and the just; whoever discharges the obligations is counted among the God-fearing, the just.

Concerning them the Exalted One has said:
“ The Christians say, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’ That is nothing but a statement from their mouths; they imitate the utterance of those who disbelieved before. May Allah destroy them—how are they deluded! ” (At-Tawbah 9:30) (30)

“ They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, as well as the Messiah son of Mary, though they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no deity but He; exalted is He above what they associate with Him. ” (At-Tawbah 9:31)

And He, exalted is He, also said:
“ Say, O People of the Scripture, do not go to extremes in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the whims of a people who went astray before, led many others astray, and themselves strayed from the straight path. ” (Al-Ma’idah 5:77)

He—glorified be He—addressed the Christians in this manner because they base their religion on the pronouncements of their leading figures who devised for them laws and statutes.