—and I do not hesitate about anything I decree as I hesitate to seize the soul of My believing servant: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him pain—yet death is inevitable for him.’

This is the most authentic hadith transmitted about the allies of Allah. In it the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, makes clear that whoever shows enmity to an ally of Allah has entered into battle with Allah Himself.

[Loving and Hating for the Sake of Allah]

In another narration he said:

‘I surely avenge My allies just as a war-lion takes its revenge.’

That is, He takes retribution on behalf of His allies against those who oppose them, just as a fierce lion exacts its vengeance. This is because the allies of Allah are those who have believed in Him and remained loyal to Him: they love what He loves and hate what He hates, approve of what pleases Him and detest what angers Him, command what He commands and forbid what He forbids, give to those to whom He wishes them to give, and withhold from those from whom He wishes them to withhold.

Al-Tirmidhi and others relate that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‘The strongest bond of faith is loving for the sake of Allah and hating for the sake of Allah.’

In another hadith recorded by Abu Dawud he said:

‘Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and withholds for the sake of Allah has perfected faith.’