2. Love for Allah’s sake: this means loving whatever Allah loves—both deeds and people—and loving the people of faith and piety. Allah says, “Indeed, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves” (Quran 2:222), and, “Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good” (Quran 2:195). You love such people because Allah loves them. Foremost among them are the angels, the prophets and messengers, the friends of Allah, the righteous, and all the believers.

This is called love for Allah’s sake, and it is the strongest bond of faith, as the hadith states: “The strongest bond of faith is loving for Allah’s sake and hating for Allah’s sake” (1). The Prophet also said, “Three qualities, whoever possesses them will taste the sweetness of faith,” among them: “that he loves a person and loves him only for Allah’s sake” (2).

Therefore you love Allah’s allies because Allah loves them, and you detest Allah’s enemies because Allah detests them. Love and hatred are thus directed solely for Allah, not out of any worldly self-interest. A servant will not savor the sweetness of faith until he loves for Allah, hates for Allah, shows loyalty for Allah, and disavows for Allah.