for committing the reprehensible deeds that Allah and His Messenger detest cannot be something that Allah and His Messenger love, nor can it be an expression of truthfulness and sincerity in loving Allah and His Messenger. People are blamed for such deeds.

The pinnacle of this is striving in the cause of Allah, for it is the highest of deeds loved by Allah and His Messenger. Many reproach those who undertake it, since many people who possess faith dislike it. They either discourage others, dampening their resolve and willingness to strive, or spread alarm, undermining their strength and ability to do so—even though such conduct is a form of hypocrisy.

Allah Most High says:

“Allah certainly knows those among you who hinder others and say to their brothers, ‘Come over to us,’ and who seldom take part in battle.”
[Surah al-Ahzāb 18]

And He Most High says:

“If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is disease, and those who spread alarm in Medina do not desist, We will surely set you against them; then they will remain your neighbours there only for a little while.”
[Surah al-Ahzāb 60]

As for the third principle—following the Sunnah and the prophetic law—Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.’”
[Surah Āl ʿImrān 31]

A group of the early generations said: “Some people in the Prophet’s time—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—claimed that they loved Allah, so Allah revealed this verse.” Thus He made a servant’s love for his Lord something that necessitates