love; rather, what is meant is a created reward.” Others say: “Rather, there is an eternal, beginningless love—either the will or something other than it.” The Quran supports the position of the early generations, the imams of the Sunnah, who oppose both views.

Likewise, His words:

“That is because they followed what angered Allah and disliked His pleasure.”

This indicates that their deeds angered Him and are therefore a cause of His wrath. His wrath against them comes after their deeds, not before them.

Likewise, His words:

“When they provoked Our anger, We exacted retribution from them.”

And likewise, His words:

“If you disbelieve, Allah has no need of you. He does not approve of disbelief for His servants; but if you are grateful, He approves it for you.”

He made His approval conditional upon their gratitude and put the verb into the jussive as its consequence. The consequence of a condition comes only after it.

Likewise, His words:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who repeatedly repent and loves those who purify themselves.”

“He loves the God-fearing.”

“He loves those who act justly.”

“He loves those who fight in His cause in ranks.”

These and similar passages indicate that love is on account of these deeds and is a recompense for them. Recompense comes only after the deed and the cause that brings it about.