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As for the questioner’s words, “How is it conceivable for us to love what we neither know nor have any awareness of?” and the rest of his question, the answer is: this is another major question—the question of the believer’s love for his Lord.

The Quran and Sunnah expressly affirm this, as in His words:

“Among mankind are those who take others besides Allah as equals, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”

And His words:

“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.”

And His words:

“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your kindred, the wealth you have acquired, the trade whose decline you fear, and the homes you cherish are dearer to you than Allah, His Messenger, and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command.”

And His words, exalted is He:

“Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him”—to the end of the verse.

It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Whoever possesses three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else; that he loves a person solely for Allah’s sake; and that he hates returning to disbelief as much as he hates being cast into the Fire.”

There are many other texts like these. The early generations of the Muslim community, its imams, and its shaykhs understood this love in its true sense. The first to deny its reality was the leading figure of the Jahmiyyah, al-Jaʿd ibn Dirham, who was consequently killed by