Indeed, loving the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is obligatory because of love for Allah, as in His words, exalted is He:
“More beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger.”
Likewise, in the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, none of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his children, his parents and all people.”
In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, it is related that Umar ibn al-Khattāb said: “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, you are more beloved to me than everything except myself.” He replied: “No, O Umar, not until I am more beloved to you than yourself.” Umar then said: “By Allah, you are more beloved to me than myself.” He replied: “Now, O Umar!”
The same applies to loving his Companions and relatives. As related in the Sahīh, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Love for the Ansār is a sign of faith, and hatred of the Ansār is a sign of hypocrisy.”
He also said:
“No man who believes in Allah and the Last Day hates the Ansār.”
Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“The unlettered Prophet assured me that none but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would hate me.”
In the Sunan collections, it is related that he said to al-Abbās:
“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, they will not enter Paradise until they love you for Allah’s sake and because of your kinship with me.”
He meant the Banū Hāshim.
A hadith has also been narrated from Ibn Abbās, traced back to the Prophet, in which he said:
“Love Allah for the blessings with which He sustains you; love me out of love for Allah; and love the members of my household for my sake.”
As for the Lord’s love for His servant, glory be to Him, He, exalted is He, said:
“And Allah took Abraham as a close friend.”
He, exalted is He, also said:
“He loves them, and they love Him.”
And He, exalted is He, said:
“And do good; indeed, Allah loves those who do good.”
“And act justly; indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”
“Then fulfil your treaty with them until