Some say that it belongs to the realm of volition; this is the prevalent view. Others say that it belongs to the realm of mental representations and is a distortion of the imagination, whereby the beloved is conceived as he or she actually is. Those who hold the latter view say: “For this reason, Allah is not described as experiencing passionate love or as loving passionately, for He is exalted above that. Nor is anyone who entertains a distorted conception of Him to be praised.”

Among those who hold the first view, some say: “He may be described in terms of passionate love, for it is perfect love, and Allah is loved and He loves.” A report transmitted from ʿAbd al-Wāhid ibn Zayd states:

“My servant continues to draw near to Me, loving Me passionately, and I love him passionately.”

This is the view of some Sufis. The majority, however, do not use this expression with reference to Allah, because passionate love is excessive love that exceeds its proper bounds. Love for Allah Most High, however, has no limit: it does not reach a boundary beyond which one ought not to go.

They say: “Passionate love is blameworthy without qualification. It is not praiseworthy in love for either the Creator or created beings, because it is excessive love that goes beyond praiseworthy bounds. Moreover, in customary usage, the expression ‘passionate love’ is used only for a person’s love for a woman or a boy. It is not used for such things as love of family, wealth, homeland, status, or love for the prophets and the righteous. It is also frequently accompanied by forbidden conduct: love for a woman to whom one is not married, or for a boy, may be accompanied by forbidden looking, forbidden touching, and other forbidden acts. As for