anyone else; that he loves a person only for Allah’s sake; and that he would hate to return to disbelief after Allah has saved him from it as much as he would hate to be cast into the Fire.” He, peace and blessings be upon him, also said in an authentic hadith:

“He has tasted the sweetness of faith who is content with Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion, and Muhammad as his Prophet.”

As for the people of disbelief, religious innovation, and lust, each experiences this according to his own condition. Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah was asked, “Why are people who follow deviant inclinations so deeply attached to them?” He replied, “Have you forgotten His words, Most High: ‘Because of their disbelief, their hearts were steeped in love of the calf’?”—or words to that effect.

Idol worshippers love their gods, as Allah Most High says:

“Among people 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.”

He also says:

“If they do not respond to you, then know that they only follow their desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desires without guidance from Allah?”

And He says:

“They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although guidance has come to them from their Lord.”

This is why these people are drawn to listening to poetry and vocal performances that stir love in general—a love not exclusive to the people of faith, but shared by those who love the Most Merciful, idols, crosses, homelands, companions, beardless youths, or women. These are the people who follow their inward tastes and feelings without assessing them against the Quran, the Sunnah, and the way of the early generations of the Muslim community.

Anyone who departs from what Allah sent His Messenger with—worshipping and obeying Him and obeying His Messenger—is not following a religion prescribed by Allah. As He, Most High, says:

“Then We set you upon a clear way in matters of religion, so follow it