He hates. Thus Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else, and he loves a created being for Allah’s sake, not for any other purpose. This is part of the perfection of his love for Allah, for loving those whom one’s beloved loves is part of loving the beloved fully. Thus, if he loves Allah’s prophets and allies because they uphold what the True One loves, and for no other reason, then he loves them for Allah’s sake alone.
Allah Most High says:
“Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, mighty against the disbelievers.”
For this reason, Allah Most High says:
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.”
The Messenger commands what Allah loves, forbids what Allah hates, does what Allah loves, and conveys what Allah loves to be believed. Whoever loves Allah must therefore follow the Messenger: believing what he reports, obeying what he commands, and following his example in what he does. Whoever does this has done what Allah loves, and Allah will therefore love him.
Allah has thus given two signs by which those who love Him are known: following the Messenger and jihad in His cause. For jihad, in essence, consists in striving to bring about what Allah loves of faith and righteous deeds, and to repel what Allah hates of disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience.
Allah Most High says:
“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, and your clan”
—up to His words:
“until Allah brings about His command.”
With this warning, He threatens those whose families and wealth are dearer to them than Allah, His Messenger, and jihad in His cause.
Indeed, it is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said:
“By Him in whose hand is my soul, no one truly believes