in establishing Allah’s religion, ranked above all other Muslims except Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with them all. This and other examples show that what matters is the perfection attained at the end, not the shortcomings at the beginning.

As for the report found among the Israelite traditions:

“Allah said to David: ‘As for the sin, We have forgiven it; but as for love, it will not return.’”

Even if you knew this to be authentic, it would not constitute religious law for us, and we may not build our religion upon it. For the religion of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, brought teachings concerning repentance that no previous revealed law had brought. Hence he said:

“I am the Prophet of mercy, and I am the Prophet of repentance.”

Through him, burdens and shackles imposed upon those before us were lifted.

Allah Most High has said in His Book:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves.”

We are also told that He, Most High, rejoices at His servant’s repentance more than someone who has lost the food, drink, and mount he needs rejoices upon finding them after losing all hope. If such is the Lord’s joy at the repentance of one who repents, and such is His love, how can it be said that He will not love him again?

“And He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Loving, Lord of the Throne, the All-Glorious, Doer of whatever He wills.”

His affection and love, however, are proportionate to how the servant draws near to Him after repentance. If what he does after repentance of the things Allah loves is better than what he did before, then His love for him after repentance is greater than His love for him before repentance. But if it is less,