then His love for him is less; for recompense corresponds to deeds, and your Lord is never unjust to His servants.

It is established in the Sahīh that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I have declared war against him. My servant draws near to Me through nothing like fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. Through Me he hears, through Me he sees, through Me he grasps, and through Me he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him; and if he seeks My protection, I will surely protect him. I do not hesitate over anything I am to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress, yet he must undergo it.’”

It is well known that the best of Allah’s friends after the prophets are the earliest forerunners among the Emigrants and the Helpers. The Lord’s love and affection for them after they repented of unbelief, transgression, and disobedience were of the highest degree. The more they drew near to Him through voluntary acts of worship after fulfilling their obligations, the more He loved them and bestowed His affection upon them.

Allah Most High has said:

“Perhaps Allah will bring about affection between you and those of them whom you have treated as enemies. Allah is All-Powerful, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

This was revealed concerning the polytheists who showed enmity to Allah and His Messenger, such as “the Confederates,” including Abū Sufyān ibn Harb, Abū Sufyān ibn al-Hārith, al-Hārith ibn Hishām, Suhayl ibn ʿAmr, ʿIkrimah ibn Abī Jahl, Safwān ibn Umayyah, and others. For after they had shown enmity to Allah and His Messenger,