you believe in Allah alone.’”

Allah has commanded us to follow the example of Abraham and those with him when they disowned the polytheists and whatever they worshipped besides Allah. Allah’s close friend said:

“I disown whatever you worship, except the One who created me, for He will surely guide me.”

Disavowal is the opposite of allegiance: disavowal is rooted in hatred, while allegiance is rooted in love. This is because the essence of affirming Allah’s oneness is to love none but Allah, and to love what Allah loves for His sake. Thus, one loves only for Allah’s sake and hates only for Allah’s sake.

Allah Most High said:

“Yet among people are those who take others as equals to Allah, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”

There is a clear distinction between loving for Allah’s sake and loving alongside Allah. Those who affirm Allah’s oneness and devote themselves sincerely to Him love others for Allah’s sake, whereas the polytheists love others alongside Allah—as the polytheists love their gods, the Christians love the Messiah, and the followers of their own desires love their leaders.

Once it is understood that the servant is naturally disposed to love what benefits him and hate what harms him, it follows that, by his very nature and constitution, he cannot desire all events equally. Nor does divine law command him to desire everything that happens. Rather, Allah has commanded him to desire certain things and dislike others.