And “pleasure” always follows love: whoever loves something and attains what he loves finds pleasure in it. Tasting is thus the experience of what one loves. With outward pleasures, such as eating, a person desires food and loves it, then tastes and eats it, and at that point experiences its pleasure and sweetness. The same applies to sexual intercourse and similar things.

No love among created beings is greater, more perfect, or more complete than the believers’ love for their Lord. Nothing in existence deserves to be loved for its own sake in every respect except Allah Most High. Love for anything besides Him is subordinate to love for Him. The Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is loved, obeyed, and followed only for Allah’s sake. As He Most High says:

“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.’”

And in the hadith:

“Love Allah for the blessings with which He nourishes you; love me out of love for Allah; and love the members of my household out of love for me.”

He Most High also says:

“Say: If your fathers”—up to His words—“are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command. Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“None of you believes until I am dearer to him than his children, his parents, and all people.”

And in a hadith recorded by al-Tirmidhī and others:

“Whoever loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake, and withholds for Allah’s sake has perfected his faith.”

He 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.”

Thus, the believers’ love for Allah is stronger than any lover’s love for the beloved. We have discussed this at length in several places.