intend to do what this love entails, such as supporting Allah, His Messenger, and His religion, seeking nearness to Allah and His Messenger, and hating those who oppose Allah and His Messenger.

This also includes the widely transmitted reports in the authentic hadith collections, narrated by Ibn Masʿūd, Abū Mūsā, and Anas, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A person will be with those whom he loves.”

In another version:

“A man loves some people but has not yet joined them”—that is, he has not yet performed deeds like theirs. He replied:

“A person will be with those whom he loves.”

Anas said: “After embracing Islam, nothing brought the Muslims as much joy as this hadith. I love the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, Abū Bakr, and ʿUmar, and I hope that Allah will place me with them, even though I have not performed deeds like theirs.”

This hadith is true. Being with the one whom one loves is a matter of innate nature; it cannot be otherwise. The extent to which one is with the beloved corresponds to the extent of one’s love. If that love is moderate, or nearly so, one will be with him accordingly; if it is complete, one will be with him accordingly. Complete love necessarily entails acting in accordance with what the beloved loves, provided the lover is able to do so. Whenever such conformity is lacking despite the ability, love is diminished to that extent, even though it remains present. Loving and desiring something entails hating and disliking its opposite, when one knows that they are opposites.

For this reason, Allah Most High said:

“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Day