in his Sahīh, from Abū Hurayrah, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah says: ‘Whoever shows enmity towards a close servant of Mine, I have declared war against him. Nothing by which My servant draws near to Me compares to fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues drawing 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 hesitate over nothing 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 inevitably undergo it.’”

These people loved Allah with perfect love and drew near to Him through the voluntary acts He loves, after drawing near to Him through the obligatory acts He loves. Allah loved them with perfect love until they attained their station. Each of them came to perceive through Allah and move through Allah, such that Allah answers his requests and protects him from whatever he seeks refuge against.

In His Book, Allah has condemned those who love rivals besides Him. The Most High says:

“Their hearts were imbued with love of the calf because of their disbelief.”

He has also condemned whoever takes his own desire as his god—that is, worships whatever he desires and loves. This may be an act of the heart alone.

In numerous places in His Book, the Most High has praised and condemned people on account of love, desire, hatred, displeasure, joy, grief, and other such acts of the heart. For example, He says:

“But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”

And He says:

“No! Rather, you love the fleeting life
and neglect the Hereafter.”