by My servant comparable to his 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 strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Through Me he hears, through Me he sees, through Me he strikes, and through Me he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him; and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge. I have never hesitated 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 inevitably face it.’”

This is the most authentic hadith narrated concerning the allies of Allah. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, thus explained that whoever shows enmity to an ally of Allah has openly waged war against Allah. Another hadith states:

“Indeed, I avenge My allies as an enraged lion takes revenge.”

That is, I exact vengeance on their behalf against those who show them enmity, just as an enraged lion takes revenge. This is because the allies of Allah are those who believe in Him and ally themselves with Him. They love what He loves, hate what He hates, are pleased with what pleases Him, and are displeased with what displeases Him. They enjoin what He enjoins, forbid what He forbids, give to those He wishes them to give to, and withhold from those He wishes them to withhold from. As narrated in al-Tirmidhī and elsewhere, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The firmest bond of faith is to love for Allah’s sake and to hate for Allah’s sake.”

In another hadith, narrated by Abū Dāwūd, he said:

“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.”

“Alliance” is the opposite of enmity. The basis of alliance is love and nearness, and the basis of