For the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslims affirm Allah’s love for His believing servants and their love for Him, as in His saying, Most High:

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

And His saying:

“He loves them and they love Him.”

And His saying:

“More beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger.”

And His sayings:

“Indeed, Allah loves the righteous.”

“He loves those who do good.”

“He loves those who constantly repent and loves those who purify themselves.”

“He loves those who act justly.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in an authentic hadith:

“Whoever possesses three qualities will thereby taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else; that he loves another person solely for Allah’s sake; and that he hates returning to unbelief, after Allah has saved him from it, as much as he hates being thrown into the Fire.”

The early generations of the Muslim community and its leading scholars unanimously affirmed Allah Most High’s love for His believing servants and their love for Him. This is the foundation of the religion of Allah’s intimate friend, the leader of those devoted to pure monotheism, peace be upon him.

The first to proclaim this in Islam was al-Ja'd ibn Dirham. Khālid ibn 'Abd Allah al-Qasrī sacrificed him on the Day of Sacrifice in Wāsit, saying:

“O people, offer your sacrifices; may Allah accept them. I am sacrificing al-Ja'd ibn Dirham, for he claimed that Allah did not take Abraham as an intimate friend and did not speak to Moses with actual speech. Exalted is Allah far above what al-Ja'd says!”

Then he came down and slaughtered him.

His statement, “Love can only be from one to another, and no other exists,” is false in every respect.

His claim that love “can only be from one to another” is incorrect, for a person loves himself and is not other than himself, and Allah loves Himself. His statement, “No other exists,” is false, for the created being