loved Allah, so Allah revealed this verse.”

Love of Allah, His Messenger, and His pious servants entails doing what He loves and abandoning what He dislikes. People differ enormously in this regard: the greater a person’s share of this, the higher his rank with Allah.

As for someone who loves another out of personal desire—for some worldly benefit he receives from him, some need that person meets for him, money he obtains through him, partisan attachment to him, or similar reasons—this is not love for Allah’s sake. Rather, it is love driven by personal desire. This is the love that leads those who harbour it into disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience.

How many people claim to love shaykhs for Allah’s sake! Had they truly loved them for Allah’s sake, they would have obeyed Allah, for whose sake they loved them. Love for someone who is loved for another’s sake is subordinate to love for that other. How can someone who does not love Allah love anyone for Allah’s sake? And how can someone who turns away from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and from Allah’s path be someone who loves Allah?

How many people love shaykhs, kings, and others, taking them as rivals to Allah and loving them as they love Allah! The distinction between loving for Allah’s sake and loving alongside Allah is clear. Those who associate partners with Allah take rivals whom they love as they love Allah, whereas the believers are stronger in their love for Allah.

The people of faith love, for the foundation of their love is love of Allah. Whoever loves Allah loves those whom Allah loves, and whoever is loved by Allah loves Allah. Thus, the beloved of the beloved is beloved to Allah and loves Allah. Whoever loves Allah is loved by Allah, and therefore loves those who love Allah.