Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, shows loyalty for the sake of Allah, and opposes for the sake of Allah, attains Allah’s patronage by doing so. No servant will taste the sweetness of faith—even if his prayers and fasts are many—until he conducts himself in this way. Most people nowadays befriend one another for worldly reasons, and such friendship will avail its holders nothing.” (1) Reported by Ibn Jarīr.

Ibn ʿAbbās also commented on the Almighty’s words: “and all their ties will be severed” (Qur’an 2:166), saying: “It means the bonds of affection.” (2)

• “Loves for the sake of Allah”: i.e., he loves the believers because of their faith in Allah.
• “Shows loyalty for the sake of Allah”: i.e., he stands with the believers, helping, honoring, and respecting them.
• “Hates for the sake of Allah”: i.e., he hates the disbelievers and the defiantly sinful because they oppose their Lord.
• “Opposes for the sake of Allah”: i.e., he openly shows enmity toward the disbelievers through actions such as fighting them and disavowing them.
• “Allah’s patronage” (wilāyah, with an open wāw): Allah’s support and love for His servant.
• “Taste of faith”: the experience of faith’s flavor, delight, and joy.
• “People’s fraternization”: their mutual friendship and affection.
• “For worldly gain”: that is, they love the world and love one another only because of it.