All the value judgments of believers are based on the standards of the Qur’an and the Sunna. Love is one of these. A believer loves only what Allah loves and has no affection for those who oppose Allah and Muslims. This is a definitive and certain measure that Allah sets out in the Qur’an and also is the natural inclination of any sincere believer. The love he feels for Allah and the believers is dependent upon his faith. The intensity of the love that Allah has towards believers increases according to the measure of their faith. A true believer cannot feel affection for enemies of his religion.
Allah explains in the following verse:
You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having love for anyone who opposes Allah and His messenger, though they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their clan. Allah has inscribed faith upon such people’s hearts and will reinforce them with a Spirit from Him. (Surat al-Mujadala; 22)
Some who have recently embraced Islam and have not yet become acquainted with the values of the Qur’an may still have an erroneous understanding of love and friendship. A flawed attitude generally stems from insufficient knowledge of religious moral values and therefore a failure to wholeheartedly embrace the religious outlook. But Allah addresses believers as follows:
You who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth that has come to you, driving out the messenger and yourselves simply because you believe in Allah your Lord. If you go out to strive in My Way and seeking My pleasure, keeping secret the love you have for them, I know best what you conceal and what at you make known. Any of you who do that have strayed from the right way.” (Surat Al-Mumtahana; 1)
One who retains his former understanding of love and adopts values incompatible with the morals of the Qur’an despite this explicit warning will“stray from the soundness of the way.”If he should try to conceal this state of mind and associates with Muslims because of personal interests, his wrong intention will be revealed by Allah sooner or later. In a verse Allah reveals:
Or did you suppose that you would be left without Allah knowing those of you who have strived and who have not taken anyone as their intimate friends besides Allah and His messenger and the believers? Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat at-Tawba; 16)
