love and devotion to those close to God

We have said that ~love~ is not restricted only to an animal love of a sexual or parental kind. Rather, there is another kind of love and attraction which is situated in a more rarefied atmosphere, and is completely beyond the confines of matter or materiality. It originates from an instinct far above that of the preservation of generations, and is in fact something which separates the universe of man from the universe of animals. This is spiritual, or human, love, falling in love with excellence and goodness, becoming enamoured of the virtues of man and the beauty of reality.

Those loves which are for the sake of a colour
Are not love: in the end they are a disgrace;
Since love of the dead is not enduring,
Because the dead one never comes back to us.
(But) love of the living is every moment
Fresher than a bud in the spirit and the sight
Choose the love of that Living One Who is everlasting,
Who gives thee to drink of the wine that increases life.
Choose the love of Him from Whose love
All the prophets gained power and glory. [16]

And it is love which is mentioned in many of the verses of the Qur'an, especially by the word "mahabbah", These verses can be placed in several groups:

Believers' love for God
1. Verses which describe the believers, and speak of the deep devotion and love they have for God or the other believers:

"But those that believe love Allah more ardently" (al Baqarah, 2 :165 ).

"And those who made their dwelling in the abode, and in belief, before them, love whosoever has emigrated to them not finding in their breasts any need for what they have been given, and preferring others above themselves, even though poverty be their portion" (al-Hashr, 59:9).

Love of God for believers
2. Verses which speak of the love of God for believers:

"Truly Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who cleanse themselves" (al-Baqarah, 2:222).
"And Allah loves the good doers" ( Al `Imran, 3 :148 ).
"Surely Allah loves those who guard themselves" (at-Tawbah, 9: 4 and 7 ).
"And Allah loves those who cleanse themselves" (at-Tawbah, 9 :108 ).
"Surely Allah loves the just" (al-Hujurat, 49:9 and al-Mumtahinah, 60:8 ).

Two-way love of believers and God
3. Verses which include two-way affections and reciprocal love: the love of God for the believers, the love of the believers for God; and the love of the believers for each other:

"Say if you love Allah, follow me, and-Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins" (Al `Imran, 3: 31).
"Allah will assuredly bring a people He loves, and who love Him" (al-Ma' idah, 5: 54).

The love of the believers for each other
"Surely those who believe and do deeds of righteouness - unto them the All-merciful shall assign love" ( Maryam,19:96).
"And He has sent between you love and compassion" (ar-Rum, 30: 21).

And it is love which Ibrahim wanted for his offspring,[Ibrahim, 14:37] and which the last Prophet also sought by the order of God for his kinsmen [ash-Shura, 42:23].

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