What would the nature of Allah’s love for human beings be? Are all his commands characterized by love for all people, regardless of who they are?
According to the Qur’an, Allah’s love appears to be selective and therefore not universal. Allah’s love must be earned. The following quotations from the Qur’an indicate who qualifies for Allah’s love—and who does not:
Sura 2:190: “for Allah loves not transgressors.” (Ali, 2000:24)
Sura 4:107: “And plead not on behalf of (people) who deceive themselves. Lo! Allah loveth not one who is treacherous and sinful.” (Pickthall, 1997:65)
Sura 7:55: “Lo! He (Allah) loveth not the transgressors.” (Pickthall, 1997:106)
Sura 8:55: “For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him”
Other translations of Sura 8:55: “For the worst of all living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him – they will not believe.” (Ali 2000:146). Pickthall (1997:124) translates Sura 8:55 as: “Lo! The worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are the ungrateful who will not believe.”
But who does qualify for Allah’s love?
Sura 2:195: “For Allah loves those who do good.” (Ali, 2000:25)
Sura 5:13: “for Allah loves those who are kind.”
Sura 2:222: “Truly, Allah loveth those who turn to Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness.” (Pickthall, 1997:25)
Sura 3:31: “If you do love Allah, follow me (Mohammed): Allah will (then) love you and forgive you your sins.” (Ali, 2000:42)
It is clear from these quotations that only those who deserve it may count on Allah’s love. Yet it remains uncertain whether one is an offender, because sin is not clearly defined in the Qur’an. Likewise, one does not always know what constitutes good deeds, apart from certain actions specifically described in the Qur’an. Nor does one know whether one’s deeds are good enough. Allah will decide. Some of the “good deeds” that must be performed according to Allah’s commands in the Qur’an, to be worthy of his love, will be discussed later.
When Allah strictly forbids friendship with non-Muslims, it is also evident that he does not love all people, but only those who meet his conditions.
Sura 3:28: “Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers:”
Sura 5:51: “O ye who believe! Take not Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends to one another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (Pickthall, 1997:79).
Allah is serious about enmity toward non-Muslims. Anyone who dares to violate this command faces severe consequences. The following is not merely a recommendation but a command, and disobedience is punishable:
Sura 4:138–139: “Bear unto the hypocrites the tidings that for them there is a painful doom. Those who choose disbelievers (non-Muslims) for their friends” (Pickthall, 1997:68).
Sura 18:102: “Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose my bondsmen as protecting friends …? We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.”(Pickthall, 1997:208)
If a “painful punishment” awaits Muslims who take non-Muslims as friends, and if they are called hypocrites in the Qur’an, this explains why genuine social interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims is rare. It is not permitted. A Muslim who has non-Muslim friends cannot be considered a good Muslim, because he disregards Allah’s commands.
According to the Hadith, very little is written about Allah’s love, but it is clear that it must also be earned. Al-Bukhari (Khan, 1987:431, Vol. 4) states:
Narrated Abu Huraira The Prophet said, “If Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying, ‘Allah loves so and-so; O Gabriel! Love him.’ Gabriel would love him and make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the Heaven. ‘Allah loves so-and-so, therefore you should love him also,’ and so all the inhabitants of the Heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth.“
Karim likewise writes very little about Allah’s love. Under the heading “Love and hatred for (on behalf of) Allah,” he states in Vol. 1, p. 506:
“The Holy Prophet said: The action dearest to the Almighty Allah is love for Allah’s sake and hate for Allah’s sake.”
And in Vol. 4:273 he agrees with Sura 8:55 quoted above:
“Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve.”
If Allah hates those who do not follow him (all non-Muslims), and expects his followers (Muslims) to hate them on his behalf, it becomes difficult to understand how Islam can be considered peaceful, or how Allah and the God of the Bible could be the same being. It is understandable that if one’s God commands one to hate someone, one is not expected to love that person or treat him as a friend. Allah’s instructions regarding the relationship his followers (Muslims) should have with non-Muslims are clear.
But what is the attitude of the God of the Bible toward humanity? Is his love for all people, or – like Allah’s love – only for those who qualify?