BENEFIT 517: Loving the Opposite Gender for the Sake of Allāh and Expressing That

Question: Is it permissible for a woman to say about unrelated (non-maḥram) men—such as scholars and righteous people—that she loves them for the sake of Allāh? Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan hafidahullah: Yes. Loving for the sake of Allāh and loyalty for the sake of Allāh are among the greatest bonds of faith. As stated in the ḥadīth: “Loving for the sake of Allāh and hating for the sake of Allāh are the strongest bonds of faith.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his child, his father, and all people.” He ﷺ also said: “A servant will not find the sweetness of faith until Allāh and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; until he loves a person only for the sake of Allāh; and until he hates to return to disbelief after Allāh has saved him from it just as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire.” Thus, loving for the sake of Allāh and hating for the sake of Allāh are among the strongest bonds of faith. A person may openly state to his brother that he loves him and inform him of this love, saying that he loves him for the sake of Allāh. The one who is loved responds by saying: ‘May the One for whose sake you love me love you.’ He also supplicates for him in a similar manner. This is from the Sunnah. Loving for the sake of Allāh and hating for the sake of Allāh is obligatory, while openly expressing this love and informing the one who is loved is a Sunnah and recommended.