Love According to Quran and Sunnah

From: http://www.muttaqun.com/

The Prophet said, "Everyone will be with those whom he loves."
Hadith - Bukhari 8.189, Narrated Abdullah
Excerpted from Ibn Taymeeyah's 'Al-`Uboodeeyah' [The Essay of Worship]
Al-'Ibaadah which we are commanded to perform includes the meaning of humility and love, it contains extreme humility before Allah (SWT) together with the extreme love for Him (AWJ). The uppermost level of love is the extreme adoration (Tatayum) and its lowermost level is the interest, because the heart is first interested in the beloved. After the interest comes the affection, then the love, and finally the extreme adoration. In Arabic "Taym-u-Allah" (the adorer of Allah) is used to mean "Abd-u-Allah" (the worshiper of Allah) because the adorer is the one who yields completely to his lover.
One who submits to someone with hatred is not worshiping him. And one who loves someone without submitting to him is likewise not worshiping him; this is like a man who loves his son and friends.
Therefore, neither love nor submission alone are sufficient in worshiping Allah (SWT). Allah (AWJ) must be loved most by Al-'Abd and He (SWT) must be the greatest of all in his sight. Nothing deserves complete love and submission except Allah (AWJ). It is a futile love when anything has been loved for other than the sake of Allah (SWT). And whatever has been highly regarded without it being by the Command of Allah, its glorification is rejected.
The love for Allah (SWT) and Ar-Rasool (SAAWS) should override any other love.
Allah (SWT) said:
"Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and Fighting in His Cause; then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the rebellious folk." [At-Tawbah:24]
Thus, the essence of love should be due to Allah and His Messenger, so too with the obedience. For the obedience is due to Allah (AWJ) and His Messenger, and pleasing is due to Allah and His Messenger,
"But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAAWS) if they are (true) believers." [At-Tawbah:62]
Anas ibn Malik said: "A man passed the Messenger of Allah(saws) who was in the company of some people, so a man from those with him said, 'Indeed I love that person for Allah's sake.' So the Messenger of Allah said, ' Have you informed him?' He said, 'No.' He (the messenger of allah) said,' Go to him and inform him.' So he went and informed him, so he replied, 'May the One for whose sake you have loved me love you.' Then he returned and the Messenger of Allah asked him and he told him what he had said. So the Messenger of Allah said, 'You will be with the one whom you have loved and ther will be for you the reward that you hoped for.'" [Reported by Abu Dawud, Ahmad, al-Haakim, and others. Its isnaad is saheeh]
5:54
O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islâm), Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allâh, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allâh which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allâh is All­Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All­Knower.
3:31
Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Love in Moderation, Not Extremes
Hadith - at-Tirmidhee (no. 1997)
Allah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said: Love the one whom you love to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be someone for whom you have hatred, and hate the one for whom you have hatred to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be one whom you love.
[Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no. 1997) and others by way of Suwayd ibn 'Amr al-Kalbee: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us from Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyanee from Muhammad ibn Seereen from him. This isnaad is Saheeh (authentic) if Allaah wills, it does not contain anyone needing examination except for Suwayd and he is declared reliable by a group of the scholars and this is the preferred view of al-Haafidh Ib Hajr. The hadeeth is also declared authentic by a group of scholars such as al-Haafidh al-Iraaqee in Takhreejul Ihyaa (2/186), al-Munaawee in al-Fayd (1/177), az-Zubaydee in al-Ittihaf (6/233) and others, and is further clarified in Ghaayatul Maraam (no. 472) of Shaikh al-Albaanee.]
Related Link: Q & A: Levels of Love

Blogger comment:
Christians use from the Crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH) a great sign of God's love to us that he sacrificed his only son to wash with his blood our sins. However, Muslims respect people faith, the idea may be noble but God clearly in the old testament and the Quran say non but him. The Jews know well he is only one. It was his main manifestation to them is one, talked to prophet Mosses and raised the mountain above their heads and talked to their prophets in visions. The second thing is for washing people sins it will take not only one person but billions of people blood to wash their sins. God in Islam gave us a better option come back to me and I will forgive all your sins. The third thing why to have a man killed for the sinful us. In Islam Jesus is great prophet, the messiah, the word and spirit of God. He is just too great that he will inherit the kingdom of God here in the earth and we will be a judge over us. The fourth thing if Jesus has already washed our sins why God mention to him that will have his wrath against us before his second coming. In Islam love is through obedience and submission, you enjoy this love more after the first stage of obeying and reading his words of the Quran, the prayers and the praises that the prophet taught us. As you pray more and become close to God the light in your heart will fill you and you will feel it.