Principle of Love and Hate Explained by Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jābirī (rahimahullāh)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Indeed, many of those who claim they are callers to Allah transgress and deviate in the matter of love and hate. For the criterion of love and hate with such people is based on individuals and personalities. The people of truth have agreed that none from mankind is loved for his own person except for the Prophet ﷺ. He ﷺ conveyed from Allāh, and he ﷺ is infallible in what he conveyed from Allāh ﷻ, he ﷺ conveyed (the message) clearly, neither adding nor omitting from what he ﷺ was commanded with. Likewise, this is the case with the rest of the prophets and messengers (عليهم الصلاة والسلام).

As for the Sunnah, then the criterion of love and hate is not tied to personalities. Rather, it is for Allāh alone. It is authentically reported that love is for Allāh, hate is for Allāh, allegiance is for Allāh, disavowal is for Allāh, giving is for Allāh and withholding is for Allah [1]; these are six traits. Whoever perfects them and makes them his way in dealing with others has completed the firmest handhold of faith.

[1] Abū Dawūd 4681.. Authenticated by al-Albāni in as-Ṣaḥīḥah 380

Imdād as-Salafī bi Uṣūl wa Qawā’id fī al-Manhaj as-Salafī