A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
He loves them, and they love Him.
The love of Allah is the strongest bond between the servant and his Lord.
For if this love is genuine,
it necessitates following the Messenger, who conveys the message from the Beloved—Allah—as we have previously established.
This results in Allah loving the one who loves Him with this true love,
just as the Almighty has said:
“Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (3:31)
The matter, therefore, is not merely for you to claim your love for Allah;
rather, the entire matter lies in Allah loving you, based on your genuine love for Him.
By this, you enter into the description Allah has given of His close servants:
"Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him."
Reflect upon what this description entails regarding the reciprocal relationship between you—O needy servant—
and Allah, the Magnificent, the Majestic.
You will realize that this is among the greatest and most delightful of Allah’s blessings upon you.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.