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Does Allah Love Sinners?
The Qur’an says Allah loves those who do good and does not like disbelievers. Romans 5:8 says Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
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The Qur’an says Allah loves those who do good, those who repent, and those who follow the Messenger. It says he does not like the disbelievers, the transgressors, or the wrongdoers. Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 · King James VersionBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3) says God commends his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus is God. The love in that verse meets people as sinners, and it meets them at the cross.
Key Points
- Qur’an 3:31Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh International
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1), Saheeh International, says if you love Allah, follow the Messenger, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. - Qur’an 3:32Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh International
Say, "Obey Allāh and the Messenger. But if you turn away - then indeed, Allāh does not like the disbelievers."
Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says obey Allah and the Messenger, and if you turn away, Allah does not like the disbelievers. Saheeh uses “does not like” for the verb it renders “will love” in the verse before. - Qur’an 2:195Qur’an 2:195 · Saheeh International
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
Qur’an 2:195 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says Allah loves the doers of good. Qur’an 2:222Qur’an 2:222 · Saheeh InternationalAnd they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allāh has ordained for you. Indeed, Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Qur’an 2:222 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he loves those who constantly repent and those who purify themselves. Qur’an 2:190Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalFight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not like transgressors. Qur’an 3:57Qur’an 3:57 · Saheeh InternationalBut as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allāh does not like the wrongdoers.
Qur’an 3:57 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not like the wrongdoers. - Qur’an 85:14Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh International
And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) calls him the Forgiving, the Affectionate. Ibn Kathir’s abridgment says al-Wadud means the Loving, and that he forgives the sin of whoever repents. (6) - Qur’an 4:48Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh International
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not forgive association with him, and he forgives what is less than that for whom he wills. Qur’an 39:53Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) tells servants who have transgressed not to despair, for Allah forgives all sins. - Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 · King James Version
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3), 1 John 4:8–101 John 4:8–10 · King James Version4:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
4:10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:8–10 · King James VersionOpen source (4), and John 3:16John 3:16 · King James VersionFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 · King James VersionOpen source (5) say God is love, and that he loved the world and sinners by sending his Son to die.
Allah Loves Those Who Do Good
Qur’an 2:195Qur’an 2:195 · Saheeh InternationalAnd spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
Qur’an 2:195 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1), Saheeh International, says spend in the way of Allah, do not throw yourselves into destruction, and do good: Allah loves the doers of good. Qur’an 2:222Qur’an 2:222 · Saheeh InternationalAnd they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allāh has ordained for you. Indeed, Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Qur’an 2:222 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves. Qur’an 3:31Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) puts love in a condition:
Say, [O Muḥammad], “If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Qur’an 2:195 · Saheeh International
Ibn Kathir’s abridgment says this verse judges people who claim to love Allah and do not follow Muhammad. They are not true in the claim until they follow his law in statements, actions, and conditions. Al-Hasan al-Basri says Allah tested that claim with this verse. (2) The Muslim reading is that Allah’s love is given to the one who follows the Messenger, and that forgiveness of sins is in that same sentence, after the following.
What Do the 99 Names of Allah Mean? lists names from the Qur’an. Love, in these verses, is not a name standing apart from obedience.
He Does Not Like the Disbelievers
Qur’an 3:32Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Obey Allāh and the Messenger. But if you turn away - then indeed, Allāh does not like the disbelievers."
Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) follows at once. Obey Allah and the Messenger. If you turn away, Allah does not like the disbelievers. Qur’an 2:190Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalFight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says fight those who fight you, do not transgress, and Allah does not like transgressors. Qur’an 3:57Qur’an 3:57 · Saheeh InternationalBut as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allāh does not like the wrongdoers.
Qur’an 3:57 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says those who believed and did righteous deeds will be given their rewards in full, and Allah does not like the wrongdoers.
Saheeh International uses “love” where the verse is positive and “like” where it is negative. The two lines sit next to each other in 3:31 and 3:32. A fair reading is the one Ibn Kathir states: turning away from the Messenger is unbelief, and Allah does not like the one who does that, even if the person claims to love Allah. The concession inside the Qur’an is real. Forgiveness is offered in 3:31 to the one who follows. The dislike is stated of the one who turns away.
Al-Wadud, the Affectionate
Qur’an 85:14Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalAnd He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he is the Forgiving, the Affectionate. Saheeh International’s word is “Affectionate”. Ibn Kathir’s abridgment says al-Wadud means al-Habib, the Loving, and that he forgives the sin of whoever repents to him and humbles himself, no matter what the sin may be. (6) The name is in the Qur’an. The tafsir ties the forgiveness to repentance.
The surah around the name is about believers who receive gardens, and about a seizure of enemies that the tafsir calls severe. The name does not, in Ibn Kathir’s paragraph, mean that Allah loves people while they remain his enemies. It means he forgives the one who repents.
Will Allah Forgive Sins?
Qur’an 39:53Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says: O my servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Qur’an 4:48Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not forgive association with him, but he forgives what is less than that for whom he wills. The two verses are both in the book. One says all sins. One sets association apart, and it puts the rest under his will. Qur’an 3:31Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) puts forgiveness with following the Messenger.
The Gospel does not leave forgiveness as a reward that begins after obedience. Is the Atonement Unjust? is the claim that a substitute cannot bear another’s guilt, beside John 10:18John 10:18 · King James VersionNo man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:18 · King James VersionOpen source (5), where Jesus lays down his life of himself.
God Loved Us While We Were Still Sinners
Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 · King James VersionBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3) says God commends his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The love is shown toward sinners, and the time is “while we were yet” sinners, not after they had followed. John 3:16John 3:16 · King James VersionFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 · King James VersionOpen source (5) says God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The world in that sentence is the world that needs the Son, not the world that has already obeyed.
1 John 4:8–101 John 4:8–10 · King James Version4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:8–10 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. The love was manifested because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. The sentence starts from God’s act, not from the sinner’s following.
Jesus is God. The Son who dies in Romans 5 is the one John 1:1John 1:1 · King James VersionIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 · King James VersionOpen source (5) calls God. Who Is Allah? Is He the God of the Bible? is the comparison of the one God. The Qur’an’s love is stated for those who do good, repent, and follow, and it is refused, in Saheeh’s rendering, to disbelievers, transgressors, and wrongdoers. The Gospel’s love is stated for sinners by the death of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Allah Love Everyone?
Qur’an 85:14Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalAnd He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) calls him the Affectionate, and Ibn Kathir ties that name to forgiveness for the one who repents. (6) Qur’an 3:32Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Obey Allāh and the Messenger. But if you turn away - then indeed, Allāh does not like the disbelievers."
Qur’an 3:32 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not like the disbelievers. Qur’an 2:190Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalFight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
Qur’an 2:190 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1) says he does not like transgressors. The book does not say he loves every person in every state.
What Is Al-Wadud?
It is the name in Qur’an 85:14Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalAnd He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
Qur’an 85:14 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1). Saheeh International translates it “the Affectionate”. Ibn Kathir’s abridgment says it means the Loving. (6) What Do the 99 Names of Allah Mean?
How Do Muslims Say I Love You?
That phrase is not a verse. The verse that defines love of Allah is Qur’an 3:31Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (1): if you love Allah, follow the Messenger, and Allah will love you.
Keep Reading
References
- Qur’an, 3:31; 3:32; 2:190; 2:195; 2:222; 3:57; 85:14; 4:48; 39:53Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh International
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Qur’an 3:31 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (Saheeh International. If you love Allah, follow the Messenger, and Allah will love you. If you turn away, Allah does not like the disbelievers.) - Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), 3:31; 85:14 (Quran.com abridgment. Love of Allah is tested by following Muhammad. Al-Wadud means the Loving, and he forgives the one who repents.)
- Letter to the Romans, 5:8Romans 5:8 · King James Version
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - First Letter of John, 4:8–10. King James Version
- Gospel of John, 3:16; 1:1; 10:18John 3:16 · King James Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), 85:14 (Quran.com abridgment. Al-Wadud means the Loving. He forgives the one who repents.)
See Also
- Is the Atonement Unjust? — No. Ezekiel 18:20 and Qur’an 6:164 say guilt is personal. The Son lays down his life himself. That is not a bystander seized by a court.
- What Does Allah Look Like? — The Qur’an says there is nothing like Allah, and that vision does not perceive him. It also speaks of his Face and of the Most Merciful above the Throne. Muslims are not offering a picture of God. Christians say the Son is the image of the invisible God.
- Are Muslims Seeing Dreams and Visions of Jesus? — The Qur’an and sahih hadith do not count dreams of Jesus. They call a true dream part of prophecy. Acts 2 and Deuteronomy 13 test the message.
- Are There Missing and Abrogated Verses in the Qur’an? — Sahih reports say a stoning verse and a suckling ruling were recited as Qur’an and are not in the book. Qur’an 2:106 calls that God’s abrogation.
- Can a Christian and a Muslim Marry? — Qur’an 5:5 permits marriage to chaste women from the People of the Scripture. Qur’an 2:221 and 60:10 restrict marriage to polytheists and disbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says not to be unequally yoked.