What is the correct criterion for love?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
If, meaning, we were asked about the criterion for love, O Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
As the evidence explained in this book, the criterion for love is that one loves other than Allah with the love of servitude, with submission. One loves the created being with the love of submission and obedience. This is the love of shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for loving someone without submitting to them, that is natural and one is not held accountable for it. A person loves his wife, he loves his wealth, he loves his child, but he does not submit to them. He does not give them precedence in obedience, nor does he place them above the love of Allah and what Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) love. Yes.
The questioner:
Shaykh, may Allah preserve you. I mean, love of compassion, mercy, and affection—what type is this?
The Shaykh:
It is natural. This is natural. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
If, meaning, we were asked about the criterion for love, O Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
As the evidence explained in this book, the criterion for love is that one loves other than Allah with the love of servitude, with submission. One loves the created being with the love of submission and obedience. This is the love of shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for loving someone without submitting to them, that is natural and one is not held accountable for it. A person loves his wife, he loves his wealth, he loves his child, but he does not submit to them. He does not give them precedence in obedience, nor does he place them above the love of Allah and what Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) love. Yes.
The questioner:
Shaykh, may Allah preserve you. I mean, love of compassion, mercy, and affection—what type is this?
The Shaykh:
It is natural. This is natural. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 06 من 29|أسئلة شرح كتاب التوحيد|توحيد الألوهية|ما الضابط الصحيح في المحبة؟|صالح الفوزان|كبار العلماء — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.