Explanation of the author's statement: And his saying: (Say, "If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you")

The Shaykh : And Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: The scholars of the Salaf called this verse the Verse of the Trial, meaning the test, because a group claimed that they loved Allah, so Allah commanded His Prophet to say to them: So whoever introduces into the religion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) something that is not part of it, and says, "I love Allah and His Messenger through what I have introduced," we say to him, "You have lied. If your love were truthful, you would have followed the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and not preceded him by introducing something into the religion that is not part of his religion." Yes, so whoever is more obedient to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is more beloved to Allah. And if Allah loves him and he performs His worship, then Allah the Exalted loves him; indeed, Allah the Mighty and Majestic gives him more than what he did. He the Exalted said in the Qudsi Hadith: And the soul of Allah, and Allah is greater than our souls. And in the Hadith as well: If so, He gives him more than what you did.