What does it mean when Allah (blessed and exalted is He) “does not love”?

Example:  “… Allah does not love sinners…” (Surah 3: 57). Is there a nonexistence of passion, such as indifference? Or does Allah feel a negative emotion, such as hate? Or is love, in this context, an action, such as showing love or feeling affection?

 What do you think?

 Assalam Alaikum,

Linda iLham

Answer

Walekum Assalam.

Love as defined by Imam Raghib Asfahani under Hubb:" To intend what you think is good or Khair" and it is of three kinds:
  1- Love related to enjoyment or Lazzzat, such as man's love to woman
  2- Love related to benefit, such as love of money
  3- Love for the sake of some "fazeelat" or nobility, such as love of Ilm (knowledge) and Ulama (scholar).
       In the light of the above definitions, we can easily confirm that Allah SWT's love is only in the third sense. And His love means mercy, reward, or pleasure; whereas La'nat (curse) means barring from mercy and putting under anger. Imam Raghib defines it saying, "To reject and keep away due to anger which implies punishment in Akhirah (Hereafter) and keeping away from mercy in Dunya (World)."  So it means Allah SWT is not providing Tawfiq (ability) for doing good, and not giving Barakah (blessings) in things, too.

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi