Quran verses by topic

Quran verses about love, for Allah and for people

14 verses from the Quran about love, each in Arabic with transliteration and the Sahih International translation, and a line on its context.

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًۭا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّۭا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ﴿١٦٥﴾

Wa minan naasi mai yattakhizu min doonil laahi andaadai yuhibboonahum kahubbil laahi wallazeena aamanooo ashaddu hubbal lillah; wa law yaral lazeena zalamoo iz yarawnal 'azaaba annal quwwata lillaahi jamee'anw wa annallaaha shadeedul 'azaab

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.

Love for Allah comes first. Some people love what they set up beside Allah, but the believers are stronger in their love for Allah.

قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾

Qul in kaana aabaaa'ukum wa abnaaa'ukum wa ikhwaanukum wa azwaajukum wa 'asheeratukum wa amwaaluniq taraftumoohaa wa tijaaratun takhshawna kasaadahaa wa masaakinu tardawnahaaa ahabba ilaikum minal laahi wa Rasoolihee wa Jihaadin fee Sabeelihee fatarabbasoo hattaa yaatiyallaahu bi amrih; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmal faasiqeen

Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."

The test of love: if family, wealth, trade and homes are dearer to you than Allah, His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait for Allah's decision.

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ ﴿١٤﴾

Zuyyina linnaasi hubbush shahawaati minannisaaa'i wal baneena walqanaateeril muqantarati minaz zahabi walfiddati walkhailil musawwamati wal an'aami walhars; zaalika mataa'ul hayaatid dunyaa wallaahu 'indahoo husnul ma-aab

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.

Love of family, wealth and fine things is made attractive to people. It is the enjoyment of this life; the best return is with Allah.

وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾

Wa min Aayaatiheee an khalaqa lakum min anfusikum azwaajal litaskunooo ilaihaa wa ja'ala bainakum mawad datanw wa rahmah; inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil liqawminy yatafakkaroon

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

Between spouses Allah places mawaddah, affection, and rahmah, mercy. More on this in the verses about marriage.

وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءًۭ فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًۭا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾

Wa'tasimoo bi Hablil laahi jamee'anw wa laa tafarraqoo; wazkuroo ni'matal laahi alaikum iz kuntum a'daaa'an fa allafa baina quloobikum fa asbah tum bini'matiheee ikhwaananw wa kuntum 'alaa shafaa hufratim minan Naari fa anqazakum minhaa; kazaalika yubaiyinul laahu lakum aayaatihee la'allakum tahtadoon

And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.

Hold to the rope of Allah together. The Aws and Khazraj of Madinah had been enemies for generations until Islam joined their hearts and made them brothers.

وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ﴿٦٣﴾

Wa allafa baina quloobihim; law anfaqta maa fil ardi jamee'am maaa allafta baina quloobihim wa laakinnallaaha allafa bainahum; innaahoo 'Azeezun Hakeem

And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Not all the wealth on earth could have joined those hearts. Love between believers is a gift from Allah.

وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلْإِيمَٰنَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِى صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةًۭ مِّمَّآ أُوتُوا۟ وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌۭ ۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٩﴾

Wallazeena tabawwa'ud daara wal eemaana min qablihim yuhibboona man haajara ilaihim wa laa yajidoona fee sudoorihim haajatam mimmaa ootoo wa yu'siroona 'alaa anfusihim wa law kaana bihim khasaasah; wa many yooqa shuhha nafsihee fa ulaaa'ika humul muflihoon

And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

The Ansar of Madinah loved the emigrants who came to them, and put them before themselves even when they were in need.

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٠﴾

Wallazeena jaaa'oo min ba'dihim yaqooloona Rabbanagh fir lanaa wa li ikhwaani nal lazeena sabqoonaa bil eemaani wa laa taj'al fee quloobinaa ghillalil lazeena aamanoo rabbannaaa innaka Ra'oofur Raheem

And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."

The dua of those who came later: forgive us and our brothers who went before us, and leave no resentment in our hearts toward the believers.

مُّحَمَّدٌۭ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًۭا سُجَّدًۭا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسْتَغْلَظَ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعْجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۢا ﴿٢٩﴾

Muhammadur Rasoolul laah; wallazeena ma'ahooo ashiddaaa'u 'alal kuffaaari ruhamaaa'u bainahum taraahum rukka'an sujjadany yabtaghoona fadlam minal laahi wa ridwaanan seemaahum fee wujoohihim min asaris sujood; zaalika masaluhum fit tawraah; wa masaluhum fil Injeeli kazar'in akhraja shat 'ahoo fa 'aazarahoo fastaghlaza fastawaa 'alaa sooqihee yu'jibuz zurraa'a liyagheeza bihimul kuffaar; wa'adal laahul lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati minhum maghfiratanw wa ajran 'azeemaa

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.

The Companions described in the Torah and the Gospel: merciful among themselves, bowing and prostrating, seeking Allah's pleasure.

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ ﴿٣٤﴾

Wa laa tastawil hasanatu wa las saiyi'ah; idfa' billatee hiya ahsanu fa'izal lazee bainaka wa bainahoo 'adaawatun ka'annahoo waliyun hameem

And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.

Repel evil with what is better, and an enemy can become a close friend. Ibn Abbas explained it as patience when angered and pardon when wronged.

۞ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَجْعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ عَادَيْتُم مِّنْهُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ قَدِيرٌۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ﴿٧﴾

Asal laahu any yaj'ala bainakum wa bainal lazeena 'aadaitum minhum mawaddah; wallahu qadeer; wallahu ghafoorur raheem

Perhaps Allah will put, between you and those to whom you have been enemies among them, affection. And Allah is competent, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Hope even for old enemies: Allah may put affection between you. Many of the Makkans who fought the Muslims later became Muslims.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّۭا ﴿٩٦﴾

Innal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati sa yaj'alu lahumur Rahmaanu wuddaa

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.

For those who believe and do good, the Most Merciful will create love. Ibn Kathir explains it as love for them in the hearts of His servants.

أَنِ ٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ ٱلْيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّى وَعَدُوٌّۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةًۭ مِّنِّى وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِىٓ ﴿٣٩﴾

Aniqzifeehi fit Taabooti faqzifeehi fil yammi fal yul qihil yammu bis saahili yaakhuzhu 'aduwwul lee wa 'aduwwul lah; wa alqaitu 'alaika mahabbatam minnee wa litusna'a 'alaa 'ainee

[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye.

Allah to Musa: I cast upon you love from Me. Ibn Abbas said Allah made him loved by whoever saw him, even in Pharaoh's house.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةًۭ نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ ﴿٢٣﴾

Zaalikal lazee yubash shirul laahu 'ibaadahul lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaat; qul laaa as'alukum 'alaihi ajran illal mawaddata fil qurbaa; wa mai yaqtarif hasanatan nazid lahoo feehaa husnaa; innal laaha Ghafoorun Shakoor

It is that of which Allah gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative.

The Prophet ﷺ asked no wage for the message, only love through kinship. Ibn Abbas explained it as keeping the ties of kinship between him and Quraysh (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Arabic: Tanzil, Uthmani script. English: Sahih International. Context notes are ours, drawn from the classical tafsir. Tap ▶ to hear a verse.

Guide

About these verses, and how to use them

The Quran speaks of love in three circles. First, love for Allah, which the believers hold more strongly than anything else (2:165). Then the love that Allah places between hearts: the tribes of Madinah who had been enemies, the Ansar who welcomed the emigrants, and husband and wife, between whom He puts affection and mercy. Last, a warning: love of family, wealth and comfort is natural, but it must not outrank the love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. These are the main verses on love, each with its context.

The 14 verses on this page

2:165, 9:24, 3:14, 30:21, 3:103, 8:63, 59:9, 59:10, 48:29, 41:34, 60:7, 19:96, 20:39, 42:23. Tap a reference to open that ayah with the verses around it, or read the full surah.

Loving for the sake of Allah

The Sunnah adds to these verses. The Prophet ﷺ said none of us truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself (Sahih al-Bukhari 13, Sahih Muslim 45). He said we will not enter Paradise until we believe, and will not believe until we love one another, and then gave the way to it: spread the greeting of salam (Sahih Muslim 54). On the Day of Judgement Allah will ask, "Where are those who loved one another for My glory? Today I will shade them in My shade" (Sahih Muslim 2566). Love between spouses has its own page, Quran verses about marriage, and Allah's love for His servants has Quran verses about Allah's love.

Other topics: trust in Allah (tawakkul), patience, women, life, death, forgiveness, parents, marriage, hardship and ease, rizq (provision), mercy, gratitude, Ramadan and fasting, peace, motivation, blessings and barakah, the signs of Allah in creation, Allah's love, clouds and rain, education and knowledge, repentance (tawbah), children, charity, the afterlife (akhirah), strength, success, the death of a loved one, the earth.

Questions

Good to know

What does the Quran say about love?

That the believers love Allah most (2:165), that Allah puts love between hearts (3:103, 8:63) and between spouses (30:21), and that love of family and wealth must not come before Allah and His Messenger ﷺ (9:24).

Is the word love in the Quran?

Yes. Hubb (love) and mawaddah (affection) appear many times, for example 2:165, 3:31, 30:21 and 42:23. One of Allah's names is al-Wadud, the Loving (85:14).

Which ayah is about love between husband and wife?

30:21: "He placed between you affection and mercy." See Quran verses about marriage for more.

How do I love someone for the sake of Allah?

Love them for their faith and good character, wish for them what you wish for yourself, and tell them. The Prophet ﷺ said that if a man loves his brother, he should tell him (Sunan Abi Dawud, graded sahih).