Love is often misunderstood most of the time in our society whether in religious realm or in social context. In society, the word is usually used with affection for romantic relationship or we use it casually toward our parents, and nothing much beyond that. In religious context, when we think of it, we get imagine a sufi or mystic in our minds who speaks about love and has mystery around him. I believe we’ve to consult Quran to avoid these extremes.

Prophet’s love and his companions love for Allah, or for each other never restrain from worldly affairs. So, neither someone left worldly affairs after being in love with Allah nor we just narrow it down to a single aspect of our lives. such as romantic love for opposite gender.

First of all we need to cover different words used in Quran for love not just those explicitly denoting love but also terms express various forms of love.

Words Used for Love in Quran:

• حُبّ (Hubb) – This is the most general term for love
• مَوَدَّة (Mawaddah) – Refers to affectionate, tender love, especially in the context of marital love or close relationships.
  • There is also Name of Allah وَدُود (Al-Wadud) "The Most Loving" or "Affectionate.". These both words derived from same root وَدُ (wudd).

Above two words are used for love, but I’ve also added Rahmah here, the why will be discuss later here.

Another perspective is that مَوَدَّة (Mawaddah) is love that is expressed in actions. However, حُبّ (Hubb) and maḥabbah (محبة) refer to a state of the heart.

• رَحْمَة (Rahmah) – Usually translated as "mercy," it covers compassion, caring love in relationships.

Forms of Love

There’re different forms of love mentioned in Quran, major are:

When we talk about human’s love then we’ve two forms of love given below.

1. Human’s love for other humans, material things etc

   3:14 زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَـٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ ١٤

   The enjoyment of ˹worldly˺ desires—women, children,[1] treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

   89:20 وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلْمَالَ حُبًّۭا جَمًّۭا ٢٠

   and love wealth fervently. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

   This type of love for world or other humans is permissible as long as it’s not surpassing or superseding the love of Allah. Wudd & Hubb are the words mostly used for expressing this concept.

2. Man's love for Allah

   2:165 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

   Still there are some who take others as Allah’s equal—they love them as they should love Allah—but the ˹true˺ believers love Allah even more. If only the wrongdoers could see the ˹horrible˺ punishment ˹awaiting them˺, they would certainly realize that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is indeed severe in punishment. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

   In second part of ayah, man’s love for Allah is mentioned. Allah also says that there are people who love others as they should love Allah.

   9:24 قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَـٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ٢٤

   Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If your parents and children and siblings and spouses and extended family and the wealth you have acquired and the trade you fear will decline and the homes you cherish—˹if all these˺ are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and struggling in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His Will. Allah does not guide the rebellious people.” — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

   So, as human, we naturally have love for worldly things and for other people, and that’s fine. In some cases it’s we’re encouraged to do so, like our love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), other Muslims, our spouse, and our parents. However, this love should never exceed love for Allah.

   Why shouldn’t worldly love exceed the love for Allah?

   1. Practically, it’s necessary because if we ever have to choose between Allah and our worldly loves at some points in our lives, we’ll surely choose the one who we love most.
   2. Secondly, Allah deserves to be loved above all else.

When we discuss Allah’s love, again we’ve two forms of love mentioned in Quran.