Love

One significant difference between the Qur’an and the Bible is how the texts view and reveal love. 

One of the most familiar passages to Christians, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The word “loved” in this verse comes from the Greek word “agapao” which means “unconditional love, love by choice and by an act of the will.” 

In the Bible, God’s love has nothing to do with obeying laws or performing rituals. God’s agape love for the world is a sacrificial love available to all because, as the Bible says, “God is love.”

Allah’s love falls into two distinct categories in the Qur’an, negative and positive. In some passages, the Qur’an talks about man’s love of things, such as life and wealth. Other love references are about human love, including man’s love for Allah. 

The Qur’an tells us that Allah loves

•     Those who do good
•     The pure and clean
•     Those who are righteous
•     The just
•     Those who trust Allah
•     Those who love Allah and follow Muhammad
•     Those who fight in Allah’s cause

But the Qur’an also says Allah does not love

•     Transgressors
•     The corrupt
•     Unbelievers (anyone not a Muslim)
•     Wrongdoers
•     Wasters
•     Boasters
•     The treacherous
•     Those given to crime and evil speaking

As Christians, we know that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” His love is extended to all. 

The Islamic god does not love non-Muslims. His love is only for good, righteous, and just Muslims. It is a love completely conditional on obedience to his laws, even for Muslims.