What is the difference between al-ḥubb (love) and al-ʿishq (passionate love), and does the phenomenon of the harmony and acquaintance of souls exist, and are there people who understand it?
Love is the inclination of the heart towards the beloved. It has categories: praiseworthy and blameworthy. As for passionate love (ishq), it is an excess in love and a higher degree of it. Regarding the acquaintance of souls, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed us: "Souls are like recruited soldiers; those of them who recognize one another get along, and those who do not recognize one another diverge." And a person knowing what another wants without words, if that person is among the righteous, then it is a form of sagacity (firasah) that some believers whose souls have been purified attain. It is a light that Allah casts into the heart of His servant, by which he distinguishes between truth and falsehood.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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