Is one who desires a pure, heartfelt love that leads to marriage, while avoiding unlawful acts such as mingling (free mixing) and private seclusion (khalwa), sinful?

Love that is free from sin requires that the Muslim neither acquire nor seek it, and that it not be a motivator for committing forbidden acts. Marital life can succeed and endure without love, and sometimes marriages based on love fail. Among the most important factors for a successful marriage are: supplication (Du'a), choosing spouses wisely by consulting trustworthy individuals, performing the prayer of seeking guidance (Istikhara), and entrusting one's affairs to Allah.