Is it permissible for a woman to say to a man (whether a Mahram or not): "I love you for the sake of Allah," or is this expression restricted to the same gender?

The phrase "Indeed, I love you for the sake of Allah" was not customary among the righteous predecessors between a man and a woman, or vice versa, even though the meaning of the sentence is sound and generally desirable for believers. The hadith "If one of you loves his brother, let him go to his house and inform him that he loves him for the sake of Allah" addresses the love between men, and it is permissible for a woman to say it to another woman. However, for a man to say that to a woman, or vice versa, is not covered by the hadith and opens a door to great temptation that could lead to major sins.