What is the meaning of loving something for its own sake, and is Allah the only One loved for His own sake?

Allah alone is worthy of love for His own sake, due to His attributes, His beautiful names, and His blessings upon His servants. As for loving others, it is subordinate to loving Him, Glorified be He. For every existent being other than Him is loved for the sake of another, and whoever loves something for its own sake other than Allah has committed shirk. Therefore, it is not permissible to love anything in existence for its own sake except Allah the Almighty. And the love of prophets and righteous people is subordinate to His love, because part of the perfection of His love is that we love those whom He loves, and everything beloved to Allah draws one to the love of Allah.