Is love forbidden?

Love is of various kinds. Some are permissible, such as the love of Allah and His Messenger, which is a condition of faith and entails obedience to the Beloved. Also, the love of believers and righteous people, which is among the best acts of devotion.

Another type is the love for one's wife and children, which is an innate, natural affection, and a person is not held accountable for it. The love for parents and relatives is also commendable.

As for love between young men and women, there are two categories: The first is when the love of a woman is cast into a man's heart, and he fears Allah and marries her, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is nothing like marriage for two who love each other." The second is intense infatuation ( 'ishq ) that takes hold of the heart without the ability to maintain chastity. This is forbidden and has grave consequences. It afflicts hearts empty of the love of Allah. Its remedies include lowering the gaze, avoiding provocations, constant self-monitoring, fasting, and marrying a woman who possesses religious devotion.