Quran Verses About Love
In the Quran, love begins with Allah — He is Al-Wadud, 'the Affectionate' (85:14), and the path to His love is stated plainly: follow the Prophet, 'so Allah will love you' (3:31). The Quran names whom Allah loves — the good-doers, the repentant, the steadfast — and roots human love, including marriage, in what He placed between hearts (30:21). These ten ayahs map love divine and human.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Surah Ali 'Imran 3:31
قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِي يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
The verse scholars call the test of love — if you love Allah, follow His Messenger, and Allah will love and forgive you.
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:165
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادٗا يُحِبُّونَهُمۡ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَشَدُّ حُبّٗا لِّلَّهِۗ وَلَوۡ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ إِذۡ يَرَوۡنَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلۡقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعٗا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ
Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only) - those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah - Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment
The believer's distinguishing mark — those who believe are stronger, and stronger still, in their love for Allah.
- Surah Ali 'Imran 3:134
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good
Three traits Allah loves — giving in ease and hardship, restraining anger, and pardoning people.
- Surah Ali 'Imran 3:76
بَلَىٰۚ مَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِعَهۡدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Nay, but (the chosen of Allah is) he who fulfilleth his pledge and wardeth off (evil); for lo! Allah loveth those who ward off (evil)
Allah loves those who keep their word and guard their duty — love tied to integrity.
- Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:54
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَن يَرۡتَدَّ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوۡفَ يَأۡتِي ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمٖ يُحِبُّهُمۡ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ يُجَٰهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوۡمَةَ لَآئِمٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing
The two-way love the Quran promises — a people 'He will love and who will love Him,' humble with believers.
- Surah Maryam 19:96
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجۡعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وُدّٗا
Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Beneficent will appoint for them love
A promise to the faithful — the Most Merciful will appoint affection for those who believe and do right.
- Surah Ar-Rum 30:21
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا لِّتَسۡكُنُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُم مَّوَدَّةٗ وَرَحۡمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect
Married love is Allah's craftsmanship — He placed affection and mercy between spouses as one of His signs.
- Surah Al-Buruj 85:14
وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلۡوَدُودُ
And He is the Forgiving, the Loving
One of Allah's own names — Al-Wadud, the Affectionate — joined here with the Forgiving.
- Surah Hud 11:90
وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٞ وَدُودٞ
Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him (repentant). Lo! my Lord is Merciful, Loving
Repentance is met with more than pardon — 'indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Affectionate.'
- Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:7
۞عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَجۡعَلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ ٱلَّذِينَ عَادَيۡتُم مِّنۡهُم مَّوَدَّةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ قَدِيرٞۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ
It may be that Allah will ordain love between you and those of them with whom ye are at enmity. Allah is Mighty, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
Love can be rewritten — perhaps Allah will put affection between you and those who were once enemies.
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Quran say about love?
That Allah Himself is Al-Wadud, the Affectionate (85:14); that His love is earned by following His Messenger (3:31); and that He loves specific traits — good-doing, repentance, integrity, steadfastness. Human love, including between spouses, is something He places in hearts (30:21, 19:96).
Whom does Allah love according to the Quran?
Among those named: the doers of good and those who restrain anger and pardon (3:134), those who fulfill commitments and fear Him (3:76), the just, the patient, and those who repent and purify themselves. Each 'Allah loves...' verse describes a practice, not a status.
Does the Quran talk about romantic love?
Yes — within marriage. Ayah 30:21 describes spouses created 'that you may find tranquillity in them,' with affection (mawaddah) and mercy placed between them by Allah as one of His signs.
Sit with these ayahs, not just skim them
Read each verse in its surah, favorite the ones that hold you, and ask Noor about anything unclear — free to start.
Get Living Quran free