Love and Hate for the Sake of Allaah

On the authority of al-Baraa ibn ‘Aazib (radiallaahu ‘anhu): The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

Awthaq ‘Ural Eeman Al-Hubu fillaah wal-bughdu fillaah (The strongest handhold of Eeman is loving for Allaah’s sake, and hating for Allaah’s sake). 

[Ahmad (4/286), Ibn Abee Shaybah (no. 110); hasan due to supporting narrations]

Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiallaahu ‘anhumma) said: 

“Whoever loves for the sake of Allaah, and hates for the sake of Allaah, and befriends for the sake of Allaah, and shows enmity for the sake of Allaah, would get Walayatullaah (Allaah’s friendship). Without abiding by this, no one can get the real taste (sweetness) of Eeman though he may have been a frequent offerer of prayer (salat) and fasts. Today, people keep relationship and love only for some wordly reason, but this will not provide them any benefit (on the Day of Judgement).” 

[Ibn Jarir]

The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

Love the one whom you love in moderation. Perhaps one day, he will be one whom you hate. And hate the one whom you hate in moderation. Perhaps one day, he will be one whom you love. 

[at-Tirmidhee and others; 'Saheeh,' Saheehul-Jaami' (no. 176)]

via salaf-us-saalih.com