The Principle of Love & Desire By Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah

Love is not merely a sentiment — it is the engine of every action a human being ever takes. Every movement of the limbs, every choice of the heart, every preference and aversion flows from what a person loves and what they desire. This is the argument at the heart of this work.

The Principle of Love and Desire by Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah establishes that love is the foundation of all human motivation — and therefore that the correctness or corruption of a person's love determines the correctness or corruption of their entire religious and moral life. It is a work for anyone who wants to understand why Tawheed is not just a theological position but the organizing principle of the believer's entire existence.

What This Book Covers

Love as the Foundation of All Action

Ibn Taymiyyah demonstrates from the Qur'an and authentic hadith that every action in the universe is driven by love and desire — and that every love or desire that is not grounded in love for Allah and seeking His face is ultimately futile and corrupt. This principle has enormous practical implications for how a Muslim evaluates their motivations, their attachments, and the direction of their heart.

Love for Allah's Sake — The Completion of Iman

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the one who loves for Allah, hates for Allah, gives for Allah, and withholds for Allah has completed their iman. Ibn Taymiyyah unpacks this hadith in depth — showing that the entire structure of iman, in all its dimensions, comes back to the direction of the heart's love and whether that love is properly oriented toward Allah alone.

The Sects That Went Astray Through Misunderstanding This Principle

The book examines how numerous sects and groups in Islamic history deviated from the straight path because of a misunderstanding of the principle of love and desire — groups that placed their love in the wrong objects, followed their desires over the revelation, or confused love with permission. The analysis is historically grounded and practically relevant to navigating contemporary deviations.

About the Author

Shaykhul-Islam Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) was born in Harran and taught in Damascus. He wrote across aqeedah, fiqh and hadith, and is noted for identifying the foundational principles underlying both correct belief and deviation. Published by Authentic Statements Publications.

Who This Book Is For

Students of aqeedah and manhaj who want to understand the heart's role in Tawheed, anyone studying the Islamic concept of al-wala' wal-bara', and every Muslim who wants a deeper understanding of why the correct direction of the heart's love is the foundation of everything else in the religion.

Continue Reading

Browse more works by Ibn Taymiyyah. Because this book sits between creed and the state of the heart, both reading paths apply: our guide to the best aqeedah books for beginners and our guide to the best books on purifying the soul (tazkiyah). Browse the full aqeedah and Islamic creed collection, or continue with Books by Ibn Taymiyyah: where to start.