Yasaaf, from Hawshab, from al-Hasan regarding His saying: "Say, if you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you," he said: The sign of His love for them was following the Sunnah of His Messenger [1].

3402 - al-Hasan b. Ahmad narrated to us, Musa b. Muhkam reported to us, Abu Bakr al-Hanafi reported to us, 'Abbad b. Mansur reported to us, he said: I asked al-Hasan about His saying: "Say, if you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." He said: Yes, there were people during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who claimed they loved Allah, so He wanted to make their claim confirmed by action, and He said: "Say, if you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." He said: Following Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the confirmation of their claim.

3403 - Abu Muhammad al-Shafi'i informed us in what he wrote to me, he said: My paternal uncle read to my father, or my father to my paternal uncle—the doubt is mine—from Sufyan b. 'Uyaynah, while I was listening, he was asked about the saying: "A person is with those he loves," and he said: Have you not heard the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Say, if you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you." He says: Love draws you near, and that is nearness. He said: "And [that] He may take from among you martyrs. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers [2]," meaning He does not draw the wrongdoers near.

3404 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan informed us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said: "Then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins," meaning what has passed of your disbelief, "and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

3405 - Muhammad b. al-'Abbas narrated to us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said regarding "And Allah is Forgiving": He forgives the sin.

And regarding His saying: "Merciful," he said: He is merciful to the servants for what is in them.

His saying, the Exalted: "Say, obey Allah and the Messenger."

3406 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan informed us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said: "Obey Allah and the Messenger," while you recognize him and find him in your Book.