The Status of Love in Quranic Verses and the Lifestyle of the Guides

Love is a state existing in all humans and in a specific period of their life it reaches its climax. This common phenomenon, however, is different for divine guides; some people take divine guides as their role models for how to display love and affectionand others criticize them. The present paper examines differing meanings and types of love, first from the viewpoint of different sects as well as divine revelation and then in the lifestyles of these guides. From the perspective of the guides, true love and true lovers are admired and false love and lovers are disapproved of. They see true love as immense, shedding light on one's entire life; for them, virtual love is in line with true love and false love has no room in their lives. Accusations of having false love leveled at divine guides are expressly rejected in Quranic verses and by the Family of the Prophet, and their life and character are introduced as exempt from false love and vain desire.