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qul ʾin kuntum tuḥibbūna llāha fa-ttabiʿūnī yuḥbibkumu llāhu wa-yaghfir lakum dhunūbakum wa-llāhu ghafūrun raḥīmun
Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah 'Ali-Imran, Verse 31
Sins of those who love Allah and his Apostle are forgiven - Mary's dedication for service to the Lord - The glad tidings to Zachariah of being granted a son
31. "Say: ' If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful ',"
The verses under discussion, including the above verse, have been revealed about a group of the People of the Book, (the Christians from Najran), who used to say:
Then Allah defines 'the followers of the Apostle of Allah' as the clear example of this love, and tells His Apostle Muhammad thus:
If you are true in what you claim -that you love Allah -then follow the Apostle of Allah. This act of following is the same as obeying Allah. It is in this case that, Allah loves you and forgives your sins.