Islam

Love encompasses the Islamic view of life as universal brotherhood that applies to all who
hold faith. Amongst the 99 names of God (Allah), there is the name Al-Wadud, or "the Loving
One," which is found in Surah [Quran 11:90] as well as Surah [Quran 85:14]. God is also referenced at the
beginning of every chapter in the Qur'an as Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, or the "Most
Compassionate" and the "Most Merciful", indicating that nobody is more loving,
compassionate and benevolent than God. The Qur'an refers to God as being "full of loving
kindness."
The Qur'an exhorts Muslim believers to treat all people, those who have not persecuted
them, with birr or "deep kindness" as stated in Surah [Quran 6:8-9]. Birr is also used by the Qur'an
in describing the love and kindness that children must show to their parents.
Ishq, or divine love, is the emphasis of Sufism in the Islamic tradition. Practitioners of Sufism
believe that love is a projection of the essence of God to the universe. God desires to
recognize beauty, and as if one looks at a mirror to see oneself, God "looks" at himself within
the dynamics of nature. Since everything is a reflection of God, the school of Sufism
practices to see the beauty inside the apparently ugly. Sufism is often referred to as the
religion of love.[citation needed] God in Sufism is referred to in three main terms, which are the Lover,
Loved, and Beloved, with the last of these terms being often seen in Sufi poetry. A common
viewpoint of Sufism is that through love, humankind can get back to its inherent purity and
grace. The saints of Sufism are infamous for being "drunk" due to their love of God; hence,
the constant reference to wine in Sufi poetry and music.