Sinners Can Also Love The Prophet

Can Major Sinners (أهل الكبائر) Love God and His Messenger?

Yes

An alcoholic was lashed for drinking alcohol, which is a major sin (كبيرة) – but he used to go back to drinking REPEATEDLY. Het kept getting lashed for drinking, so one companion cursed him, but the Prophet said:

لاَ تَلْعَنُوهُ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ
“Do not curse him, for by God, I know that he loves God and His Apostle.”
[“Sahih Bukhari”, 6780].
https://sunnah.com/bukhari/86/9

Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani commented:
وفيه أن لا تنافي بين ارتكاب النهي وثبوت محبة الله ورسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم في قلب المرتكب
وأن من تكررت منه المعصية لا تنزع منه محبة الله ورسوله
“And this proofs that there is no contradiction between committing a forbidden act and the existence of love for God and His Messenger in the heart of that person.
And it also shows that this does not eradicate love for God and His Messenger, even if a sin is committed repeatedly.”
[“Fath al-Bari”, 12/80].

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If you think that only pious people in Masajid love God and His Messenger – you are mistaken.

God and the Prophet have many lovers, among the people who commit major sins (أهل الكبائر).

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I saw this with my own eyes, when the Qur’an exhibition was happening in Birmingham, UK – a few years ago.
There were some gangster boys, and some girls, who did not look like practising Muslimas at all, with no Hijabs, full make-up, and even parts of their bodies uncovered – but their eyes were full of tears when they saw the old copy of the Qur’an!!!!
Imagine if they saw the Prophet!
On that day, I realised that we can’t really measure anyone’s love based on the apparent, etc.
You will find major sinners, like alcoholics and drug-addicts, who don’t even go to the Mosques – but they will never disrespect God and His Messenger, in fact, they will defend God and His Messenger in their gatherings.
The flame of imaan has dimmed, but not died in their hearts.
It’s just that they’ve lost some battles against the Nafs and the Devil – and this caused them to disobey the God they love.
May God grant us all love for Him and His Messenger and give us all Taufiq to act on His commandments.

Ameen