Negative Love: It is the ruling passion of a man for things left outside the purview of the love objects foreseen in the Qur'an. Deifying human beings and inanimate things, lust for worldly goods, yearning for lofty positions, self-adulation are among these inclinations. These feelings are contributive to the thwarting of man's development which eventually leads him to chastisements of all sorts.
Infatuation with Animate and Inanimate Idols
Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal with Allah.: They love them as they should love Allah. (2/165)
There are people who lavish affection upon animate and inanimate idols serving no useful purpose. They worship prophets or saints or apotheosize angels or devils, and hope that the spirits of the departed will be of some use to them; they make sacrifices and take vows expecting that the idols of the heathen will fulfill their wishes. This is a blasphemy, a heathen practice, a capital sin! Yielding to such pointless temptations will darken the souls and make them a slave to Satan's guiles.
Passion for Worldly Goods
And ye love wealth with inordinate love! (89/20)
And violent is he in his love of wealth. (100/8)
Worldly goods deserve but a moderate relish. For, if a man dotes on property and wealth and hoards his possessions, refraining to share them with others, that means they have been enthralled by self-interest. This is tantamount to idolatry. To share the surplus of their needs in the path traced by God, to give alms and perform acts of charity are among the duties foreseen by God. These goods will be of no avail in the next world.
Yielding to the temptation of the self.
Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self: Truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray." (12/30)
This temptation may overrule a man and lead him to all sorts of follies and disasters. The only way to get rid of this passion is to take refuge in God.
Inordinate Love for Worldly Goods
Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? (45/23)
Say: Shall I give you glad tidings of things Far better than those? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home; with companions pure (and holy); and the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah.s sight are (all) His servants. (3/14)
As to these, they love the fleeting life, and put away behind them a Day (that will be) hard. (76/27)
Appreciation of worldly goods has been made sine qua non for the perpetuation of life on earth. It is in conformity with the laws of creation. Nevertheless, to dote on them, to indulge in lust for life, to let oneself be blinded by love of one's progeny, to adore wealth, to be a slave to material assets like automobiles, to be particular about one's position and rank, to indulge in the pleasures of the table, to be wallow in riches, to let oneself to be carried by human frailties to the point of idolizing them are attribution of partners to God. And this is an unpardonable capital sin.
POSITIVE LOVE