Love does not teach to hate. Learn the difference. 

If you hate another country to prove your love for yours, you are not patriotic, you are a nationalist. And that is as bad as some other “ist” words like facist, racist, etc. Patriotism is doing good for your country and fellow citizens out of love and goodwill. It does not involve hate of another country or a desire to hurt others or to feel superior to others. Patriotism is what drives you to do good in your community. Unchecked nationalism is what drives you to hurt others and to war and to expand your borders at the cost of thousands and millions of deaths. That is NOT love of country. 

If you hate people of other sects, religions, etc, you are not religious or spiritual. All religions have tried to teach humans to live in peace with each other. Islam places huqooq-ul-ibad above huqooq-ul-Allah. All religions came to teach love and peace. That’s why in Islam we greet others with “Asalam alay-kum”. Peace be on you. That is core Islam. So if you hurt the bodies, lives, livelihood, properties and even peace of mind of others because they don’t share the same religion or sect as you, that is NOT being religious or spiritual. That is sinful. The first 4 are also criminal. This is NOT love of God. 

If you hate your wife’s family and friends for taking up her time, that is not love. That is over-attachment, codependency and probably hints that you don’t actually have a life of your own. This is NOT love.

If you hate your child’s competitors at a student body election or athletic competition, that is not love. It probably means you are over-invested in your child’s life, and need to do some soul searching. I mean, as a parent yourself, if you can hate other people’s children, then there is something really wrong. This is NOT love. 

Love does not teach to hate. Love knows that love can only expand and bring in more people to love. Love doesn’t try to make you prove your love. That is fear. Hate comes from fear, fear that there is only a finite amount of resources or love or anything for anyone. That’s why it creates the “Other” that can be hated, the “Other” who your fear blames for taking away what is limited, what should only be yours. So, you can harm the “Other” without feeling remorse.

Unfortunately, there are many of those in power who try to teach us to hate and fear the “Other” just for their own political or financial gains. And they often disguise that hate in the love of something else. So, if anyone is teaching you to hate, then understand they have some other goal in mind. They are gaining from your hate in some way.

For Love does not teach to hate. Learn the difference.