Yusuf Estes, American Muslim preacher, delivers a clear message to the haters: There is no hatred in Islam!  In fact, for a Muslim to hate something is “the beginning of the problem” as he puts it.

In this new innovative explanation of love and hatred in Islam, he says:

…But you know, when people have to hate something, that’s the beginning of the problem.  I don’t have to hate anybody to be a Muslim.  If somebody needs me to hate Christians, I don’t need that.  If you need me to hate the Jewish, I don’t need that.

If you need me to hate a person – where he’s from, what he looks like, what his color is, I don’t need it.  I left that when I came to Islam…

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4evdPukt0Q&t=8m00s

While these words might sound inspirational, or at least acceptable, to some Muslims of a similar background (ex-Christians who haven’t learned much about Islam), or those who wish to “modify” Islam to fit the standards of the disbelievers’ current beliefs and understanding, this idea is actually in stark contradiction to the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace).  He said:

(( إِنَّ أَوْثَقَ عُرَى الإِيْمَانِ أَنْ تُحِبَّ فِي اللهِ وَتُبْغِضَ فِي اللهِ ))

“Verily the strongest handhold of faith is that you love for the sake of Allah and that you hate for the sake of Allah.” [Ahmad 4/286, authentic]

And he said (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace):

(( مَنْ أَعْطَى للهِ تَعَالَى، وَمَنَعَ للهِ، وَأَحَبَّ للهِ وَأَبْغَضَ للهِ، وَأَنْكَحَ للهِ، فَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ إِيمَانَهُ ))

“Whoever gives for Allah, the Most High, withholds for Allah, loves for Allah, hates for Allah, and marries for Allah has perfected his eemaan.” [Ahmad 3/440, Tirmithee #2521, authentic]

Love and hatred are natural human emotions.  Islam does not require Muslims to pretend not to have emotions, as the Christians believe they are required to do in their religion.  Instead, Islam guides us to balance and moderation in our emotions, and thus we love those who deserve to be loved, and hate those who deserve to be hated, in a balanced way that does not interfere with our obligation to be fair and just to everyone:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ للهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَئَانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللهَ إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

( O you who believe!  Stand devoutly for Allah as witnesses of justice, and do not let your animosity for some people prevent you from being fair.  Be fair, as it is closer to piety, and observe your duty to Allah.  Verily, Allah is all-informed of what you do! ) [Soorah al-Maa’idah, 5:8]

Yusuf Estes needs to be reminded that Allah’s Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) identified “hating” as an essential part of faith in Islam.  Hopefully, Yusuf Estes would not dare respond by saying:

I don’t need that!

These kinds of blatant contradictions to true Islamic teachings coming from Yusuf Estes are nothing new.  In fact, the following free e-book outlines many of the most dangerous of his beliefs, so that you and your family can educate yourselves and be on guard against them:

The Teachings of Yusuf Estes About the Quran (PDF)