Short answer
Allah's mercy reaches every creature in this world, believer or not: He gives everyone life, provision and the chance to turn to Him. His special love (mahabbah) is for those who believe and do good. The Quran says Allah loves the doers of good and those who repent, and does not love the disbelievers or the wrongdoers.
Sunni scholars distinguish Allah's general mercy (rahmah), which covers all creation in this life, from His love (mahabbah), which the Quran affirms for particular people and deeds. Love is affirmed for Him in a way that befits Him, unlike human emotion, as al-Tahawi says of His pleasure and anger; many Maturidi and Ash'ari scholars explain it as His will to honour and reward the one He loves.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Allah says: "My mercy encompasses all things" (7:156). Every breath, meal and kindness that any person receives, Muslim or not, comes from that mercy. The Prophet ﷺ, seeing a mother clutch her baby to her chest, said Allah is more merciful to His servants than this mother is to her child.
Love in the Quran is tied to faith and deeds. Allah loves the doers of good (2:195), those who repent and purify themselves (2:222), the patient, the just and those who rely on Him. "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you" (3:31). The Quran also says He does not love the disbelievers (3:32), the arrogant or the corrupt. When Allah loves a servant, the Prophet ﷺ said, He calls Jibril, and love for that person is placed among the angels and on earth.
So what about you, if you sin? Allah hates the sin, not the chance of your return. The door of repentance is open until death, and Allah is more pleased with a servant's repentance than a lost traveller who finds his camel. For a non-Muslim, His mercy shows in guidance being offered; whoever accepts Islam has his past wiped away.
Read about His name al-Wadud (the Loving), Quran verses about Allah's love, and will Allah forgive me if I keep sinning?
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:156
۞ وَٱكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾
And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allah] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses -
Shows Allah's mercy reaches all creation.
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:31
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ﴿٣١﴾
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
Ties Allah's love to following the Prophet ﷺ.
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:32
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٣٢﴾
Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.
Shows His love is not given to disbelief.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5999
Sahih... اللَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا ...
"Allah is more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child."
Shows the vastness of Allah's mercy.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3209
Sahih... إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحْبِبْهُ ...
"When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibril: Allah loves so-and-so, so love him."
Shows Allah's special love for particular servants.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya, Section on the attributes of Allah. States that Allah is pleased and angered, but not like any creature.
- Sharh al-Aqa'id al-Nasafiyya (al-Taftazani), Section on the attributes of Allah. Explains that His attributes are real and unlike those of creation.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.