Ayah

Word by Word
قُلۡ
Say
إِن
If
كُنتُمۡ
you
تُحِبُّونَ
love
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
فَٱتَّبِعُونِي
then follow me
يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ
will love you
ٱللَّهُ
Allah
وَيَغۡفِرۡ
and He will forgive
لَكُمۡ
for you
ذُنُوبَكُمۡۚ
your sins
وَٱللَّهُ
And Allah
غَفُورٞ
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٞ
Most Merciful
قُلۡ
Say
إِن
If
كُنتُمۡ
you
تُحِبُّونَ
love
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
فَٱتَّبِعُونِي
then follow me
يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ
will love you
ٱللَّهُ
Allah
وَيَغۡفِرۡ
and He will forgive
لَكُمۡ
for you
ذُنُوبَكُمۡۚ
your sins
وَٱللَّهُ
And Allah
غَفُورٞ
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٞ
Most Merciful
Translation

Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Tafsir

When they said, 'We only worship idols out of our love for God, that they might bring us close to Him', the following was revealed: Say, O Muhammad may peace and salutation be upon him, 'If you love God, follow me, and God will love you, meaning that He will reward you, and forgive you your sins; God is Forgiving, as regards the sins, committed previously, by one who [now] follows me; Merciful, to him.
"Allah's Love is Attained by Following the Messenger
Allah says;
قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ اللّهُ
Say (O Muhammad to mankind):""If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad), Allah will love you,
This honorable Ayah judges against those who claim to love Allah, yet do not follow the way of Muhammad. Such people are not true in their claim until they follow the Shariah (Law) of Muhammad and his religion in all his statements, actions and conditions.
It is recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,
مَنۡ عَمِلَ عَمَلً لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡهِ أَمۡرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد
Whoever commits an act that does not conform with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected of him.
This is why Allah said here,
قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ اللّهُ
Say (O Muhammad to mankind):""If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you...,""
meaning, what you will earn is much more than what you sought in loving Him, for Allah will love you.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri and several scholars among the Salaf commented,
""Some people claimed that they love Allah. So Allah tested them with this Ayah;
قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ اللّهُ
(Say (O Muhammad to mankind):""If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you..."").""
Allah then said,
وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
""And forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.""
meaning, by your following the Messenger, you will earn all this with the blessing of his mission.
Allah next commands everyone
قُلۡ أَطِيعُواۡ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فإِن تَوَلَّوۡاۡ
Say:""Obey Allah and the Messenger."" But if they turn away,
by defying the Prophet,
فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡكَافِرِينَ
then Allah does not like the disbelievers.
thus, testifying that defiance of the Messenger's way constitutes Kufr.
Indeed, Allah does not like whoever does this, even if he claims that he loves Allah and seeks a means of approach to Him, unless, and until, he follows the unlettered Prophet, the Final Messenger from Allah to the two creations:mankind and the Jinn.
This is the Prophet who, if the previous Prophets and mighty Messengers were to have been alive during his time, they would have no choice but to follow, obey him, and to abide by his Law. Allah willing, we will mention this fact when we explain the Ayah,
وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ اللّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّيۡنَ
(And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets). (3:81)"
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. We need additional funding to add this interpretation.