He also said: I heard al-Sulamī say: I heard al-Nasrābādhī say, “The Real is jealous, and an expression of His jealousy is that He has made no path to Himself other than Himself.”

I say: This jealousy falls within the jealousy described by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said, “Allah’s jealousy is aroused when a believer does what He has forbidden him.” The greatest sin is to set up a rival to Allah when He created you, and to place another god alongside Him. Associating partners with Allah has both blatant and subtle forms. Those who take the middle course fulfil the obligations of monotheism, while the foremost, those brought near to Allah, fulfil its recommended acts as well as its obligations. Nothing is more beloved to Allah than monotheism, and nothing is more hateful to Him than associating partners with Him. This is why associating partners with Him is not forgiven; indeed, it is the greatest injustice.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The believer is like a tender plant: the winds sway it, bending it at one time and straightening it at another. The hypocrite is like a cedar tree: it remains firmly rooted until it is uprooted all at once.”