May he perish and be cast down! If a thorn pricks him, may he never have it removed.”

Whoever has a created being holding sway over his heart is enslaved to it to that extent. When they tried to frighten Allah’s intimate friend with those whom they worshipped and associated with Him—major association of partners, as in worship—His intimate friend said:

“How could I fear what you associate with Allah, while you do not fear associating with Allah that for which He has sent you no authority? Which of the two parties has more right to security, if you know?”

He is saying: If you obey and worship others besides Allah, and address me concerning His religion with that for which He has sent down no authority, then which of the two parties has more right to security, if you know? That is, you associate partners with Allah without fearing Him, yet you try to frighten me with others besides Allah. Who, then, deserves security? He continues up to His words:

“It is they who will have security, and they are rightly guided.”

That is, those who sincerely affirm Allah’s oneness. This is why Imam Ahmad said to someone: “If you set yourself right, you would fear no one.”

Yet Satan whispers into people’s hearts, as Allah Most High says:

“Thus We have appointed for every prophet enemies—devils from mankind and jinn—who inspire one another with embellished words to deceive.”

He continues up to His words, exalted is He:

“They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but guess.”

He, glorified and exalted is He, informs us that what the messengers and prophets—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all—brought inevitably has enemies: devils from mankind and jinn who whisper embellished words. He also forbade seeking judgment from anyone other than Allah, saying, exalted is He:

“Shall I seek a judge other than Allah, when it is He who