from Abū Hurayra, who reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘Whoever shows enmity towards a friend of Mine has challenged Me to war. Nothing by which My servant draws near to Me compares to fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he takes hold, and his foot with which he walks. Through Me he hears, through Me he sees, through Me he takes hold, and through Me he moves. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him; and if he seeks My protection, I will surely protect him. I have never hesitated over anything I am going to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress, yet he cannot escape it.’”

This is the most authentic hadith narrated concerning the friends of Allah.

The heretics and proponents of union cite it in support of their doctrine, because He says:

“I become his hearing, his sight, his hand, and his foot.”

Yet the hadith is evidence against them in many respects. Among these is His statement:

“Whoever shows enmity towards a friend of Mine has challenged Me to war.”

He thus affirms an enemy who wages war and a friend distinct from that enemy, and He—glory be to Him—affirms both in relation to Himself.

Another is His statement:

“Nothing by which My servant draws near to Me compares to fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him.”

He thus affirms a servant who draws near to his Lord, and a Lord who has imposed obligations upon him.

Another is His statement:

“My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him.”

He thus affirms one who draws near and One to whom he draws near, and One who loves and a beloved distinct from Him.

All of this refutes their assertion that existence is one.

Another is His statement:

“When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees