They call this state annihilation, effacement, and union. When Junayd—may Allah be pleased with him—saw that a group of his disciples had reached it, he ordered them to pass on to the second differentiation: to distinguish between what is commanded and what is forbidden, between what Allah loves and what He detests, so that they might love what He loves and hate what He hates. Otherwise, if all they perceive is His creation of everything and they witness only this all-embracing oneness, then in their sight all things become alike, because creation, will, and power extend to everything. This is a witnessing of the Divine decree, not of His revealed law and religion. As a result, no love remains in their hearts for what He loves, nor hatred for what He hates, no loyalty to those He befriends, nor enmity toward those He opposes. Concerning people of this sort He—exalted is He—rebuked them, saying:
“Shall We then treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or shall We treat the God-fearing like the wicked?” (Q 38:28)
and:
“Do those who commit evil deeds suppose that We will make them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds, alike in their life and their death? How evil is their judgement!” (Q 45:21)
and:
“Shall We make the Muslims like the criminals? What is the matter with you; how do you judge?” (Q 68:35-36).
Allah’s friendship (walāyah) is the very opposite of His enmity, and the root of both friendship and enmity is love and hate. Allah’s friends are those who love what He loves and hate what He hates, while His enemies are those who hate what He loves and love what He hates. The Most High says:
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their tribe; such are the ones in whose hearts He has inscribed faith, and He has strengthened them with a spirit from Him.” (Q 58:22)
He also says:
“Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him: humble toward the believers, stern toward the disbelievers, striving in the path of Allah and fearing no reproach from any critic.” (Q 5:54)
and:
“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’” (Q 3:31).
Accordingly, whoever perceives with his heart only Allah’s all-embracing act of creation, His universal will, and His lordship over everything, without more, will make no distinction between His friend and His enemy; to him the obligatory acts, the supererogatory acts, and other deeds will not stand apart. Yet it is authentically reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“Allah says: ‘Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine I declare war on him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him…’”