which is the intended object of the heart's primary intention, thus becoming an associate in what enslaves him from that. And the heart will not be independent of all created beings unless Allāh is its protector, whom it worships alone, seeks help from alone, relies upon alone, rejoices only in what He loves and is pleased with, dislikes only what the Lord hates and detests, befriends only those whom Allāh befriends, opposes only those whom Allāh opposes, loves only for Allāh, and dislikes anything only for Allāh. So the stronger one's sincerity in religion for Allāh, the more complete one's servitude to Allāh and independence from created beings. And with the completion of one's servitude to Allāh, one's freedom from arrogance and associating partners is complete. Associating partners is prevalent among the Christians, and arrogance is prevalent among the Jews. He, the Exalted, said about the Christians (Sūrah al-Tawbah, 31): "They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him." And He said about the Jews (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 87): "Is it not that whenever a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant, and a group [of messengers] you denied and another group you killed?" And He, the Exalted, said (Sūrah al-Aʿrāf, 146): "I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way."