[3:28] Let not the believers take the disbelievers as patrons, rather than the believers -
Among the realities of faith is friendship (muwālā) and enmity (ʿadāwā) on behalf of God. The one whom it would be best for you to renounce and turn away from among the disbelievers is your lower self. Its nature is Magian in that it says, 'Mine, from me, and through me'. God Most High said: O you who believe, fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you [9:123].
Verily belief in this path (?arīqa) is rare and precious. Even if ordinary people who have no belief in this path were to wear themselves out with extreme asceticism and effort, they would not be among the people of Your friendship (muwālā). Like with like is more suitable.
[3:28 cont'd] for whoever does that, does not belong to God in anyway - unless you protect yourselves against them, as a safeguard. God warns you of His Self: and to God is the journey's end.
Companionship (ṣubḥa) with the Real (s) and nearness to Him can by no means be combined with the companionship of adversaries and being close to them.
God warns you of His self: This is an address to the elect among the people of mystical knowledge (maʿrifa). As for those whose degree is less than that, He has said to them: fear the fire that… [3:131] and He said: fear a day wherein you shall be returned [2:281], and so on in other verses.
It is said God warns you of His self in that you may be of the opinion that you have arrived, but surely the imperceptible affairs of the divine deception (makr) can happen to the most respected. The one who spoke for them said:
I felt safe from him
but the safe place granted to me was a ruse.
Such it is for those
who feels safe from lovers.
It is said God warns you of His self because anyone who imagines that a created being can reach Him or that the feet of human aspiration can touch the carpet of might - Glory and Might be to the Absolute Oneness! And anyone who thinks that [God] has brought them near, in reality [God] has made them distant from Him.