Concept

Abu Ali al-Daqqaq teaches that intimacy (uns) must be reserved for God alone. His maxim holds that whoever finds intimacy with other than the Truth becomes weak in his spiritual state, and whoever speaks from other than Him is a liar in his discourse.

The reasoning behind the maxim:

• Intimacy with what is other-than-God arises from a severe deficiency of gnosis (qillat-i ma'rifat); the more one knows God, the less one clings to creation.
• True intimacy with God necessarily produces estrangement (wahshat) from all else.
• One who is estranged from creation cannot speak from creation, so his speech remains truthful and rooted in the Truth.

The teaching links authentic uns to the negation of attachment, making gnosis the measure of whom one may rightfully befriend.