In Section 108 of Subhat al-Abrar (within the Haft Awrang), Jami defines the first class of those who seek seclusion (uzlat) and solitude (khalwat). This level consists of individuals whose primary intention is to escape the moral and spiritual harm of society and protect themselves from the evils of both the elite and the common folk. Jami warns that worldly companions, even those who seem to be well-wishers, can act as thieves of one's time and spiritual energy. He invokes the classic Persian literary motif that a wicked companion is far more dangerous than a venomous serpent: while a physical snake only threatens the body, a bad companion corrupts the soul, destroys the intellect, and uproots one's religious faith (deen).