If someone were to ask: Is this meant in an unrestricted sense—that whoever Allah befriends is never humiliated, and whoever He opposes is never granted might?

The answer is: It is not meant in an unrestricted sense. Humiliation may at times befall some believers, and might may at times be granted to some polytheists. Yet this is not an absolute, perpetual, and unbroken alternation of fortunes. What happened to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions at Uhud undoubtedly involved a measure of might for the polytheists. For this reason, they boasted, saying, “A day for a day of Badr; war has its turns.” (1) There is likewise no doubt that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions suffered wounds and weakness unlike anything they had previously experienced. But this was a passing occurrence; it was not enduring and continual might for the polytheists, nor was it lasting and continual humiliation for the believers. It contained many tremendous benefits, which Allah, Most High, mentioned in Surat Al Imran. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, discussed them comprehensively in Zad al-Ma‘ad (2), in his treatment of the lessons of this campaign, and mentioned the immense benefits arising from what befell the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions.

Thus, regarding the words, “Whoever You befriend will never be humiliated, and whoever You oppose will never be mighty,” we may say that this is not unrestricted; rather, it is qualified by exceptional circumstances. Or we may say that it is general and remains upon its general meaning, with nothing excluded from it; yet it is a general expression intended in a specific sense—namely, that one will not suffer lasting humiliation, nor will one possess lasting might.

“Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted are You, ………”

His saying, “Blessed are You, our Lord,” means: Blessed are You, O our Lord. Blessing is abundance of