It is related in a sacred hadith that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: “O My servants, all of you are astray except those whom I guide, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide you. O My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are unclothed except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I shall clothe you. O My servants, you sin by night and by day, while I forgive all sins, so seek My forgiveness and I shall forgive you…” 1. Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “This entails that all created beings are dependent upon Allah Most High to secure what benefits them and ward off what harms them, in both their religious and worldly affairs. The servants have no power to secure any of this for themselves. Anyone whom Allah does not graciously grant guidance and provision will be deprived of both in this world, and anyone whom Allah does not graciously forgive will be ruined by his sins in the Hereafter.” 2. End of his words, may Allah have mercy on him.

All things are in His hand: guidance, well-being, provision, health, and everything else. Whatever He—Glorified is He—wills of these things comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass: “His command, when He wills something, is only to say to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” 3. Allah Most High says: “When We will something, Our only word to it is to say, ‘Be,’ and it is.” 4. Thus, His giving—Glorified is He—is effected by a word, and so too is His punishment. Whenever He wills something—whether a gift, a punishment, or anything else—He says to it, “Be,” and it is. Such being the case, how could refuge be sought with anyone other than Him, submission be shown to anyone beneath Him, or anyone else be sought and invoked?