turning to Him for shelter, and seeking refuge in Him from the evil of one who envies a blessing. He thus seeks refuge with the Master and Bestower of blessings. It is as though he says: “O You who have bestowed Your blessing upon me and graciously granted it to me, I seek refuge in You from the evil of anyone who wishes to snatch it from me and deprive me of it.” He is sufficient for whoever trusts in Him, and enough for whoever seeks shelter with Him. He allays the fears of the fearful and protects those who seek protection. What an excellent Protector and an excellent Helper He is! Whoever takes Him as his Protector, seeks His help, trusts in Him, and turns wholly to Him, He takes into His care, preserves, guards, and protects. Whoever fears Him and remains mindful of Him, He grants safety from what he fears and dreads, and brings him every benefit he needs:
65:2, 3 “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah—then He is sufficient for him.”
So do not think His help, provision, or protection from harm slow in coming. Allah will surely accomplish His purpose. Allah has appointed a measure for everything; it comes neither before nor after its appointed time. Whoever does not fear Him, He makes afraid of everything. No one fears anything other than Allah except because his fear of Allah is deficient. Allah Most High says:
16:98, 99 “So when you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. Indeed, he has no authority over those who believe and rely upon their Lord. His authority is only over those who take him as an ally and those who, through him, associate partners with Allah.”
He also says:
3:175 “It is only Satan who frightens you with his allies. So do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are believers.”
That is, he frightens you with his allies and makes them seem formidable in your hearts. So do not fear them; fear Me alone, and I will suffice you against them.
Section
The evil of an envious person can be warded off from the person he envies through ten means.
The first is seeking refuge in Allah from his evil, seeking protection with Him, and turning to Him for shelter. This is the purpose of this surah. Allah Most High hears the person’s plea for refuge and knows that from which he seeks refuge. What is meant by hearing here is hearing in the sense of responding, not hearing in its general sense. This is like the saying, “Allah hears whoever praises Him,” and the words of Abraham, the Close Friend of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
14:39 “Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.”
Sometimes He couples hearing with knowledge, and sometimes with sight, as the circumstances of the person seeking refuge require. For he seeks refuge in Him from an enemy whom he knows Allah sees, and whose scheming and evil Allah knows. Allah Most High therefore informs this seeker of refuge