For this reason, a fundamental principle of Ahl al-Sunnah is that there is no creator but Allah, no agent who acts independently but Him, and none besides Him whose causal efficacy is complete. For anything posited besides Him as having action and influence depends in its action on conditions supplied by another, who thereby shares in it, and is impeded by opposing factors arising from others. It has a counterpart that acts as it does; it has a partner, a rival, and an equal. Thus, He—glorified and exalted—has made clear that He alone has no partner or helper, no opposing rival, and no equal resembling Him, as in His saying:

“Whatever mercy Allah grants to people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter.”
[Fātir 2]

He thus declares that none can withhold or oppose the mercy He grants, and that whatever He withholds, none besides Him can release or give. This accords with what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say during prayer when rising from bowing, and after the concluding salutation:

“O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold; nor can worldly fortune avail its possessor against You.”

There is no one in existence who gives anything without there being another who can withhold it, or who withholds anything without there being another who can give it.