When he sought refuge through His attributes, he mentioned pleasure and displeasure, protection and punishment. Then he mentioned Allah Himself, saying, “I seek refuge in You from You.” Seeking refuge from His punishment is therefore one of three meanings. How, then, can it be said that there is nothing to beware of or seek refuge from except punishment? Allah Most High has said:

“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does so has nothing to do with Allah, unless you do so as a precaution to protect yourselves against them. Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the final return.”
(28)

[Āl Imrān 28]

In short, Allah’s warning of Himself is like His commanding people to fear Him and to be mindful of Him. It is well known that Allah Most High Himself is the One to be feared, and His punishment is among the things feared from Him. He is the One to be mindful of, and His punishment is warded off through mindfulness of Him. He is the One whose punishment is to be dreaded. Thus, to deny that the warning relates