(38) “Indeed, Allah defends those who believe. Indeed, Allah does not love anyone who is treacherous and ungrateful.”

This is a declaration, promise, and glad tiding from Allah to those who believe: because of their faith, Allah defends them against everything harmful and wards off from them every evil—the evil of the disbelievers, the evil of Satan’s whisperings, the evils within their own souls, and the evil consequences of their deeds. When hardships befall them, He also relieves them of what they could not bear, alleviating their burden to the utmost. Every believer receives a share of this defense and favor in proportion to his faith—some receiving less and others more.

“Indeed, Allah does not love anyone who is treacherous”—that is, one who betrays the trust with which Allah has charged him, failing to render Allah His due rights and betraying both that trust and other people.

“And ungrateful” for Allah’s blessings: Allah continually bestows goodness upon him, while disbelief and disobedience continually proceed from him. Allah does not love such a person; rather, He hates and detests him and will requite him for his disbelief and treachery. Conversely, the verse implies that Allah loves everyone who is trustworthy, faithfully fulfills his trust, and is grateful to his Lord.