(160) “If Allah aids you, no one can overcome you; but if He forsakes you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And in Allah let the believers put their trust.”

That is, if Allah supports you with His victory and assistance, “no one can overcome you,” even if all those in every region of the earth were to unite against you with all their manpower and equipment. For none can overpower Allah. He has subjugated His servants and holds them by their forelocks; no creature moves except by His permission, nor does it remain still except by His permission.

“But if He forsakes you” and leaves you to yourselves, “who is there that can aid you after Him?” You will inevitably be left helpless, even if all creation comes to your aid.

Implicit in this(1) is the command to seek victory from Allah, rely upon Him, and renounce one’s own might and power. Hence He says, “And in Allah let the believers put their trust.” Fronting the prepositional phrase indicates exclusivity—that is: Put your trust in Allah ⦗155⦘, not in anyone else. For it is known that He alone grants victory. Reliance upon Him is monotheism that secures the desired end, whereas reliance upon anyone besides Him is polytheism that brings its practitioner no benefit but rather harm.

This verse commands reliance upon Allah alone and indicates that a servant’s reliance upon Him corresponds to the strength of his faith.