“Their messengers said to them, ‘We are only human beings like you, but Allah bestows His favor upon whomever He wills among His servants. We could never bring you any authority except by Allah’s permission. In Allah, then, let the believers put their trust. Why should we not put our trust in Allah when He has guided us to our paths? We will surely bear patiently whatever harm you cause us. In Allah, then, let those who trust put their trust.’”
“Their messengers said to them,” in response to their demand and objection, “‘We are only human beings like you.’” That is, it is indeed true that we are human beings like you. “‘But’” there is nothing in that fact that invalidates the truth we have brought, for “Allah bestows His favor upon whomever He wills among His servants.” If Allah has favored us with His revelation and His message, that is His grace and beneficence. No one has the right to restrict Allah’s bounty or prevent Him from bestowing His favor.
Consider what we have brought you: if it is true, accept it; if it is otherwise, reject it. ⦗423⦘ Do not make our human condition an argument for rejecting what we have brought you. As for your statement, “Then bring us some clear authority,” this is not in our hands, and we have no control over the matter.
“We could never bring you any authority except by Allah’s permission.” He is the One who will bring it to you if He wills, and will not bring it if He wills otherwise. He does only what His wisdom and mercy entail. “In Allah”—and no one else—“let the believers put their trust.” They rely upon Him to secure what benefits them and ward off what harms them, knowing that His sufficiency is complete, His power is perfect, and His beneficence is all-encompassing. They trust Him to facilitate that, and their trust is proportionate to the faith they possess.
This makes it clear that trust in Allah is obligatory, that it is a necessary implication of faith, and that it is one of the greatest acts of worship—one that Allah loves and is pleased with—because all other acts of worship depend upon it.
“Why should we not put our trust in Allah when He has guided us to our paths?” That is, what could prevent us from trusting Allah when we are upon truth and guidance? Whoever is upon truth and guidance finds that his guidance requires him to place complete trust in Allah. Likewise, his knowledge that Allah has undertaken to aid and suffice those who are guided calls him to do so. This is unlike one who is not upon truth and guidance: he has no such guarantee from Allah, and his condition is the opposite of that of one who trusts Him.
In this, the messengers—peace and blessings be upon them—were, as it were, pointing out to their peoples a tremendous sign. Although their peoples generally possessed the power to subdue and dominate them, their messengers challenged them, declaring that they trusted Allah to repel their plots and schemes and were certain that He would suffice them. Allah indeed protected them from their peoples’ evil, despite their eagerness to destroy them and extinguish the truth they bore.
This resembles Noah’s statement to his people: “O my people! If my presence among you and my reminding you of Allah’s signs have become burdensome to you, then in Allah I have put my trust. So decide upon your course of action, together with your partners, and let there be no uncertainty in your plan. Then carry it out against me and grant me no respite”—and the ensuing verses.
Likewise, Hūd—peace be upon him—said: “Indeed, I call Allah to witness, and you yourselves bear witness, that I am free of all that you associate besides Him. So scheme against me, all of you, and grant me no respite.”
“We will surely bear patiently whatever harm you cause us.” That is, we will continue calling you, admonishing you, and reminding you, without concern for whatever harm comes to us from you. We will steel ourselves to endure whatever harm you inflict upon us, seeking Allah’s reward and acting out of sincere concern for you, in the hope that Allah may guide you through repeated reminders.
“In Allah alone”—and no one else—“let those who trust put their trust,” for trust in Him is the key to every good.
Know that the messengers’ trust in Allah—peace and blessings be upon them—concerned the highest aims and noblest stations: trusting Allah to establish and grant victory to His religion, guide His servants, and remove misguidance from them. This is trust in Allah in its most perfect form.