so fear them.’ But this increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.’”

“So they returned with blessings and bounty from Allah, untouched by harm. They pursued Allah’s pleasure, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty.”

“It is only Satan who makes you fear his allies. So do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are believers.”

He thus forbade the believers to fear Satan’s allies and commanded them to fear Him. Fearing Him requires doing what He has commanded, refraining from what He has forbidden, and seeking forgiveness for sins. Affliction is then averted, and victory is gained over enemies. Hence ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Let no servant fear anything but his own sin.” If a creature is given power over him, it is only because of his sins. Let him therefore fear Allah and repent of the sins through which he has suffered what has befallen him. As a report states:

“Allah says: ‘I am Allah, Sovereign of kings. The hearts of kings and their forelocks are in My hand. Whoever obeys Me, I make them a mercy to him; whoever disobeys Me, I make them a punishment for him. So do not occupy yourselves with reviling kings. Obey Me, and I will incline their hearts toward you.’”

As for his saying, “Let no servant place his hope in anyone but his Lord,” one who hopes seeks to obtain good and avert evil. None but Allah brings good things, and none but Allah removes evils:

“If Allah afflicts you with harm, none can remove it but Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty.”

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

Hope is coupled with reliance, for one who relies seeks what he hopes for: obtaining benefit and averting harm. Reliance may be placed only in Allah, as He, Most High, says:

“And put your trust in Allah, if you are believers.”

He also says:

“And in Allah let those who would rely put their trust.”

He, Most High, also says: “If