Allah is sufficient for you and for the believers, as He says:

“Is Allah not sufficient for His servant?”

Then He says:

“Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger.”

Thus, He attributes giving to both Allah and the Messenger, mentioning His bounty first, because bounty is in Allah’s hand: He grants it to whomever He wills, and Allah possesses immense bounty. His bounty extends to His Messenger and to the believers. He also says:

“Indeed, to Allah we turn in hope.”

Thus, He makes Allah alone the object of hope, as in His words:

“So when you have finished, strive in worship, and to your Lord alone turn in hope.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Ibn ‘Abbās: “When you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek help from Allah.”

The Quran teaches this in numerous places. Allah makes worship, reverent fear, and mindfulness of Him due to Him alone, while making obedience and love due to both Allah and His Messenger. Thus Noah, peace be upon him, said:

“Worship Allah, be mindful of Him, and obey me.”

And Allah says:

“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah, and is mindful of Him—it is they who will triumph.”

There are many similar passages. The messengers were commanded that worship should be devoted to Him alone, that hope and reliance should be directed to Him, and that they themselves should be obeyed.

But Satan led the Christians and those like them astray, so they associated partners with Allah and disobeyed the Messenger:

“They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, as well as the Messiah, son of Mary.”

They began directing their hopes to them, relying upon them, and asking of them, despite disobeying their commands and departing from their way. Allah, however, guided the believers sincerely devoted to Him, the people of the straight path, who recognized the truth and followed it,