when they rely upon the means. Whoever hopes for victory or provision from anyone other than Allah will be forsaken by Allah. As ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Let no servant place his hope in anyone but his Lord, or fear anything but his sin.”

Allah Most High has said:

“Whatever mercy Allah grants to people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release after Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

And He has said:

“If Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whomever He wills of His servants.”

And He has said:

“Say, ‘Have you considered those you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intended harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He intended mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy?’ Say, ‘Allah is sufficient for me. In Him those who trust place their trust.’”

Likewise, anyone who sets about relying upon Allah while abandoning the means he has been commanded to employ is also ignorant and unjust, disobeying Allah by neglecting what He has commanded. For doing what is commanded is an act of worship of Allah.

Allah Most High has said:

“So worship Him and rely upon Him.”

And He has said:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”

And He has said:

“Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn in repentance.’”

Shuʿayb, peace be upon him, said:

“Upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn.”

And He has said:

“Whatever you differ over, its judgment rests with Allah. That is Allah, my Lord; upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn.”

And He has said:

“You have an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘We are free of you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you, and between us and you there has arisen enmity