—whether they be Jews, Christians, polytheist Buddhists, atheists, hypocrites, or anyone else. These are our enemies. Allah, exalted is He, says: “O you who believe, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies.” And about the hypocrites He says: “They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them—how deluded they are.”

Therefore you ask Allah Most High to grant you victory over those who oppose you, to make you prevail over the Jews, the Christians, the polytheists, the Buddhists, and every category of unbeliever. Allah is the Helper: “Indeed, Allah is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.”

You also pray, “Do not let our calamity befall our religion; do not make this world our greatest concern nor the limit of our knowledge.” In truth, calamities may strike a person’s wealth—his property is burned, stolen, or ruined—and that is a misfortune. They may strike his family—his loved ones fall ill or die. They may strike his intellect—he or his kin are afflicted with madness; we ask Allah for well-being. A calamity can befall anything that concerns a human being. Yet the greatest calamity of all is the calamity of religion. We ask Allah to keep us firm upon His true faith, for if a person is afflicted in his religion—Allah’s refuge is sought—this is the gravest calamity of all.