it is Allah. The One Who arranged matters so that he might give it to us is Allah, while the donor himself is nothing more than an outward means. Even so, we are instructed to show gratitude to anyone who treats us kindly, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever does you a favor, repay him; and if you find nothing with which to repay him, then pray for him until you believe you have repaid him.” Nonetheless, we remain certain that the One Who facilitated this gift for us and appointed the giver is Allah.

“O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold, and the fortune of the fortunate avails nothing against You.” The word al-jadd here means good fortune and wealth—that is, a person who enjoys prosperity, possesses money, children, wives, and everything he desires of this world. Such fortune cannot protect him from Allah; “the fortune of the fortunate avails nothing against You”—al-jadd is the subject, signifying that prosperity and riches are of no use before Allah, for to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.

How many people do you see delighted with their families, surrounded by wealth and sons and everything one could obtain in this world, yet nothing of it benefits them before Allah: they may be struck by an illness that none can remove except Allah, or beset by grief, anxiety, and worry that no one can relieve except Allah.

All of this pertains to entrusting one’s affairs to Allah. Therefore, when a person has concluded the prayer, sought forgiveness three times, and said, “O Allah, You are peace and from You is peace; blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor,” he should then remember Allah with this supplication.