The ruling on saying: "Were it not for Allah and so-and-so"

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. One of them says that saying "Were it not for Allah, then so-and-so" is not the preferred course, and that it is better to say "Were it not for Allah" only. Does his statement have a basis?

Answer:
No, this is "Were it not for Allah and so-and-so," is it not as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said? As for saying "Were it not for Allah and then so-and-so," this is tawhid (the oneness of Allah), meaning the will of the created being is after the will of the Creator, ordered upon it by disbelief. So if Allah had not willed it, the created being would not have willed it. The will of Allah is the original, and the will of the created being is a branch from it. That is the question.