Explanation of the Book of Tawhid-08b

The reciter: Qutaybah ibn Sa'id narrated to us, saying: Hammad ibn Zayd narrated to us from Amr from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: لما نزلت هذه الآية قل هو القادر على أن يبعث عليكم عذابا من فوقكم
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : أعوذ بوجهك أو قال : من تحت أرجلكم فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : أعوذ بوجهك قال : أو يلبسكم شيعا فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : هذا أيسر When this verse was revealed, "Say: He is the One who is able to send down upon you a punishment from above you," the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I seek refuge in Your Face," or he said: "Or from beneath your feet," and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I seek refuge in Your Face." It was said: "Or cause you to be divided into factions," and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is the easiest.".

The Shaykh : Al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The chapter on the saying of Allah the Exalted: "perishing" means vanishing, except the Face of Allah. The intended meaning of "perishing" is being susceptible to perishing, even if it does not actually perish. Therefore, among the created things are some that do not perish, such as Paradise, the Fire, the soul, and whatever Allah (Mighty and Majestic) wills. The intended meaning of "perishing" here is that it is either truly perishing or susceptible to perishing, except the Face of Allah. The exegetes differed regarding His saying: . It was said: "except what is intended for His Face." On this view, the meaning of the verse is that everything a person does or performs has no benefit except what is intended for the Face of Allah.