Continuation of the explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Say: Who is it that can protect you from Allah if He intends for you harm or if He intends for you mercy?”

And His saying: The question here is intended as a negation, meaning that no one can protect you. When negation is expressed in the form of a question, it is more eloquent than simple negation, because it becomes a negation tinged with a challenge, as if He were saying, "Tell me, can anyone protect you from Allah if He intends evil for you?" You have understood this rule: in every case where a question is used to mean negation, we say that He shifted from pure negation to a question so that it would be tinged with the meaning of a challenge. Yes. Meaning, prevents you from it. What is the answer? No one. It is said: "Destruction or defeat." Destruction if there was no fighting, or if there was fighting and you were killed; or defeat if you were overcome but survived. All of this is evil, but it is evil with respect to the obligated person. As for the action of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), it is good, because it is for a wisdom. The author said: "or strikes you with evil if Allah intends mercy for you". The author (may Allah have mercy on him) supplied this phrase because he (may Allah have mercy on him) was very intelligent. He said: "or strikes you with evil". "Strikes you" is conjoined to "protects you," meaning, "Or who is it that strikes you with evil if Allah intends mercy for you?" And the answer is also as before: no one. The author supplied "or strikes you with evil" contrary to the apparent context. Yes, because mercy is not considered a calamity that requires protection. So if Allah intends mercy for a person, it is not said, "Who is it that protects him from it?" Why? Because mercy is desired, and a person does not require anyone to protect him from it. Therefore, he supplied the phrase "or strikes you with evil," meaning that no one strikes you with evil if Allah intends mercy for you. However, the correct view is that there is no need for this supply if we take "protection" to mean prevention. The meaning is: Who prevents you from Allah if He intends evil for you? And who prevents you from His mercy if He intends mercy for you? Fleeing does not prevent you from the evil that Allah intends for you, and staying does not bring you the mercy that Allah intends for you. Everything is in the hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); neither fleeing nor staying benefits you. And His saying: The author said, "good." And if we interpreted the first part as destruction and defeat, then the intended meaning of "good" here is victory and survival.