Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Say: Have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intends harm for me, can they remove it? Or if He intends mercy for me, can they withhold it?”
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Allah says: [Az-Zumar 39:38] This means: Ask them another question. If they acknowledge that the Creator is Allah, say to them: Tell me, what do you invoke besides Allah? The author says: “You worship” It is possible that the intended meaning is the supplication of asking, because supplication is used for two meanings: the first is the supplication of asking, and the second is the supplication of worship.
From the first is His saying: “Is there any one who asks, that I may give him? Is there any one who calls, that I may answer him?” And His saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:186] This is the supplication of asking. From the second, which is the supplication of worship, is the saying of the Exalted: [Ghafir 40:60] These people invoke besides Allah. Do they invoke besides Allah with the supplication of asking or the supplication of worship?
The student: General.
The Shaykh : Yes, generally. They invoke besides Allah with the supplication of asking and the supplication of worship. Tell us about these idols that you invoke besides Allah: Do they benefit the one who invokes them? Do they bring benefit or avert harm?[Az-Zumar 39:38] [Az-Zumar 39:38] The answer is no. So how do you worship besides Allah? How do you invoke besides Allah? By Allah, Mighty and Majestic, if He intends harm for me, they do not have the power to avert it, and if He intends mercy for me, they do not have the power to withhold this mercy. The answer says: “No”.
[Az-Zumar 39:38] This means: I am not concerned if you threaten me with these idols, for Allah is sufficient for me, meaning He suffices me against all others.
In the phrase “Allah is sufficient for me,” it is permissible to have fronting and postponement. So we parse “sufficient for me” as a fronted predicate and “Allah” as a postponed subject. It is also permissible to say “sufficient for me” is the subject and “Allah” is the predicate. The meaning differs with the difference in parsing. If you intend to inform that the sufficiency is Allah, make “sufficiency” the subject. If you intend to inform that Allah is the sufficiency, make “sufficient for me” a fronted predicate. The verse, in terms of meaning, is suitable for both: Allah is the sufficiency, and the sufficiency is Allah. We have no sufficiency other than Allah, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is our sufficiency and our protector.
[Az-Zumar 39:38] Tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) is relying on Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in bringing benefits and averting harms, along with trust in Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. This is tawakkul: relying on Allah with true and sincere reliance in bringing benefits and averting harms, along with trust in Him. This is tawakkul.
It is a form of worship specific to Allah, as He said:[Ali 'Imran 3:122] Meaning, upon Allah alone. As for tawakkul other than worship, it is permissible for a person to rely on another in what he has entrusted to him, just as if you said to so-and-so: “I have entrusted you to buy such and such for me.” Then I rely on him in the purchase. This is not tawakkul of worship, because the one relying in this case does not feel that he is in a lower rank than the agent; rather, he may feel that he is in a higher rank, because he made that person a servant to him, executing what he says. As for tawakkul upon Allah, you rely on Allah believing in yourself that you are in need of Him, and that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One in whose hand is the management of your affairs. So you rely on Him with hope and fear, and as a means of drawing near to Him.
For this reason, we say: Is it permissible to say “I have relied on so-and-so”? The answer is: If that is in the form of worship, then it is forbidden and shirk (associating partners with Allah). If it is in the form of entrustment, meaning I have entrusted him with what I entrusted to him, then there is nothing wrong with it and no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to entrust his Companions with collecting and distributing zakah (the obligatory alms) and other matters.
Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?"
قل أفرأيتم ما تدعون من دون الله إن أرادني الله بضر هل هن كاشفات ضره أو أرادني برحمه هل هن ممسكات رحمتهYou invoke
تدعونFrom the first is His saying: “Is there any one who asks, that I may give him? Is there any one who calls, that I may answer him?” And His saying:
And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me
وإذا سألك عبادي عني فإني قريب أجيب دعوة الداع إذا دعانAnd your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وقال ربكم ادعوني أستجب لكم إن الذين يستكبرون عن عبادتي سيدخلون جهنم داخرينThe student: General.
The Shaykh : Yes, generally. They invoke besides Allah with the supplication of asking and the supplication of worship. Tell us about these idols that you invoke besides Allah: Do they benefit the one who invokes them? Do they bring benefit or avert harm?
If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm
إن أرادني الله بضر هل هن كاشفات ضرهor if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?
أو أرادني برحمة هل هن ممسكات رحمتهSay, "Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
قل حسبي الله عليه يتوكل المتوكلونIn the phrase “Allah is sufficient for me,” it is permissible to have fronting and postponement. So we parse “sufficient for me” as a fronted predicate and “Allah” as a postponed subject. It is also permissible to say “sufficient for me” is the subject and “Allah” is the predicate. The meaning differs with the difference in parsing. If you intend to inform that the sufficiency is Allah, make “sufficiency” the subject. If you intend to inform that Allah is the sufficiency, make “sufficient for me” a fronted predicate. The verse, in terms of meaning, is suitable for both: Allah is the sufficiency, and the sufficiency is Allah. We have no sufficiency other than Allah, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is our sufficiency and our protector.
Say, "Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
قل حسبي الله عليه يتوكل المتوكلونIt is a form of worship specific to Allah, as He said:
and upon Allah the believers should rely.
وعلى الله فليتوكل المؤمنونFor this reason, we say: Is it permissible to say “I have relied on so-and-so”? The answer is: If that is in the form of worship, then it is forbidden and shirk (associating partners with Allah). If it is in the form of entrustment, meaning I have entrusted him with what I entrusted to him, then there is nothing wrong with it and no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to entrust his Companions with collecting and distributing zakah (the obligatory alms) and other matters.