Ibn Majah

Commentary:
(1)
The author has cited this hadith to affirm the attribute of fingers (asabi’) for Allah, Most High. Regarding all such hadiths, the way of the Salaf is that one must have faith in them without likening (Allah to His creation).

(2)
Guidance is in the hand of Allah; therefore, one should continue to supplicate to Him for guidance and steadfastness.

(3)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated for steadfastness. The reason for this is that a caller to the religion faces difficulties at every step, and in these, he is in constant need of Allah’s help and success.
The second reason is that this expresses one’s own incapacity and neediness, which is the fundamental and central aspect of worship, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed every type of worship.
The third reason is that the Ummah may also learn from this, and that every member of the Ummah, following the Prophet (alayhis-salatu was-salam), should continue to supplicate to Allah for steadfastness.

(4)
Honor and humiliation are in the hand of Allah; He grants elevation, strength, dignity, and guidance in this world to whomever He wills, and He afflicts whomever He wills with abasement, humiliation, and misguidance.
And it is Allah alone who knows which individual or group is deserving of what degree of honor or humiliation; this standard is not in anyone else’s hand.

(5)
Elevation and abasement, honor and humiliation, etc., are sometimes attained by a person as a result of his own actions, and sometimes they are a test from Allah, Most High, and accordingly, a person becomes deserving of ranks in the sight of Allah, Most High.