This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Allah Alone is Sufficient
In this noble verse, the phrase "sufficient is" is not followed by ”ورسوله“ because Allah Almighty alone is sufficient and healing for all believers. As He said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللَّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"O Prophet! Sufficient for you and your followers who believe is Allah."
Reference: (8-Al-Anfal:64)
The meaning is that O Prophet! Only Allah Almighty is sufficient for you and all the believers. At another place, it is stated:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۖ فَادْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿١٩٤﴾ أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۗ قُلِ ادْعُوا شُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ ﴿١٩٥﴾إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٩٦﴾
"O Prophet! Say to them, 'Call upon your partners whom you have set up (as gods), then gather your forces and plan against me; do not give me respite. My supporter and helper is Allah, who has sent down this Book and supports the righteous.'"
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:194-196)
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) commenting on the righteous, says:
هم الذين لا يعدلون بالله فيتولاهم وينصرهم ولا تضرهم عداوة من عاداهم
"These are the people who do not set anyone equal to Allah, so He makes them their friend and helps them, and no enmity harms them."
Consider the divine statement:
إِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
"Know that We will surely help Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand."
Reference: (40-Ghafir:51)
After this, Allah Almighty said that they say:
سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّا إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاغِبُونَ
"Soon Allah will grant us by His grace, and His Messenger too; we are desirous only of Allah."
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:59)
Some people derive from this noble verse that the Messenger of Allah is __ARABIC_6, whereas this is not the case. ARABIC_7__ is the essence of Allah.
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, grants the Messenger of Allah means such as spoils of war, etc., and the Prophet would distribute those spoils among his companions. From Surah At-Tawbah, it is also proven that he was not the sole owner, as Allah Almighty says:
"And there is no blame upon those who come to you to ask for mounts, so you say, 'I have no mount for you.'"
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:92)
Ahmad Raza Khan translated this as:
"There is no blame on those who come to your presence asking you to provide them mounts, and you respond: I have nothing on which to mount you."
Then Muradabadi Sahib commented in Tafsir:
"Reason of revelation: Some companions of the Messenger came forward to go for jihad and requested mounts from the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that I have nothing on which to mount you, so they returned weeping. This verse was revealed for their sake."
Reference: (p. 300, published by Chand Company Lahore)
Similarly, in Sahih Bukhari, كتاب الزكاة: باب الاستعفاف عن المسألة
Reference: (No. 1369)
, there is a hadith from Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Ansari people asked the Messenger of Allah, and he gave to them. Then they asked again, and he gave again. Then they asked again, and he gave again until what he had was finished. From this authentic hadith, it is also understood that he was not the sole owner because he distributed what Allah had given, and it was finished, whereas what is with Allah never ends. It is stated:مَا عِنْدَكُمْ يَنْفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:96)
It is understood that the treasures of the sole owner do not diminish. Similarly, some people also describe his sole ownership from:
انما انا قاسم والله يعطى (بخاري كتاب العلم)
From Sahih Bukhari, it is understood that this relates to knowledge and the distribution of spoils, khums, etc.
The knowledge of Shariah that Allah gave you, you taught your Ummah. As it is in the Quran: اويغلمكم مالم تكونوا تعلمون "Or when spoils of war were obtained. The wealth of Fai and Khums would come, and you would distribute it among the poor and needy." And Allah knows best (Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani)
Thus, Allah commanded them to desire only Allah. The divine command is:
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب ﴿٨﴾
"When you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing."
Reference: (94-Ash-Sharh:7-8)
