This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Even the Prophet is powerless in matters of benefit and harm
The Merciful Lord said to the best among the creation that he should declare himself that he can neither benefit nor harm his own self. The Divine command is:
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّه
"O Prophet! Say to them, I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:188)
قُلْ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا ﴿٢١﴾ قُلْ إِنِّي لَن يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿٢٢﴾ إِلَّا بَلَاغًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِسَالَاتِهِ
"Say, I do not have control over any harm or benefit for you people. Say, no one can save me from Allah’s grip, nor can I find refuge except in Him. My duty is nothing but to convey Allah’s words and His messages."
Reference: (72-Al-Jinn:21-23)
That is, if I disobey the Merciful Lord, there will be no one to protect me or save me from Allah’s punishment. The Divine command is:
قُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
"Say, if I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a great (terrible) day."
Reference: (6-Al-An'am:15)
ولن أجد من دونه ملتحدا
"That is, I have no refuge."
إلا بلاغا من الله ورسالاته
"That is, no one can give me refuge except obedience to Allah, and that I convey His commands to the people."
That is, this is the pure act through which peace and refuge can be attained.
لا أملك لكم ضرا ولا رشدا
"One meaning of this is also transmitted that I am not the owner or controller of anything except the propagation of the message."
There are countless examples of this in the Holy Quran.
