Transliteration:( Alaisal laahu bikaafin 'abdahoo wa yukhawwi foonaka billazeena min doonih; wa mai yudlilil laahu famaa lahoo min haad )
"Is Allah not sufficient [89] for His devotee? Yet, they frighten you with others besides [90] Him. And whom Allah leaves to go on the wrong path, for him there is no guide."
This rhetorical question is a strong affirmation of Divine sufficiency. The term “His devotee” here refers particularly to the Holy Prophet ﷺ, reminding him and all believers that Allah alone is enough to protect, guide, and support. No external force or opposition can truly harm a person who places full trust in Allah. This verse is a powerful source of comfort and reassurance for every sincere servant of Allah.
The disbelievers tried to intimidate the Prophet ﷺ by warning him not to insult their idols, claiming these false deities would cause him harm. But the verse exposes their baseless fear tactics. In truth, nothing has power besides Allah. The idols are powerless, and such superstitions only reflect the ignorance and spiritual blindness of the polytheists.
This incident also connects to an event involving Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (رضي الله عنه). When he was sent to cut down a tree idol, the disbelievers tried to scare him, saying an evil spirit lived in the tree and would drive him mad. Ignoring their threats, he felled the tree, and an ugly being was seen fleeing—signifying the falsehood and trickery behind idol worship.
The verse ends with a reminder: those whom Allah allows to go astray, due to their own arrogance and rejection of truth, will find no guidance—no matter how hard they try or who they turn to. This underlines a critical principle in Islam: true guidance is a gift from Allah, reserved for those who sincerely seek it with humility and submission.
36. Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant Yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him! And whom Allah sends astray, for him there will be no guide. 37. And whomsoever Allah guides, for him there will be no misleader. Is not Allah Almighty, Possessor of Retribution 38. And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth” Surely, they will say: “Allah.” Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah — if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm Or if He intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy” Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust must put their trust.” 39. Say: “O My people! Work according to your way, I am working. Then you will come to know” 40. “To whom comes a disgracing torment, and on whom descends an everlasting torment.”
(Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant) Some of them read it “His servants.” It means that Allah is Sufficient for the one who worships Him and relies upon Him.
(Yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him!) means, the idolators tried to scare the Messenger of Allah with their idols and gods which they called upon besides Allah out of ignorance and misguidance. Allah says:
(And whom Allah sends astray, for him there will be no guide. And whomsoever Allah guides, for him there will be no misleader. Is not Allah Almighty, Possessor of Retribution) meaning, whoever relies on Him and turns to Him, will never be forsaken, for He is the Almighty Who cannot be overwhelmed by another, and there is none more severe than Him in exacting retribution on those who disbelieve in Him, associate others in worship with Him and resist His Messenger .
(And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth” Surely, they will say: “Allah.”) means, the idolators used to recognize that Allah was the Creator of all things, but despite that they still worshipped others besides Him, others who had no power to bring benefit or cause harm. Allah said:
(Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah — if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm Or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy”) meaning, they cannot do any of that at all. Here Ibn Abi Hatim recorded a narration from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, attributing it to the Prophet :
(Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you; be mindful of Allah and you will find Him ever with you. Turn to Allah in times of ease and He will turn to you in times of difficulty. If you ask anyone for anything, then ask Allah; if you seek help from anyone, then seek help from Allah. Know that even if the entire nation were to come together to do you some harm that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to harm you, and if they were to come together to do you some good that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to do that. The pages have dried and the pens have been lifted. Strive for the sake of Allah with thankfulness and firm conviction, and know that in patiently persevering with regard to something that you dislike there is much goodness. Victory comes with patience, a way out comes from difficulty and with hardship comes ease.)
(Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah…”) means, `Allah is enough for me.’
(In Him I put my trust, and let all those that trust, put their trust in Him.) ﴿12: 67﴾ This is like what Hud, peace be upon him, said to his people:
(“All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil. ” He said: “I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship, with Him. So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the straight path.”)(11:54-56).
(Say: “O My people! Work according to your way…”) This is a threat and a warning.
(I am working) means, `according to my way.’
(Then you will come to know) means, you will learn the consequences.
(To whom comes a disgracing torment,) means, in this world,
(and on whom descends an everlasting torment.) means, ongoing and eternal, with no escape, which will come on the Day of Resurrection. We seek refuge with Allah from that.
(39:36) (O Prophet), does Allah not suffice for His servant? They frighten you with others apart from Him,[55] although he whom Allah lets go astray, none can guide him to the Right Way.
55. The disbelievers of Makkah used to say to the Prophet (peace be upon him): You behave insolently in respect of our deities and utter rude words against them. You do not know how powerful they are and what miraculous powers they possess. Anybody who dishonored them was ruined. If you also do not desist from what you say against them, you too will be annihilated.
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