Say: "Who is it that can screen you from Allah if it be His wish to give you punishment or to give you Mercy?"(3688) Nor will they find for themselves, besides Allah, any protector or helper.
3688 It is still worse if the cowardice or desertion is shown in a Cause, which because of the high issues of truth and justice, may be called the Cause of Allah. How can anyone escape Allah's Punishment? And in the same way, how can anyone prevent another from obtaining Allah's mercy by repentance and amendment? The better path, therefore, is to stand firm in Allah's Way, and if you fail through human weakness, to repent and seek Allah's Mercy. Cf. 33:24, and n. 3698 below.