سورة الإسراء

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): وَ إِذَا مَسَّکُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِی الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَّ إِیَّاهُ [And when distress afflicts you in the sea, away go those whom you call on except He]; whoever you call upon other than Allah is false.

Imam Askari (peace be upon him): Abu Ya'qub and Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad narrate from their fathers: Imam Askari (peace be upon him) said concerning the statement of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِیمِ [In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful]: "Allah is the One to whom every creature takes refuge at the time of needs and hardships, when hope is cut off from everyone besides Him and the means are severed from all other than Him. You say: Bismillah, meaning: I seek help in all my affairs from Allah, the One for whom alone worship is proper; the One who responds to the cry when help is sought from Him, and who answers when He is called upon. And this is what a man said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'O son of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Guide me to Allah — what is He? For the people of dispute have been many upon me and have left me bewildered and confused.' The Imam said to that man: 'O servant of Allah, have you ever boarded a ship?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Has it ever happened that the ship was wrecked in a place where there was no ship to rescue you nor swimming that could save you?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Did your heart at that place and that time turn to [the thought] that something among things is able to deliver you from the abyss of destruction?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'That is Allah, who is able to deliver in a place where there is no deliverer, and who responds to the cry in a place where there is no responder.'"