All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship). As to those who turn (for friendship) to Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- it is the fellowship of Allah that must certainly triumph." [Al-Mai`dah/55-56]. He The Almighty also Says (What means): "God is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever)." [Al-Baqarah/257].
These verses illustrate that Allah is the protector of those who believe, and the protector of a person is the one who defends and supports them. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed." [Al-Hajj/38]. After a believer fulfills what Allah has commanded and avoids what He has prohibited, he/she turns to Allah in times of difficulty and prosperity. When faced with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, or fruits, a believer`s inclination towards Allah becomes stronger, their supplication to Him becomes more intense, and their hope in His mercy widens. At that moment, Allah responds to those who ask Him and honors those who seek refuge in Him. This is because whoever is sincerely loyal to Allah, Allah rewards them with His support and protection manifested in His kindness and generosity. In addition, He the Almighty elevates those who support Him and humiliates those who oppose Him. Indeed, what an excellent protector and helper He is (What means): "And rely upon Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs." [Al-Ahzab/3].
The Quran unequivocally affirms that Allah is the protector of those who believe, and that those who disbelieve have no protector. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "That is because Allah is the protector of those who have believed and because the disbelievers have no protector." [Muhammad/11].
Dear brother, in order for you to be convinced of this and for it to become a part of your belief-drawing you closer to Allah Almighty-and to be a weapon with which you arm yourself in carrying out your trust and fulfilling your message, I remind myself and you of incidents in which Allah's guardianship was manifested for the believers, and in which there were lessons and admonitions for those who reflect:
Firstly, after the Battle of Uhud had ended, Abu Sufyan - who was still a polytheist at that time - ascended to a high place and taunted the Muslims, saying: "Is Mohammad among you?" No one responded. "Is Abu Bakr among you?" Again, there was no response. Then he asked: "Is Umar Ibn Al-Khattab among you?" Still, no one replied. Abu Sufyan then said: "These must have been killed." Umar could not contain himself and replied: "O enemy of Allah, those you mentioned are alive, and Allah has left for you what will distress you." Then Abu Sufyan said, "I have my Hubal (an idol)!" The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked his companions: "Why don't you respond to him?" They asked, "What should we say, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Say: Allah is the Highest and the Most Exalted." Abu Sufyan replied: "We have Uzza (another idol) as our supporter, and you have no supporter." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) then said: "Why don't you respond to him?!" They asked: "What should we say: O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Say: Allah is our protector, and you have no protector." Abu Sufyan then said: "Today is a day of Badr, and war is ongoing, with no clear winner or loser." Umar Ibn Al-Khattab replied, "No, they are not equal. Our killed ones are in Paradise, and your killed ones are in the Fire." [Al-Bukhari].
Secondly, during the incident of the Prophet's migration (Hijrah), after putting trust in Allah and taking material means, the Quraysh stood at the entrance of the cave (Hira`). Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet, peace be upon him: "If one of them were to look down at his feet, he would see us." The Prophet, peace be upon him, responded: "What do you think about two, with Allah as their third?" [Al-Bukhari].
Allah has recorded this incident in the Quran, saying, "If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for God did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion (What means): "Have no fear, for God is with us": then God sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of God is exalted to the heights: for God is Exalted in might, Wise." [At-Tawbah/40].
"Lā ilāha illā Allāh" is a declaration made by the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), affirming with certainty that Allah, the Almighty, protects and safeguards those who declare it from all harm. He said without hesitation: "Do not grieve, indeed Allah is with us."
Times has passed and the Prophet returned victorious, Saying (What means): "And say: "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." [Al-Isra`/81].
Thirdly: The story of our Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) after he destroyed the idols worshipped besides Allah. A judgment was issued against him, saying: "They said: "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act." [Al-Anbiya/68]. What was the result? The people indeed began preparing to burn Ibrahim. They dug a huge pit, lit a fire in it, and prepared a catapult to throw Ibrahim into it. The fire blazed in the pit, and the flames rose high, scorching the sky. People stood far away from the pit due to the intense heat. Just as everyone prepared to throw Ibrahim into the fire, he sought refuge in the firm fortress, the sanctuary in which whoever places their trust in Allah will never be let down. Ibrahim said: "Allah is sufficient for me, and He is the best Disposer of affairs." Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, but the fire, one of Allah's creation, obeyed Allah's command. Allah called out to it, Saying (What means): "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim." [Al-Anbiya/69]. Despite its heat, the fire only burnt the ropes that bound Ibrahim, cleansing him from their filth. Allah refused to allow any impurity from them to touch Ibrahim's body. They wanted to prevail, but they were defeated. They sought victory, but they were let down. [Al-Anbiya/70]. Ibrahim was alone, yet faith triumphed over disbelief because Allah took care of him and protected him. Ibrahim placed the command of his Lord above everything, even his own life, so Allah honored and supported him. This story teaches us that victory belongs to the believer, even if they are few in number. Ibrahim offered himself to the flames to teach those who came after him that victory lies in obeying Allah. Allah elevated his status and raised his remembrance. "Peace upon Ibrahim." [As-Saffat/109]. His legacy is eternal, written in a preserved record. Take Ibrahim's faith, and you will have gardens of bliss in the midst of the fire ([1])."
Fourthly: In the story of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) with Pharaoh, when those who believed with Musa from the Children of Israel were in fear and panic, they said (What means): "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!" [Ash-Shu'ara/61]. The sea was in front of them, and the Pharaoh and his army were behind them. However, Musa (peace be upon him) did not take a moment to respond to their fear. Instead, he spoke, confident in Allah's support and assistance, Saying (What means): "He said, 'No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me." [Ash-Shu'ara/62]. The divine command came as support for His chosen ones (What means): "So We inspired to Musa, 'Strike with your staff the sea,' and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. And We advanced thereto the pursuers. And We saved Musa and those with him, all together. Then We drowned the others. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." [Ash-Shu'ara/63-68].
Indeed, Allah Almighty drowned Pharaoh and his soldiers and saved Musa (peace be upon him) and those who believed with him. The story of Musa stands as a testimony that security and safety are found only in Allah's protection, and that fear arises from being distant from Allah. Tyranny, when it rises, does not need someone to push it back but rather needs a community that Allah makes leaders and heirs. Musa was cast into the sea, and Pharaoh was also cast into the sea. The sea became a means of salvation for Musa and a destroyer for Pharaoh. Musa's outcome was the outcome of the righteous, while Pharaoh's outcome was the outcome of the unjust disbelievers. Let us take heed from this lesson, and let us be patient, for Allah's promise is true, but it is with those who fear Him and do good deeds [2]. Allah Says in the Quran (What means): "Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good." [An-Nahl/128].
Absolutely, there are many examples to illustrate this, but the scope here is limited. The aim of these words is to reassure believers of Allah's promise and support that He the Almighty takes care of them, He is their supporter and helper against those who wrong and abandon them. If falsehood seems to prevail for a moment, the truth will ultimately prevail until the Day of Judgment. Allah Says in the Quran (What means): "And our word has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers, [that] indeed, they would be those given victory. And [that] indeed, Our soldiers will be the predominant." [As-Saffat/171-173]. When believers face trials, they aren`t meant to belittle them before Almighty Allah, but rather to elevate their ranks and reveal the true intentions of their adversaries.
All success is attributed to Allah.
1- [Sahih Qasas al-Quran" by Hamid al-Basyouni, p.137].
2- Same source as above, p. 314.
