The Protection of Allah Ta'ala - Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

[amaturrahmaan]

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

 

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Saheb 

(Daamat Barakaatuhum)

 

On one occasion, Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) drew a square on the earth (as an illustration). He (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) then drew a line in the middle, transcending the square, and then drew short lines on both sides of the middle line. Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) thereupon explained the illustration:

 

 

The square is the life-span of man. The sides of the square, surrounding him represent death, which cannot be escaped. The middle line signifies man, living his life (till the end of the square). The line continues beyond the square (his death), representing his hopes and desires, which go beyond his life-span. 

 

 

Man constantly faces problems during his worldly stay. The little lines on either side of the middle line, represents those problems, misfortunes, hazards and dangers that are part and parcel of living in this world. …If one misses him, another will get him; if that misses him, there will be another and another. These are the tests and trials at different stages in life.


Allah Ta'ala has guided us in regard to dealing with these tests that come our way. Allah Ta’ala also grants us protection from various harms during this journey of life. 

 

 

 

If we ponder over our circumstances, we will see that we are surrounded by countless causes of deathat every second.

 

 

For man to be still alive is actually nothing but a miracle. For him to be dead should have been natural – since it is a known fact that thousands are dying, throughout the world, all the time.

 

 

There is an Arabic saying that if you hear that somebody has died you should not be surprised, but if you hear that somebody is still alive, then this should totally astonish you. However, our condition is the opposite. We are surprised when we hear someone has died – whereas death is inevitable. It will visit each of us – at some time. It is to be expected.

 

 

MILLIONS OF DANGERS

 

We should reflect and ponder for a little while: We could be lying on our beds, resting, but we are exposed to millions of dangers! …A person’s blood can clot, he can suffer a heart attack or stroke or brain damage. A nerve can twitch and he is paralysed – and we can add many more possibilities. …Man is vulnerable at all times!

 

 

…His house can catch on fire due to some electrical fault or due to some other reason, or a robbery can take place and he can get killed. He can be a martial artist, a boxer, a wrestler, a weight-lifter and super-strong, but if just one little bullet hits him, it brings him down.

 

 

He can take a walk and slip on a banana peel or miscalculate a step and fall, and his injuries could be serious to the extent of needing a pelvis joint replacement, or he could be handicapped for life. …Many people even die from a simple fall!

 

 

He sits in his car to drive (whether to work or elsewhere) and he can be hijacked in his driveway, the car can catch fire, an accident can happen by his negligence or somebody else's fault or no fault, a tyre can burst, etc.

 

 

At work, in the shop, factory, office, so many things can go wrong: robberies, machines malfunctioning, an argument or a fight where someone pulls out a gun and the person is killed, courtcases, jail sentences, and so many possibilities. 

 

 

May Allah Ta'ala grant us His Special Protection. However, on a little reflection, we realise that all the time, everywhere, what and what could happen and is happening! 

 

…Each one of us has had narrow escapes at some time or another in our lives. When we think of those times, we shudder, thinking, that just a few centimetres and what could have happened or just a few seconds and what could have happened! …We should realise that at every split second what and what could have happened, what and what can happen right now!

 

 

In this contemplation we come to realise that it is only Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu Who protects life. And He has appointed protectors for man - in front of him and behind him!

 

 

EXCLUSIVE SECURITY

 

Allah Ta’ala informs us:

 

 

 

“For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by Command of Allah. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. But when Allah intends a people's punishment, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector.”

[surah Ar-Ra’d 13 : 11]

 

 

Allah Ta’ala creates the paragon of His Creation: Man. And then institutes a unique system for man’s protection. SubhanAllah. ...The Malaa`ikah (Angels) are appointed to guard man from different harms, evils and calamities. They protect him from jinn, animals and even people. One angel guards him from in front of him and the other from behind him. Every person – Muslim and non-Muslim – has these Malaa’ikah to protect him.

 

 

The Mufassireen (Commentators of Qur'aan Sharief) have explained that when some calamity is decreed for man, then these Malaa`ikah withdraw from him. After all, this world is a world of test and trial and Allah Ta’ala has informed us that He will be testing us also.

 

 

Allah Ta’ala also only changes the condition of security to fear, difficulty and so forth, when man changes his state by indulging in sins and ingratitude.

 

 

Allah Ta’ala says:

 

 

 

"And He is the Omnipotent, above His servants, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you; until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers (the Angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty."

[surah Al-'An`ām 6 : 61]

 

 

Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shaf'i (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) mentions in his Tafsier, Ma’ariful Qur’aan – the gist of which is that as long as Allah Ta’ala wills to have man alive, He assigns angels to safeguard him, as a result of which no one and nothing can harm him. And when man reaches the appointed time of death, then these angels become agents towards his death, by giving way to the causes of death, which unfold – on the Will of Allah Ta’ala.

 

 

ANOTHER TWO COMPANIONS

 

 

Ibn Khateer (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) and other Mufassireen have explained that besides these two angels who take turns to protect man night and day, there are other angels assigned with the duty to record the deeds of man, night and day.

 

 

Kiraman Kaatibeen are the two scribes who record the good and the bad deeds of man, respectively.

 

 

“But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you;

Kind and Honourable, writing down (your deeds).

They know (and understand) all that you do.”

 

 

[surah Infitaar 82 : 10 / 11 / 12]

 

In this manner, four angels accompany each person during the day and another four angels keep his company during the night.

 

 

From our respected Mufassireen, we learn that the angels also work towards encouraging man towards good and towards fearing Allah Ta’ala; that he may keep away from any form of disobedience. If the person falls into sin, they even pray for him and hope for him to repent sincerely.

 

 

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) informed us: “Malaa`ikah take turns around you, some at night and some by day, and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and Asr Salaah. Then those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend to Allah, Who asks them, and He knows everything about you better than they:  “In what condition did you leave my servants?' The angels reply: “We came to them while they were praying, and we left while they were praying.”[1]  

 

 

Those who sleep through Fajr and those who miss their Asr Salaah, should reflect over what answers the angels will be presenting to Allah Ta’ala. …What shame and dishonour if the angels were to report that they found us sleeping at Fajr, or missing Salaah because we were engrossed in Rands and cents, or occupied with cricket, soccer and other mundane, useless activities and sometimes even in sinful actions.  

 

 

We should be conscious of these angels because this awareness will be a means of distancing ourselves from sins. We would feel ashamed to engage in anything evil, anything shameless or nonsensical – knowing that we are in the presence of four angels.

 

 

LIES

 

 

In addition, when we lie, the stench that emits from our mouths due to the lie is so terrible that the Malaa’ikah flee to a great distance, not being able to tolerate the foul smell.

 

 

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “When a servant (of Allah) tells a lie, (his) Angel goes away from him to the distance of a mile, because of the foul odour of what it brings.” (Tirmidhi)

 

 

…Once, we were in the Kruger National Park and came across the carcass of a giraffe which, most probably, the lions had eaten. The remains were being enjoyed by vultures. We stopped at the scene but such a stench was given off that we immediately closed the windows and sped off. The stench was just so bad. But for those vultures, it was the smell of biryani and roast. In the same way when we lie and backbite, we may find some enjoyment but the Malaa’ikah cannot bear it at all!

 

 

INCREASED PROTECTION

 

 

Allah Ta’ala has also taught us, through His Beloved (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) different ways whereby we invite and secure for ourselves, greater protection. There are numerous Ayaat that we have been directed to read, which offer protection. Ayatul Kursi is the most well-known Ayah of protection. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said that whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after the Fardh (Salaah) will remain in the protection of Allah Ta’ala until the next Salaah, and if read, before falling asleep, Allah Ta’ala grants protection to the person’s home and family.

 

 

The Quls were revealed for our protection and the Hadith explain that the Quls are a protection from all harms. Added to these, are many Duas that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) taught us which also offer protection.

 

 

This is the bonus of Imaan – that the Believer is surrounded by security guards – the Angels, and he is also granted special armour with his Salaah, a shield with his Wazaa`if and a weapon with his Wudhu. So his protection is compounded. Alhamdulillah.

 

 

Other Ahadith direct us towards different A’maal whereby we are protected even further – through our Sadaqah and through our recitation of Qur’aan Sharief and other good deeds. These will be a means of security for us in this world, in our grave and in the Hereafter.

 

 

We are also directed towards adopting certain practises whereby our children are protected, and even a person’s animals are protected. For example, a Hadith states: “When the night approaches, prevent your children (from venturing outdoors) because verily shaytaan spreads out at this time...”

 

 

We are also told that Dua is so powerful that it can avert calamities and as such Dua offers us protection as well.

 

 

Whilst there are all these measures of safeguarding ourselves, we should also understand that the tests are inevitable - as mentioned at the beginning. Our protection falls away when Allah Ta’ala decrees a test or when we engage in sins.

 

 

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur`aan Sharief:

 

 

 

“We will definitely test you with some fear, some hunger and some loss in your wealth, in your health and in the fruits (‘fruits’ denote many things). Give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. And when any trial reaches them, they say: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon ’ (from Allah we have come and to Him is our return). They are those on whom are the benefactions of their Lord, and receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”

[surah Al-Baqarah : 155/156/157 ]

 

 

Sabr (patience) and Shukr (gratitude) are two qualities we need to adopt in dealing with life’s challenges, that we may pass through the worldly life successfully, Insha-Allah.

 

 

The tests will come and go – and these are on the Command of Allah Ta’ala, whereby our Jannah is made, Insha-Allah.

 

 

However, we should keep in mind that we are facing billions of dangers at every split second and are desperately in need of the protection of Allah Ta’ala. Through obedience, good deeds, staying in a condition of Taharah, etc. we protect ourselves from Jinn and Jadu (witchcraft) and other harms.

 

 

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, the Taufeeq of appreciating and also of adopting the means of protection and working towards earning the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala perpetuate His protection over us.

 

 

[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari