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عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ:
كُنْت خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: يَا غُلَامِ! إنِّي أُعَلِّمُك كَلِمَاتٍ: احْفَظْ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْك، احْفَظْ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَك، إذَا سَأَلْت فَاسْأَلْ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْت فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَوْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَك، وَإِنْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْك؛ رُفِعَتْ الْأَقْلَامُ، وَجَفَّتْ الصُّحُفُ
On the Authority of Abu Abbas Abdullah bin Abbas, who said:
One day, I was mounted behind the Prophet (saw) and he said to me, 'Young man, I will teach you words (of advice): Keep Allah in mind, He will keep you from harm. Keep Allah in mind - you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah: and when you seek help, seek it from Allah. Know that even if the [whole] nation assembled in order to benefit you with something, it could not benefit you except by something Allah had already decreed for you, and if they assembled in order to harm you with something, they could not harm you except with something Allah had already decreed upon you. The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried.' [Tirmidhi]
Your Relationship with Allah
This Hadith reveals the true core of what our relationship should be like with Allah. If and when we become mindful of Allah, and take care of our relationship with Him, Allah will take care of us. Not to say if we do not work on our relationship with Allah, He won't care for us and provide for us, because that is contrary to the doings and actions of Allah. Regardless of our actions, so long as we do not commit shirk with Allah, He will always be there for us, protect us, provide for us. But the better relationship and attachment we have to Allah, the more Allah will care for us.
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللّهُ فَلاَ غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكِّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (3:160)
"If Allah helps you, then there is none that can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can assist you? And in Allah let the believers put their trust."
Allah should be our core focus and centre of attention daily. Whatever we do, we make intention of it being for the sake of Allah. Whatever help and assistance we need, should first be sought from Allah.
Allah tells us, when you remember me, I remember you. When you remember me in a bigger gathering, I remember you in a bigger and more nobler gathering [ie that of the angels]. When you call unto me, I run unto you. When you forget about me, I still remember you.
Imagine those souls who are constantly remembering Allah, speaking about Him, calling people to Him, making dua, remembering Him in times of prosperity. Those are the same people whose voices the angels are familiar with and love. So when an adversity arises, and they call upon Allah for his help, the angels are familiar with his voice and through the command of Allah, come to the assistance of the soul. As mentioned in the Hadith: "Keep Allah in mind, and you will find him before you". When you find yourself constantly remembering Allah, you will find it a lot easier to call upon Him at times of need, and He (SWT) will be your first point of call. The word 'Hifdh' from the Hadith gives the meaning of keeping, maintaining, protecting, preserving, guarding. So 'keeping Allah in mind' is not limited to remembering Him but includes obeying His commands and maintaining His rights and limits.
Allah's protection is of two kinds:
Physical Protection | Spiritual Protection |
Protection of family, property, physical self, by means of angels | Protection of the servant's faith and religion. |
For he who keeps the commands of Allah will be kept on the straight path, protected from going astray and committing evils.
Reliance upon Allah alone
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
'Call upon me and I will respond to you' (40:60)
"When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek it from Allah". This instruction encourages reliance upon Him alone as our sole provider, source of benefit, harm, goodness, and success. As believers, when we understand who Allah is and what He is capable of, in turn, we will turn in supplication to our Lord, and place complete trust and reliance in Him, that whatever He sends our way, will be of goodness to us. However, one must also balance this with the Hadith: 'Tie your camel, then place your trust in Allah.'
At the same time, Allah has told us that everything has already been predestined for us, so the Prophet (saw) reminded us that nothing could have changed what was destined to occur. This gives comfort and encourages patience at times of distress. Of course many adverse conditions can be changed through physical efforts or due to a person's supplication, but this has also been decreed by Allah. Every occurrence is the result of a cause, by His decree.
Since we are unaware of how we are being protected by Allah, or what good Allah has for us, we must put our trust in Him and accept whatever has been decreed.
Nothing happens in our lives without Allah's knowledge, and whatever does happen, is from Allah. Therefore we must take our trials as a blessing, bare them with patience, call upon Allah to aid us, and turn to Him in times of prosperity and adversity. For Allah tells us:
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
'Call upon me and I will respond to you' (40:60).
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