INTRODUCTION:
In order to proceed we must understand the Usool of Allah as well as some important points before we move on to the actual steps to attain the protection of Allah. Firstly It is essential to know that Allah is the one that protects and Allah is the best of protectors
فَاللّٰهُ خَیْرٌ حٰفِظًا۪
“But ˹only˺ Allah is the best Protector” [Surah Yusuf Ayat 64]
Secondly, We need to cut of reliance from people and rely totally on Allah.
وَ مَنْ یَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهٗؕ
“And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them.” [Surah At Talaaq Ayat 3]
SIX CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTION:
1- Those who are not making any effort to gain Allah’s protection.
2- Those who are not taking any Specific action to gain Allah’s protection but they reply upon their Islam. These are the people who pray and have their Aqeedah intact but are not willing to go the extra mile to seek Allah’s protection in Zikr and Acts.
3- Those are taking a limited set of specific actions. For example they will remember Allah while leaving the house, but wont remember Allah upon entering the house or they will do their Zikr in the morning but not in the evening. They do some zikr and acts but not all of them.
4- Those who are doing considerable efforts with their specific actions and doing their Azkaar and acts on time but they are unaware of the more comprehensive way of seeking Allah’s protection such as seeking Allah’s protection through the correctness of their belief, by following the Sunnah, through Istighfaar or avoiding acts which stop the dua from being answered or acts which nullify Allah’s protection after it has been given. These are a major means of Allah’s protection.
5- Those who seek protection through Innovations or by making partners with Allah. A few examples are chillies, iron nails, cloths of different colours, printed taweez.
The 6th and Last Category is what we all want to be in
6- Those who strive for Allah’s protection in a comprehensive and holistic way – putting their trust in Allah alone, and doing all of the means that Allah has revealed, both general and specific. This includes keeping away from the things which nullify Allah’s protection after it has been given.
GENERAL MEANS OF PROTECTION:
1- Aqeedah Tawheed (Oneness of Allah):
Your belief in the oneness of Allah matters the most. Allah promised safety for those who have the right belief. Allah says
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ
It is ˹only˺ those who are faithful and do not tarnish their faith with falsehood (Zulm) who are guaranteed security and are ˹rightly˺ guided. [Surah Al An’aam Ayat 82]
Falsehood (Zulm) in this Ayah means Shirk as mentioned in Sahih Al Bukhari 3429 and 3360 and Similarly in another Hadeeth Al Qudsi Allah said “Who ever associates partner with me, I WILL ABANDON HIM…” Sahih Muslims 2985.
Aqeedah is of utmost importance which includes the Names of Allah and the Qadar of Allah as well. I highly suggest this playlist for authentic knowledge of Allah. Click Here: Who is Allah? – Aqeedah Tawheed – Introduction to Allah
2- Ikhlaas (Sincerity with Allah):
Allah recorded the testimony of Shaytaan for the Ummah till the day of judgement and Shaytaan made it crystal clear.
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَاۤ اَغْوَیْتَنِیْ لَاُزَیِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ لَاُغْوِیَنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ – اِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِیْنَ
Iblees said: “My Lord! because You misguided me, I will make sins on earth seem attractive to them (mankind) I mislead them all. Except Your Servants among them who are Sincere.” [Surah Al Hijr Ayat 39-40]
Satan testified himself of his inability to mislead the sincere believers. Sincere is the one who does deeds purely for the pleasure of Allah and according to the Sunnah without wishing to be praised by the people.
3- Sticking to the Sunnah
Allah says in the Quran that those who go against the command of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him should fear that Allah can afflict them with trials and afflictions, or with a painful punishment which they cannot bear.
فَلْیَحْذَرِ الَّذِیْنَ یُخَالِفُوْنَ عَنْ اَمْرِهٖۤ اَنْ تُصِیْبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ اَوْ یُصِیْبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ
“So let those who disobey his [i.e. the Prophet’s] orders beware, for an affliction may befall them, or a painful torment may overtake them.” [Surah Al Noor Ayat 63]
4- Taqwa of Allah:
Taqwa (fearing Allah and being righteous) means doing what Allah has enjoined and refraining from what He has prohibited. Taqwa stands for sincerely do as much as you can to obey Allah and sincerely as much as you can to keep away from disobeying Allah.
وَ مَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰهَ یَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ مَخْرَجًا وَّ یَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَحْتَسِبُؕ وَ مَنْ یَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهٗؕ
“And whoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them.” [Surah At Talaaq Ayat 2-3]
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا وَّ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ مُّحْسِنُوْنَ
“Indeed, Allah is with those who have Taqwa and those who are doers of good.” [An Nahl Ayat 128]
وَ اللّٰهُ وَلِیُّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ
“Allah is the protector/friend of those who have Taqwa” [Al-Jathiyah Ayat 19]
وَ نَجَّیْنَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ كَانُوْا یَتَّقُوْنَ
“And We saved those who believed and used to have Taqwa of Allah” [Surah Fussilat Ayat 18]
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّی الَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا
“Then We will save those who have Taqwa” [Surah Maryam Ayat 72]
5- Tawbah and Seeking forgiveness:
The calamities that befall on us are due to our sins. Tawbah and Istighfaar are not only a protection but a cure as well and there are many ruqyah cases that only require Tawbah and Istighfaar. I cannot emphasise enough on this subject and i will dedicate a few articles on this subject soon. However, the story of Yunus (a.s) is a prime example. None of us can even imagine being in the belly of a fish. What did Yunus (a.s) do? He turned back to Allah and said “لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ سُبْحَـنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّـلِمِينَ” and Allah saved him. Our calamities, hardships, trials or difficulties are not more than that of Yunus (a.s) but Allah saved him when he turned back to Allah in repentance. A detailed article on Tawbah and Istighfaar will be uploaded soon in sha Allah.
6- Remembering Allah in the Morning and Evening:
I will mention a few statements of our respected Ulama of the Ummah with regards to The Power of Morning and Evening Adhkar!
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “The morning and evening adhkar play the role of a shield; the thicker it is the more its owner will not be affected. Rather, its strength can reach to such an extent that the arrow shot at it will bounce back to affect the one who shot it.”
Shaykh Uthaymeen said, “The morning and evening adhkar are a stronger fortress than the wall of Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj, for the one who says it while his heart is present.”
And Ibn Salah said, “Whoever maintains the morning and evening adhkar, the adhkar after the prayers, and the adhkar before sleeping will be written among those “who remember Allah much.”
Ibn Katheer said, “Wear the ‘coat’ of adhkar so it can protect you from the evils of humans and jinn. And cover your souls with Istighfaar so it can erase the sins of the night and day.”
An Article on the Azkaar to be done for Ruqyah purpose will be shared soon in sha Allah.
7- Avoid acts which remove the protection of Allah Or Stop the Dua from being answered:
Many people do the things which bring protection from Allah but at the same time they do things which remove the protection from Allah. They ask Allah to be protected but then go on to do acts which stop Allah’s protection and open the doors for shaytaan. Allah says:
یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لِمَ تَقُوْلُوْنَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَنْ تَقُوْلُوْا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ
“O believers! Why do you say what you do not do? How despicable it is in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do!”
An Article on the list of such acts will be shared soon in sha Allah.
8- The Guard of Allah
If i had to choose one statement, with regards to protection or guard from Allah, from the entire treasure of Quran and sunnah then it has to be these extracted words from a long hadeeth in Tirmidhi.
“…احفظ الله يحفظك…”
“…Guard [what] Allah [commanded] and Allah will guard you…”. [Sunan Tirmidhi 2516]
These beautiful words of Rasool Allah s.a.w will further be explained in an article in sha Allah.
The steps in seeking Allah’s protection are not things that you do and move on from, but they are things that you keep on doing and make it a way of life. You must be truthful in what you seek and Allah’s Protection is sought from all evil whether it be from the Evil Jinn or Insaan.
Allah knows best.
