Introduction of prayer:
This is one of the most powerful verses of the Qur’an for protection against the enemy, jealousy of people, harm and black magic. It can be recited against arrogant and tyrant rulers. It also contains healing and consoling power against diseases and worries.
Explanation & virtues of prayer:
This verse was revealed in the background of consoling the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) against his enemies from the people of the book. Allah said, that if they, the disbelievers among the People of the Book and other disbelievers, believe in all of Allah’s Books and Messengers and do not differentiate between any of them, then they are rightly guided. But if they turn away from truth to falsehood after proof has been presented to them, then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them. Allah will aid the believers against them.
1- فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ(Allah will suffice you for protection against them):
Allah Kareem consoles His Prophet Sayyidna Muhammad (pbuh) that if the people of the book follow the Oneness of Allah, believe in all the revealed books on prophets and submit to the commands of Allah then they are on the right path but if they do not then Allah Alone is sufficient for you against them. He will save His Prophet from their enmity, jealousy and evil plans. This is a fact that the enemies of the Prophet (pbuh) tried their best to make him deal with them otherwise they threatened evil consequences. But we see that Allah protected him from their conspiracy and evil plans. Indeed Allah is Sufficient against all evil powers.
The root word of فَسَيَكْفِي is ک ف ی which contains two meanings. The first meaning is to be sufficient and to be enough. The second main meaning is to be able to protect, shield and save something perfectly.
From this root word, there is a Beautiful Name Of Allah Kareem Al-Kafi, The Sufficient. Allah is Sufficient for all His creatures as He provides for them, protects them, and sets aright their affairs. So, He grants them sufficiency, which is general sufficiency that applies to all creation.
As for His special sufficiency, He gives it to those who rely upon Him and turn to Him in belief and repentance. Allah Kareem states this sufficiency in Sura Az-Zumar, verse: 36;
أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُۥ ۖ
Is Allah not sufficient for His servant?
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا ٨١
and put your trust in Allah. And Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs. (4: 81)
وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًۭا ٣٩
And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner. (33: 39)
2- وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ (He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing):
ٱلسَّمِيعُ: The All-Hearing, The Hearer, The Ever Listening
This Blessed Name has been mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah Kareem hears all sounds without ear, instrument or organ. His hearing encompasses everything. He hears the cries of those who call Him in distress and responds to their supplications. He hears those who praise Him and He rewards them accordingly. He helps those who call Him for help. He is the Hearer. He hears everyone and every time. He hears the sound of the black ant walking on a solid rock in the darkest night. His response to the supplication of one person does not distract Him from responding to another. He knows our desires and wishes, yet He the All-Hearing wants to listen His servants. He commands His servants to call Him and He will respond them.
When Sayyidna Musa and Sayyidna Haroon (as) stated their fear about Fir’awn, Allah Kareem consoled them by saying;
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ
Allah reassured ˹them˺, “Have no fear! I am with you, hearing and seeing. (20: 46)
The Qur’an states the story of Sayyidna Ibrahim and Sayyidna Isma’il (as) when they completed the construction of Baitullah, both supplicated to Allah;
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Recall when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House, praying: “Our Lord! Accept this from us; You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Al-Qur’an: 2: 127)
ٱلْعَلِيمُ (The Knower, The Knowledgeable, The All-Knowing One)
This Blessed Name is derived from the root word (ع ل م) which means to have knowledge, to be firmly rooted in knowledge, to be wise and to act according to knowledge. Allah’s knowledge is complete and all-encompassing; He knows the beginning, the ending, and everything that’s kept within. He is not only aware of our outward actions but knows the state of our hearts when we make them. Nothing is kept a secret, and nothing can be hidden from His knowledge.
Allah Kareem stated the words of the Prophets they will say on the Day of Judgement;
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ ١٠٩
˹Consider˺ the Day Allah will gather the messengers and say, “What response did you receive?” They will reply, “We have no knowledge! You ˹alone˺ are indeed the Knower of all unseen.”( Al-Qur’an: 5: 109)
Allah Kareem consoled His Prophet Sayyidna Muhammad (pbuh) when he felt sad because of the disappointing response of the disbelievers to his Divine message;
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ
We certainly know that your heart is truly distressed by what they say. (Al-Qur’an: 15: 97)
Allah is the Knower of everything, even He knows the states of our hearts, our desires and our intentions. Allah describes His attribute of Hearing in Surah Ghafir, verse: 2;
تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
The revelation of this Book is from Allah—the Almighty, All-Knowing.
Sayyidna Muhammad (pbuh) taught a comprehensive prayer for protection calling upon Allah Kareem His Bounteous Names As-Sami’ and al-‘Al-‘Aleem.
لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
‘In the Name of Allah, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (Tirmidhi: 3388)
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Narrated Ma’qil bin Yasar:
that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever says three times when he gets up in the morning: ‘A’udhu Billahis-Sami Al-‘Alim Min Ash-Shaitanir-Rajim’ and he recites three Ayat from the end of Surah Al-Hashr – Allah appoints seventy-thousand angels who say Salat upon him until the evening. If he dies on that day, he dies a martyr, and whoever reaches the evening, he holds the same status.”(Tirmidhi: 2922)
