Introduction of prayer:
This prayers refers to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In this verse Allah Kareem consoles Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his Companions against the enmity that the hypocrites have for him and the believers. If a blessing, such as victory and triumph over the enemies, is given to the Prophet , thus pleasing him and his Companions, it grieves the hypocrites. But if a calamity overtakes the believers, they say: “We took our precaution beforehand, they say, we took precautions when we did not join him and they turn away rejoicing. Allah Kareem commanded his Prophet (pbuh) and the believers to say Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Master and protector, and we trust in Him. Verily, He is sufficient for us and what an excellent guardian is He.
Explanation & virtues of prayer:
1- قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا (Say, “Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has destined for us):
Allah Kareem commanded His Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) to say that “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us”.
The creation of this universe is not accidental but it is shaped and planned according to the Decree and Divine Design of the Greatest Designer and Planner, Allah the Exalted. Qur’an explains this Divine Decree in Surah Al-Qamar, verse:49;
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَـٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ ٤٩
Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained.
سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى ١ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ ٢ وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ ٣
(Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High. Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it. And Who has measured (Qaddara) and then guided.)(87:1-3)
He Almighty measured out the total sum (Qadar) of everything and then guided the creation to it. Allah created the creation with destined limits before they were created. He knew everything that will occur before it occurred and recorded everything that will occur, before they occurred.
Prophet of Allah Muhammad (pbuh) defined this matter clearly in a Hadith;
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ كُنَّا فِي جَنَازَةٍ فِي بَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ فَأَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَعَدَ وَقَعَدْنَا حَوْلَهُ وَمَعَهُ مِخْصَرَةٌ فَنَكَّسَ فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ بِمِخْصَرَتِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ” مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَهَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَإِلاَّ وَقَدْ كُتِبَتْ شَقِيَّةً أَوْ سَعِيدَةً ” . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ نَمْكُثُ عَلَى كِتَابِنَا وَنَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ فَقَالَ ” مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ فَسَيَصِيرُ إِلَى عَمَلِ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ فَسَيَصِيرُ إِلَى عَمَلِ أَهْلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ ” . فَقَالَ ” اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ أَمَّا أَهْلُ السَّعَادَةِ فَيُيَسَّرُونَ لِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ وَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الشَّقَاوَةِ فَيُيَسَّرُونَ لِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ ” . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ { فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى * وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى}
Ali reported:
We were in a funeral in the graveyard of Gharqad when Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to us and we sat around him. He had a stick with him. He lowered his head and began to scratch the earth with his stick, and then said: There is not one amongst you whom a seat in Paradise or Hell has not been allotted and about whom it has not been written down whether he would be an evil person or a blessed person. A person said: Allah’s Messenger, should we not then depend upon our destiny and abandon our deeds? Thereupon he said: Acts of everyone will be facilitated in that which has been created for him so that whoever belongs to the company of the blessed will have good works made easier for him and whoever belongs to the unfortunate ones will have evil acts made easier for him. He then recited this verse (from the Qur’an): “Then, who gives to the needy and guards against evil and accepts the excellent (the truth of Islam and the path of righteousness it prescribes), We shall make easy for him the easy end and who is miserly and considers himself above need, We shall make easy for him the difficult end” (xcii. 5-10). (Muslim: 2647a)
2- هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ(He is our Protector):
Allah Kareem called Himself as مَوْلَىٰ; means The Lord, Guardian, and Trustee. It has been mentioned for 17 times in 13 Verses. Allah Kareem taught the believers to supplicate Him by calling the attribute of ‘Mawla’;
أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people. (Surah Al-Baqarah: 286)
ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَـٰسِبِينَ ٦٢
Then they are ˹all˺ returned to Allah—their True Master. Judgment is His ˹alone˺. And He is the Swiftest Reckoner. (Al-An’am: 62)
وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ ٤٠
And if they do not comply, then know that Allah is your Protector. What an excellent Protector, and what an excellent Helper! (Surah Al-Anfal: 40)
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًۭا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ
Those who were warned, “Your enemies have mobilized their forces against you, so fear them,” the warning only made them grow stronger in faith and they replied, “Allah ˹alone˺ is sufficient ˹as an aid˺ for us and ˹He˺ is the best Protector.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 173)
3- وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٥١ (So in Allah let the believers put their trust):
Tawwkul means putting full faith and trust in Allah’s plan and decree. It’s easy to be faithful with the decree of Allah when the things are going well and good. A believer is testified by some trials and who remains steadfast and shows his reliance in Allah Kareem, he is the true believer. This is what Qur’an demands from it’s believer;
وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ٢٣
Put your trust in Allah if you are ˹truly˺ believers. (Al-Mai’dah: 23)
Qur’an states about the practice of prophets that they were the servants of Allah who totally put their trust in Allah in all situation and conditions. Sayyidna Ya’qub (as);
إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ٦٧
It is only Allah Who decides. In Him I put my trust. And in Him let the faithful put their trust. (12: 67)
Allah Kareem commanded His Last Prophet Sayyidna Muhammad (pbuh) to rely on Allah Kareem;
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
But if they turn away, then say, ˹O Prophet, “Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god ˹worthy of worship except Him. In Him I put my trust. And He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.” (9: 129)
Conclusion:
If you are facing the fear from a powerful enemy or be falling in trouble, don’t be afraid and do practically what ever possible you can but then have firm trust in Allah’s plan. He is the Protecter and Guardian and He only is Sufficient against all. Recite this prayer regularly, Insha’Allah soon you will be in comfort and ease.
