Published on Oct 30 2009 

Huzur continued with the subject of the Divine attribute of Al Wali (the Friend) in his Friday Sermon today. God draws the attention of believers and non-believers as well as warns the pagans in the Holy Qur’an:

‘For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of Allah. Surely, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts. And when Allah wishes to punish a people, there is no repelling it, nor have they any helper beside Him.’ (13:12)

Huzur explained that God has expounded four aspects in this verse; a) God has taken everyone’s protection in His hands b) He decides about a nation in accordance with their practices c) When God deems someone liable to be punished, the matter cannot be averted d) He alone is the true Helper and Friend.

Elucidating the opening line of the verse, ‘For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of Allah…’ the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that God has appointed sentries for exoteric or apparent as well as esoteric or concealed safeguard of His people. These sentries primarily safeguard God’s messengers among whom the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is foremost. After his birth he became the most beloved being to God and from the time of his birth to his passing away, God fulfilled the aforementioned line in a peerless manner for him. His life in Makkah is known to all and how in a most lucid way God helped him at every step. The Surah from which the verse is taken, Surah Al Ra’d, was revealed during the Makkan period when the enemy’s hostility exceeded all limits. We also have the magnificent example of the Battle of Badr when God provided exoteric/apparent as well as esoteric/concealed help for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Amir ibn Tufail was a pagan chief who came to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and said that if he became a Muslim could he be a successor (Khalifa) of the Prophet after him?  The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that Khilafat would never go to one who laid such a condition or indeed to his people. The man became upset and left saying that he would bring in horse-riders of the calibre who would, God forbid, severely deter the Prophet. The Prophet said God would never enable him to do this. The man went away with one of his associates who persuaded him while they were still on the way to return with a plan to kill the Prophet. They returned and Amir stood behind the Prophet as his associate distracted the Prophet, he drew his sword to do the deed but was awe-struck and could not move. The Prophet turned around and saw all this. The two left, indeed were allowed to leave. However on their way the associate was hit by lighting and died whereas it is said about Amir that he died of a carbuncle. There are numerous such incidents that illustrate how God helped the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) with His special protection through the angels. God made the promise of safeguard to the Prophet when he was in Makkah but once in Medina, God further consoled him with: ‘…And Allah will protect thee from men…’ (5:68).

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that it is a great miracle that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was not killed by anyone. He said it was indeed written in the ancient scriptures that the Prophet to come in the latter days will not be killed by the hands of anyone. Huzur said that the words ‘by the command of Allah’ in the verse (13:12) signify that apart from helping through the agency of angels, God also made hearts of believers bound to be ever ready to make any and every sacrifice for him. This sense of sacrifice was borne out of the faith that they had embraced through the Prophet. At times people associate with others out of some obduracy or due to mutual animosity or mutual fear for a cause. The Companions were not such. Their sense of guarding the Prophet was due to the faith that God had generated in their hearts and they did this to attain the pleasure of God. Thus God made arrangements to safeguard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) more than anyone else. However, this is also applicable to every person. Even if there is no infectious illness around, mankind breaths in many germs from the atmosphere, but God has created a defence system in the human body to counter this. At times God manifests His special protection and safeguard through His sentries for His special friends and for His messengers as well as the followers of the messengers.

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