‘‘O boy, I shall teach you some words. Preserve Allaah and Allaah will preserve you…”
By: An-Naseehah Dcl
Tags: Faith and Life, Muslim, Islam

‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with them) said, “One day, I was behind the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said, ‘O boy, I shall teach you some words. Preserve Allaah and Allaah will preserve you. Preserve Allaah and you will find Him with you. If you ask, ask Allaah. If you seek help, seek the help of Allaah. Be aware that if the nation gathered in order to benefit you, they will never benefit you, except by that which Allaah ordained. If they gathered in order to harm you, they will never harm you, except by that which Allaah ordained. Pens are lifted and papers are dried.’” [Recorded by At-Tirmidhi in Kitab Sifat Al-Qiyamah (Book on Description of the Resurrection), no. 2516; also recorded by Imam Ahmad, vol. 1, p. 293]

In a narration by others than At-Tirmidhi, it was related that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Preserve Allaah and you will find Him with you. Be near to Allaah at rimes of prosperity and He will be with you in times of distress. Be acknowledged that whatever you missed, would never have been realized and whatever you realized, you would never have missed. Be acknowledged that victory comes with patience, happiness comes after distresses and that after hardships, there will be relief.” [Recorded by Imam Ahmad in Al-Musnad, vol. 1, pp. 303 and 307; and by At-Tabarani in Al-Kabir, no. 11/23 (11243). It was authenticated by Al-Hakim, no. 3/542. Adh-Dhahabi said,-“It is not authentic.”]

The Importance of This Hadith

This hadith contains great advice and all-comprehensive pillars of religion. A scholar said, “I contemplated on this hadith and it swept me away. I was about to lose my mind. What a great loss that many people do not know this hadith and do not understand its meaning.”

Explanation of The Hadith

The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saying, ‘Preserve Allaah’, means that one should preserve his covenant with Allaah and pay attention to His rights, commands and prohibitions. One should adhere to the commands of Allaah, avoid prohibited acts and never transgress the duties ordained by Him, or perform a deed which He prohibited. Whoever follows this is among those who preserve their covenant with Allaah Who praised them saying, “(It will be said), ‘This is what you were promised, — (it is) for those oft-returning (to Allaah) in sincere repentance, and those who preserve their covenant with Allaah (by obeying Him in all that He has ordered, and worship none but Allaah Alone, i.e., follow Allaah’s Religion, Islamic Monotheism).’Who feared the Most Beneficent (Allaah) in the Ghaib (unseen): (i.e., in this worldly life before seeing and meeting Him), and brought a heart turned in repentance (to Him — and absolutely free from each and every kind of polytheism.” (Surah Qaf : 32–33)

“Preserve Allaah and you will find Him with you. Be near to Allaah at times of prosperity and He will be with you in times of distress. Be acknowledged that whatever you missed, would never have been realized and whatever you realized, you would never have missed. Be acknowledged that victory comes with patience, happiness comes after distresses and that after hardships, there will be relief.”

It has been interpreted that those who preserve their covenant with Allaah are those who adhere to His commands and those who remember their sins in order to repent them.

The most important commands ordained by Allaah which a Muslim should preserve is prayer. Allaah ordered us to observe prayer as He says, “Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer — ’Asr)” (Surah Al-Baqarah : 238)

Allaah praised those who observe it, saying, “And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well.” (Surah Al-Ma’arij : 34)

One is also commanded to preserve his oaths, as Allaah says, “And protect your oaths (i.e., do not swear often).” (Surah Al-Ma’idah : 89)

Many people swear oaths, but they do not keep them. One should also pay attention to his mind and ideas, and keep himself against eating legally prohibited food. “Verily! The hearing and the sight and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allaah)” (Surah Al-Isra : 36)

The most important prohibition which one should avoid committing is the sin through one’s tongue or sexual organs. Allaah says, “The men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allaah often with their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, tying, etc., more than 300 extra times over the remembrance of Allaah during the five compulsory congregational prayers or praying additional Nawafl prayers for night in the last part of night, etc.) Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Paradise).” (Surah Al-Ahzab : 35)

Continues next edition in shaa Allaah