Isti'adha: Seeking Allah's Protection from Satan

The Seventeenth Talk

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Verily, there is no authority for him over those who believe and rely on their Lord. (Sura An-Nahl, 16:99)

Tawakkul is the Result of the Knowledge, Circumstances and the Actions of an Individual

The scholars and researchers are of opinion that Tawakkkul results from three things: the knowledge of the person, his circumstances and his actions. We shall talk about all the three aspects.

Knowledge: As long as a person is not learned, Tawakkul will not be in him. This will depend on three things. The first is Yaqeen or firm belief. The person should have absolute belief on Allah (S.w.T.)’s unfathomable power that He is “’Ala kulli shayyin Qadeer (all things are in His power) and “Qaadir ‘ala kulli shayy” (wields power over all things). The most difficult tasks that man is unable to perform with all his capabilities, are very easy of accomplishment by Allah (S.w.T.). Nothing is there that is not in His Reach.

Wisdom and Kindness on Men

Yaqeen: Secondly, yaqeen or faith is imperative that Allah (S.w.T.) is ‘Aalam as-sirr wal-khafiyyat, He has knowledge of the manifest and the hidden. In other words, He is Omniscient.

Muntaha ash-shafaqat ‘ala ibaadihi: Thirdly, the person should have the firm belief that Allah (S.w.T.) is utmost kind on His creatures. Mu’min is near and dear to Allah (S.w.T.). The instinctive love that a mother has for her child is also from Allah (S.w.T.). Allah (S.w.T.)’s love for His creatures is thousands of times more than a mother’s love for her child. In fact, his love for the creatures is unfathomable. He is the Sustainer; He creates, trains, and loves those He has brought up with care. Many examples can be cited about this. But now we are quoting one narration from Hayat al-Qulub of Allama Majlisi:

Hadrat Nuh (a.s.) cursed his disobedient people. As a result of this curse, all the infidels got drowned in the flood. One angel came to Hadrat Nuh (a.s.). Hadrat Nuh (a.s.) was a potter. At the time when the angel came to him, he was busy on the potters-wheel making goblets and tempering them on fire. The angel bought all the goblets from Hadrat Nuh (a.s.) and started breaking them one after another. Hadrat Nuh (a.s.), surprised and upset, asked him why he was breaking the goblets. The angel said, “What right you have over the things that I have already paid for?” Hadrat Nuh (a.s.) said, “Don’t you know that I had made the goblets with my own hands?” The angel rejoined, “You have only made the goblets, you have not created them! Even then you are upset at my breaking them. When you got so many creatures drowned in the floods, would not Allah (S.w.T.), the Creator, have felt upset and sad!” At this, as is quoted in ‘Ilall ash-Sharay’i, Hadrat Nuh bowed down his head and wept so much that he was given the name of Nuh (one who wails) because of this.

The Prophet (S) Never Cursed Anyone

Allah (S.w.T.), therefore, is very kind on His creatures because, one who is the provider of sustenance has lots of love for those whom He brings up. Allah (S.w.T.) expresses His displeasure on one of His closest Prophets (a.s.) as to why he had cursed his people and caused their destruction.

The greatness of the Last of the Prophets, Hadrat Muhammad (S.), can be judged from the fact that he never cursed anyone throughout his life. He is therefore, Rahmatan lil ‘Aalameen or Blessing for all the Worlds! If he had cursed the infidels and polytheists, they would have all perished.

An Example of Godly Affection

One day the infidels caused so much hurt to the Prophet (S) that he fell unconscious, and blood was flowing from his face and head. Someone informed Hadrat Khadija (s.a.) that her husband was assaulted by his enemies and caused him grievous injuries. They were wondering whether she would find him alive or not. That day the angels came to the Prophet (S) and asked him his wish. The Prophet (S), who is a blessing for all the worlds, did not ask for the punishment of the infidels but, to the contrary, he prayed for them in the following words: “O Allah (S.w.T.)! Guide my people aright!” In addition to this, the Prophet (S) advocated for them that, “They are not aware that I am Your Annunciated Prophet. They are ignorant and I plead not to punish them!”

People Themselves Seek a Place in Hell

Don’t say that when the Prophet (S) is so forgiving, then why Allah (S.w.T.) had to create the Hell. The creation of the Hell is not contrary to Ash-shafaqat ‘alal ‘ibaad (compassion on the creation). Man himself flies away from the way of Allah (S.w.T.)’s love (Shafaqah) and rightly earns a place in the Hell.

Surely Allah does not do any injustice to men, but men are unjust to themselves. (Sura Yunus, 10:44)

Allah (S.w.T.) loves them very much and keeps them warned repeatedly about the Hell through the verses of the Qur’an. He exhorts them to keep away from it. He also warns them against Satan’s tricks and that he is the open enemy of men.

In a nutshell, unless you realize that Allah (S.w.T.) is Omnipotent and Beneficent and has kindness and love for his creatures, you cannot achieve the state of Tawakkul.

Affection on a Kitten

In the Commentary, Ruh al-Bayan, it is said that someone dreamed of a pious person after his death and inquired about his condition. He said that one good turn had helped him very much. It was winter. In addition to extreme cold it was raining cats and dogs. In the state of extreme cold he noticed a kitten in search of warmth and shelter. It looked hungry and weak. He took pity on the kitten and picked it up and hid it in his coat of leather and took it home. There he fed the kitten and protected it from cold. When the weather improved, he freed the kitten. Allah (S.w.T.) had forgiven all his sins because of this good turn of his.

How much Allah (S.w.T.) must be getting pleased if one did such a good turn to a human being. There is another love much more superior mentioned in the Qur’an. That is the love for Allah (S.w.T.). Allah (S.w.T.) terms such persons His mahboob or the Beloved.

Therefore, the condition of knowledge is firm belief in affection for Allah (S.w.T.) and that, because of this affection Allah (S.w.T.) loves you.

Now the question is that despite all this why we don’t depend (Tawakkul) on Allah (S.w.T.)? Is there anyone more dependable than Him in our view? Do we know any personality who is wiser than, stronger than and kinder than Allah (S.w.T.)? When one’s Allah (S.w.T.) is so forgiving, why should he seek the affection of anyone else!

O Allah (S.w.T.)! Strengthen our hearts with the strength of belief that we make only you the focus of our expectations! Call only you in times of trouble and whenever Satan creates fears in our heart, we seek your protection! We keep trust only on Your support at every step in our lives. We mould ourselves into total Mu’minīn following the dictum of “if you are a mu’min do Tawakkul on Allah (S.w.T.)!” * *

What Satan Has To Do With Those Who Have Tawakkul Or Dependence On Allah (S.w.T.)!

If you consider your Sustainer, Allah (S.w.T.), as the reservoir of all your strength, and thereby become a person with Tawakkul, that is, total dependence on Allah (S.w.T.), then Satan dare not have access to your heart! Here we are reminded of the example of the king’s camp and the ferocious dog at its entrance. But one who is close to the king, will call from outside and orders would be given for his admittance. Similarly, if one has closeness with the Creator of the Universe, and has Tawakkul on Him, then his Isti’adha too will be acceptable and Satan will never come near him.

Friends of Allah (S.w.T.) Have no Anxiety from Satan

Men have several enemies. Whenever they become the people of Tawakkul, depending totally on Allah (S.w.T.), then all the enemies unite to oppose them. Confronting so many strong enemies is not easy. There is only one way of subduing them. That is Tawakkul (Dependence) on Allah (S.w.T.). When one depends totally on Allah (S.w.T.), then Satan’s fears and temptations would mean trifling to him. “The friends of Allah neither fear anyone nor do they face any sadness or misery”.

Blade of Dried Grass or Straw

Unfortunate are those hapless persons who have no place of succor. They are just like the blades of straw that fly around with the gusts of the wind. Satan will rest only after destroying such persons. In contrast to these, the one who is powerful has access to the Omnipotent Allah (S.w.T.), and only Allah (S.w.T.) is his succor.

Our lives are fast running out of time. We should not remain deprived of Tawakkul on Allah (S.w.T.). * *

Tawakkul on Allah (S.w.T.) is Necessary in the Hereafter Too

As it is necessary to Trust on Allah (S.w.T.) during our worldly lives, then, whatever is in store for us in the Hereafter too we shall have to depend on Allah (S.w.T.) for his Beneficence. For this Tawakkul is most important. Allah (S.w.T.) is the Master of all our affairs - in the grave, in purgatory (Barzakh), on Qiyamat (Doomsday) and we have to depend on Him in all these stages. It is Allah (S.w.T.) who brought us from nothingness to the world and has been our Guardian till the Resurrection (Ma’ad)!