Explanation of Hadith 19: Be Mindful of Allah and He Will Protect You

He (RH) said: The nineteenth Hadith:

On the authority of Abu al-Abbas, Abdullah bin Abbas (RA),

that he said: "I was behind the Prophet ﷺ

one day, and he said: 'O boy, I shall teach you some words:

Be mindful of Allah ﷻ, and He will protect you.

Be mindful of Allah ﷻ, and you will find Him before you.

Acknowledge Allah ﷻ in prosperity, and He will remember you in adversity.

And know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you,

and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by.

And know that victory comes with patience,

and relief with distress,

and that with hardship comes ease.'"

Yes, this is a very great Hadith.

The Hadith of Abdullah bin Abbas (RA).

And I say about it—and I say the same for every Hadith, but this one in particular—

it is impossible for a person to encompass all of its meanings in a whole day.

Among those who compiled a commentary on this Hadith is Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab,

who dedicated an entire volume to it.

And whoever is referred to a wealthy debtor should accept the transfer.

However, just to fulfill my obligation, I will mention some of the great meanings related to this Hadith,

which do not replace reflecting on this Hadith and studying its meanings.

The Prophet ﷺ said to his cousin Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA): "Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you."

Whoever is mindful of Allah ﷻ, avoiding prohibitions and fulfilling obligations,

Allah will protect him in his person, his health, and Allah ﷻ will protect him in his wealth.

Allah ﷻ will protect him in his children, and Allah ﷻ will protect him in the blessing of his time,

except for what Allah ﷻ wills as a trial for him, so he is tested to expiate his sins and to distinguish his sincerity from its absence.

Therefore, Allah ﷻ preserves the limbs of humans by their preservation of Allah ﷻ.

So whoever has weak offspring and fears for them, let him fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.

Likewise, whoever wants to preserve his wealth, let him fear Allah and do good with it.

"Zakat never mixed with wealth except that it ruined it." And likewise with life, in its blessing.

Not to mention what is with Allah ﷻ.

“If you ask, ask Allah.” This is half of the religion:

asking Allah ﷻ and not asking anyone from the creation.

Shirk did not occur among many people except because of their asking other than Allah ﷻ,

thinking that some people have closeness and status with Allah ﷻ, so they ask them instead of Him ﷻ.

"If you seek help, seek help from Allah."

The actions of the heart — seeking help, seeking rescue, and reliance — are not to be directed to anyone except Allah ﷻ.

And in his saying, ﷺ:

"Know that if the entire nation gathered to benefit you with something,

they would not benefit you except with something Allah ﷻ has already decreed for you."

This is certainty.

This is a tremendous certainty.

Whoever is able to keep this statement present in his mind at all times

and at every calamity —

then this person whose heart is filled with certainty and faith in Allah ﷻ —

certainty and faith.

If the Muslim keeps this present in every situation,

then he is the fortunate one.

But look at what he ﷺ says after that:

He says: "Know that what missed you could never have struck you,

and what struck you could never have missed you."

It is a reality.

And do not say, 'If only...' For if they all gathered, they cannot benefit or harm you.

And know that victory comes with patience. This is optimism.

And Allah ﷻ loves optimism and thinking well of Him, Glorified and Exalted is He.

"I am as My servant expects of Me, so let him think as he wills."

And that relief comes with distress, and that with hardship comes ease.

And the scholars have said, "One hardship will never overcome two eases." Indeed,

“For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].”

“Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” (Quran 94:5-6)

Yes, let us continue.