Imam of the Prophet's Mosque: 'Guard Allah, He will guard you'... A Prophetic advice encompassing the fundamentals of religion

2026-07-03T11:03:45.093Z

Imam and preacher of the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Hudhaifi, affirmed in his Friday sermon that the Prophet's (ﷺ) advice to Ibn Abbas: 'Guard Allah, He will guard you...' is among the comprehensive sayings, as it includes great fundamentals in creed, worship, reliance, and faith in divine decree and destiny. He explained that guarding Allah is by preserving His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, and that the reward for that is preservation...

His Eminence, Imam and preacher of the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Hudhaifi, spoke about one of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) advices that combined many counsels and rulings prescribed by the laws of religion, calling upon servants to follow what God has commanded in word and deed, avoid His prohibitions, and believe in His decree and destiny.

He cited in today's Friday sermon from the Prophet's Mosque the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Abdullah ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him), as he said: 'O young man, I will teach you some words: Guard Allah, He will guard you; Guard Allah, you will find Him before you; If you ask, ask of Allah; If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with something that Allah has already written for you; And if they were to gather together to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with something that Allah has already written against you. The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried.' Narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is a hasan sahih hadith.

Sheikh Ali Al-Hudhaifi explained that this advice is among the comprehensive sayings that include great fundamentals of creed, worship, and reliance on Allah, stating that the meaning of guarding Allah is to preserve His commands, avoid His prohibitions, and magnify His boundaries, and that its reward is Allah's preservation of His servant in his religion, worldly life, and Hereafter, and in his own self and offspring. He cited the verse: 'Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do' (Quran 16:97), and the verse: 'And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect' (Quran 65:2-3).

The Imam and preacher of the Prophet's Mosque continued reminding about the contents of that advice, explaining that it shows what Allah has prepared for the people of piety and obedience: a good life, ample provision, ease, and a good end. He pointed out that the righteousness of parents is a cause for the preservation and care of children, as indicated by the story of the two orphan boys in Surah Al-Kahf, affirming that piety towards Allah is a cause for the preservation of offspring and uprightness of conditions, and that the righteous predecessors were keen to increase their good deeds hoping that Allah would preserve their children after them.

Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi emphasized that Islamic law urges the preservation of great acts of worship, foremost among them prayer, explaining that maintaining it with its pillars, conditions, and humility helps in preserving the other pillars of Islam and all acts of obedience. He also called for guarding the limbs, lowering the gaze, protecting chastity, and adhering to Islamic etiquette, in compliance with the commands of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). He added that the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: 'Guard Allah, you will find Him before you' indicates Allah's special companionship with His believing servants through care, success, victory, and assistance, and that any affliction that befalls a believer is an elevation of his ranks and an expiation for his sins if he meets it with patience and hope for reward.

His Eminence explained that a Muslim is commanded to make his asking and seeking help from Allah alone, for He is the Owner of harm and benefit, and in His hand are the treasures of the heavens and the earth. Whoever seeks help from a creation in something that only Allah can do has committed shirk (associating partners) with Allah in worship.

He pointed out that the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: 'The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried' affirms faith in divine decree and destiny, and that what Allah has decreed is inevitably bound to happen. He added that the believer combines taking measures with reliance on Allah, citing what is mentioned in the hadith about the pairing of victory with patience, relief with distress, and ease with hardship, and what the noble verses indicate about Allah's promise of ease after hardship.

His Eminence concluded the sermon reminding that this prophetic advice combined the works of the heart and the limbs, and that true success lies in acting upon it and adhering to what it includes of faith, reliance, and guarding Allah's boundaries. He asked Allah to grant Muslims success in obeying Him and steadfastness in their religion.