The Protector | Fahmida Mehreen

“You have none apart from Allah, as a protector and helper.” [Al-Qur’an; 2:107]

Would it not be great if we had a life without worry, without pain, without anything but happiness and bliss, where all our wishes and requests shall be fulfilled? Well, that is what waits for the blessed and the fortunate ones who shall enter Paradise.

However, there are two sides of everything, and on the flipside of Paradise is the blazing hellfire. The easiest way to visualize or reflect upon hellfire is to touch something extremely hot or by putting one’s hand over a lighted match or lighter. I bet it is not possible to bear it for more than just a few seconds. And yet, how can we imagine spending years upon years, Allah knows best for how long, with our full body burning in a fire that is 70 times more intense than the fire on this earth?

Thus, to protect ourselves from the hellfire, we need an action plan. There are many things that can be done. But summing it up, here are a few:

• Read the Qur’an, understand its meaning and try our best to live the Qur’an in our lives. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Read the Qur’an. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its reader.” (Narrated by Muslim)
• If we have sinned, let us not defend ourselves. Rather, admit that we have made a mistake. Defending our mistakes shall make us follow the footsteps of Satan.
• Immediately after a bad deed, follow it with a good deed. Let me mention: this is not hypocrisy. This is repentance in the name of Allah. Do not do the good deed to show off to the world. We must do it out of sheer repentance only for the sake of Allah’s forgiveness. It has been mentioned by Prophet (PBUH) as narrated by An-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith.
• Give charity regularly, even if it is in small amount. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Protect yourselves from the fire, by giving (even) half of a date (in charity).” (Narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim). If you have no monetary substance to give, at least let it out through your behavior. Smile, and talk gently. Assist someone in a task.
• Be merciful to the people. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by The Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One above Heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Narrated by Timidhi)

Let us weigh up our actions before they are weighed up on the divine scales of Justice. May Allah protect us all.