Ramadan Day 24: Tafsir Qur’an 22:40

“Indeed Allah will help those who help Him. Indeed Allah is Exalted in Might, All-Powerful.”
Al-Qur’an 22:40

Imam Ash-Shanqiti (d. 1393H) – rahimahullah – said:

Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – explains in this noble ayah that He has sworn to help and give victory to those who help Him. It is known that the help and victory of Allah comes by following what He has prescribed, obeying His commend, avoiding His prohibitions, by helping His Messengers and their followers, aiding His Religion and fighting against His enemies and overpowering them – until the word of Allah is made uppermost, whilst the word of His enemies is debased and mode low. Then Allah – the Most High, the Most Magnificent – explains the characteristics of those whom He has promised would receive His help and victory, distinguishing them from others. So He said – explaining those to whom He swore He would aid and give victory to – because He is the one to aid and give victory:

“Those who, if We establish them in the earth, establish the prayer, give the Zakat, enjoin the good and forbid the evil.”
Al-Qur’an 22:41

And that which this noble ayah indicates is that whosoever aids Allah, then Allah will aid Him. This is clearly explained in other than this place, such as His – the Most High’s – sayings:

“O you who believe. If you help Allah, Allah will help you; and establish your feet firmly. But those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and Allah will make their deeds vain.”

“Indeed, Our Word has gone forth of old for our slaves, the Messengers, that they will certainly be victorious; and that Our forces will certainly be triumphant.”

“Allah has Decreed: It is My Messenger and I who will prevail.”

“Allah has promised to those amongst you who believe and do righteous actions that He will grant you the khilafah in the land.”
Al-Qur’an 47:7, 37:171-173, 58:21 and 24:55

And in His – the Most High’s – saying:

“Those who, if We establish them in the earth, establish the prayer, give the Zakat, enjoin the good and forbid the evil.”
Al-Qur’an 22:41

In it is a proof that there is no promise from Allah of His help, except by establishing the Prayer, paying the Zakah, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil. So it is these whom Allah will establish upon the earth and will strengthen His Word through them. However, those who do not establish the salah, nor pay the Zakah, nor enjoin the good nor forbid the evil, then there is no promise for them from Allah that He will aid and grant them victory. They are not from His party, nor are they his friends – those who have the promise of His help and victory. Rather, they are the party of Shaytan and his friends. So if they were to expect the help of Allah and the fulfillment of His promise upon them, then their example is like that of a hired worker who refuses to do the labour that he was hired for, yet he expects to be rewarded. So whosoever is like this, then he has no intellect!1

So the help that we so desperately await, and the victory that we so strongly desire will only come about by: “The Muslims returning and repenting to their Lord, correcting their ‘aqidah (beliefs) and cultivating themselves and their families upon the pure and correct Islam; putting into effect Allah – the Most High’s – saying:

‘Never will Allah change the condition of a people, until they change themselves.’
Al-Qur’an 13:11”

Source: Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.6 – Dhu’l-Qa’dah 1417H / March 1997CE. The second quote is from Al-‘Aqidatu’t-Tahawiyyah Sharh wa’t-Ta’liq (p.47) of Shaykh Al-Albani.

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