{"id":2408,"date":"2012-11-06T07:47:28","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T07:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wp3\/?p=2408"},"modified":"2012-11-06T07:47:28","modified_gmt":"2012-11-06T07:47:28","slug":"strive-for-allahs-special-patronage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sunnionline.us\/english\/2012\/11\/06\/2408\/","title":{"rendered":"Strive for Allah\u2019s Special Patronage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"images\/stories\/news2\/auusie_mosque_pic copy.jpg\" border=\"0\" align=\"right\" \/>The concept of patronage in Arabic (<em>wil\u0101yah<\/em>) is related to the idea of closeness and loyalty as well as to that of authority.   <!--more-->  This is why the word is used for guardianship, since a minor\u2019s legal guardian is most often a close relative. Guardians are also those who are responsible for the people under their care. They provide help, support, companionship, and love. <\/p>\n<p>Loyalty has a strong relationship with the idea of closeness. People show loyalty to one another on account of a number of close relationships: kinship ties, geographic proximity, friendship, shared religious beliefs, common values, etc\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Allah\u2019s patronage embraces all of creation. He cares for all of His creatures, whether human or non-human. He accounts for everyone\u2019s needs, whether they be righteous or sinful, and whether they believe in Him or deny His existence.<\/p>\n<p>In this context, Allah says: \u201cThen they shall be sent back to Allah, their Patron, the True one.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-An`\u0101m: 62<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>Allah is also Patron in a special sense for the believers, protecting them, helping them, and guiding them aright. Allah says: \u201cAllah is the Patron of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Baqarah: 257<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>The Qur\u2019an refers to Allah as the Patron numerous times; for instance: \u201cHe is the Praiseworthy Patron.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Sh\u016br\u0101: 28<\/em>] <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Patron can be only Allah; and (then) His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor due, and bow down (in prayer).\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-M\u0101\u2019idah: 55<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>This brings together many meanings: that Allah is our Lord, our Benefactor, our Helper, and the One who truly loves us.<\/p>\n<p>Consider these verses of the Qur\u2019an:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are our Patron; Help us against those who stand against faith.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Baqarah: 286<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Allah is your Patron, and He is the best of helpers.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah \u0100l `Imr\u0101n: 150<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen they shall be sent back to Allah, their Patron, the True one.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-An`\u0101m: 62<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold fast to Allah. He is your Patron. A most blessed Patron and a most blessed Helper!\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Hajj: 78<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>He also says: \u201cThat is because Allah is Patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah Muhammad: 11<\/em>] <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Allah is your Patron, and He is the best of helpers.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah \u0100l `Imr\u0101n: 150<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us how to attain the most specific and special level of Allah\u2019s patronage possible. He informs us that Allah says: <br \/>Nothing that my servant draws near to me with is more beloved to me than what I have commanded. Then, my servant continues to draw near to me with voluntary worship until I love him, and when I love him, I become his hearing that he hears with, his sight that he sees with, his hand by which he grasps, and his feet by which he walks. [<em>Sah\u012bh al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b (6502)<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) relates to us some aspects of the special patronage Allah shows to those who are extra-devoted in worship. He is also telling us that Allah is our source of inspiration and right-guidance so that we can successfully live in a manner that best pleases Him. We need Allah to set our thoughts aright, to bless us to listen to and regard the right things, and to guide us in what we say and do. Our drawing nearer to Allah is a reason for us to be blessed with the wisdom and insight to live better, more upright lives.<\/p>\n<p>This is why Allah says: \u201cAllah is the Patron of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Baqarah: 257<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>When Ab\u016b Sufy\u0101n led the attack against the Muslim community at the Battle of Uhud, he boasted: \u201cWe are mighty and you have no might.\u201d After hearing this, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed his Companions to say: \u201cAllah is our Patron and you have no patron.\u201d [<em>Sah\u012bh al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b (3039<\/em>)]<\/p>\n<p>Allah\u2019s special patronage is something that believers earn through their efforts and piety. Allah says: \u201cThose who enjoy Allah\u2019s patronage have no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. (They are) those who believe and are God-fearing.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah Y\u016bnus: 62-63<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>Allah says about the Sacred Mosque: \u201cNone can be its patrons except the righteous.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah al-Anf\u0101l: 34<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>Our awareness that Allah is our Patron gives us a sense of Allah\u2019s closeness as well as a sense of His mercy and kindness. There is no better feeling than this. <\/p>\n<p>Consider what a person feels who seeks the favor of a prince, dignitary, president, or some other important person. If he were to win that important person\u2019s confidence, be drawn into his inner circle, and enjoy his friendship, this would be seen as the utmost success. How then is it to feel that we have attained this closeness with the Creator in whose hand is everything in the heavens and on Earth? <\/p>\n<p>This gives our lives a fullness that cannot be quantified and fills our hearts with contentment and certainty. As Allah says: \u201cWhat Allah bestows on humankind of His mercy, none can withhold.\u201d [<em>S\u016brah F\u0101tir: 2<\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>Source: <em><strong>IslamToday.net<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The concept of patronage in Arabic (wil\u0101yah) is related to the idea of closeness and loyalty as well as to that of authority.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-c71-introduction-to-islam-muslims"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Strive for Allah\u2019s Special Patronage - SunniOnline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/sunnionline.us\/english\/2012\/11\/06\/2408\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Strive for Allah\u2019s Special Patronage - SunniOnline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The concept of patronage in Arabic (wil\u0101yah) is related to the idea of closeness and loyalty as well as to that of authority.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/sunnionline.us\/english\/2012\/11\/06\/2408\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SunniOnline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-11-06T07:47:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"majed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"majed\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/sunnionline.us\\\/english\\\/2012\\\/11\\\/06\\\/2408\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/sunnionline.us\\\/english\\\/2012\\\/11\\\/06\\\/2408\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"majed\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sunnionline.us\\\/english\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/26da0e970ff572e94f1b7d9009ab39be\"},\"headline\":\"Strive for Allah\u2019s Special Patronage\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-11-06T07:47:28+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/sunnionline.us\\\/english\\\/2012\\\/11\\\/06\\\/2408\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":889,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Introduction to Islam &amp; 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