At moments in life, we all feel alone — unseen, unsupported, uncertain. But God reassures us, “Your Guardian is none but God, His Messenger, and those who believe and give charity while praying.” You are never abandoned. The One who created you has already taken responsibility for your care. God brings believers out of darkness into light and those who turn to Him are never without protection. But true security begins when we consciously accept God, and His chosen ones, as our Guardians.
We all have this feeling from time to time that we are alone and no one cares about us. Why do you think that is? Could it be that we are neglecting something entrenched in our very being?
Hello and welcome to this episode of “God in His Own Words”, where we will try to get better acquainted with God through the Holy Qur’an rather than the words of others.
On the sixth day of the blessed month of Ramadan,
we turn to the Sixth Juz', Sūrah Al-Mā'idah, Verse 55:"إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ"
"Indeed your Patron (Walī) is none but God and His Messenger and those who have believed — those who perform prayer and give Zakah (charity) while they are bowing [in prayer]."Our Guardian (Walī) is only God, His Messenger, and those who believe, but not any believer. This is a specific believer who gives charity while he is performing prayer, without abandoning his prayer. And his charity is duly acknowledged by God.
As you probably know, this verse is referring specifically to Amir al-Mu’mineen, Imam Ali (PBUH). But today, we want to contemplate this verse for the purpose of knowing God better.
Let’s ask ourselves a question:
Would I want to live in a place where no one supports me? Would I like to be a refugee in a developed country, but where no one acknowledges or pays attention to me, or provides me with support? Would I want to live in a place where no one looks at me, guides me, or helps me?
We have to admit that we all have this fear of being abandoned. People are desperately searching everywhere for someone to support them — be it through employment , insurance, or any other perceivable way. They just want someone to look after them.
Human beings are inherently in need, they are dependent on others, most of all, on God.
In today’s verse, God reassures us of His guardianship, even before we can fully grasp our inherent need to request such a thing. He says: "Do not fear! I am Your Patron (Walī)."
Did we not all come to this world on the back of a pledge? Were we not asked who our Lord and Master is? Did we not say "Balā" (Yes)? Did we not accept God as our Guardian, our Master, and our Lord? So, how come now that we have come into this world, our heads turn to everyone and everywhere except for God?
God is essentially the Guardian of everything He has created. But in order to truly feel and benefit from that guardianship in all aspects of our lives, we have to acknowledge and accept Him as our Patron.
Now let’s see what God says in the Holy Qur’an:«اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ»
God is the Guardian of those who believe. Those who have faith in God, trust God, and seek refuge in God — He takes them out of the darknesses and into the light.Or in another verse:
«ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
وَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا مَوْلَىٰ لَهُمْ»
"That is because God is the Protector (Mawlá) of those who believe." He takes charge of their guardianship.
"And those who disbelieve — they have no Protector (Mawlá)." They have no one to take charge of their guardianship.All these verses are very reassuring. There is no need to grieve. The very God who created us took charge of our guardianship, our support, our guidance, and everything about us from the very beginning, from the moment creation began.
And on Earth, He appointed His Messenger, who is a Divine Mercy, and the Imams, whose attention is constantly focused on God and on the believers simultaneously. At no moment, even while praying, do they take their eyes off the people, and they always respond to them.
What a God! What a creation! And what a beautiful and tranquilizing guardianship (Walāyah) and support!
Tune in next time, and join us on our journey towards getting better acquainted with God through His own words. Inshā'Allāh, He Himself will lead us to the right path.