THERE'S NO FRIEND, NO PROTECTOR EXCEPT ALLAH.

There’s No Friend, No Protector

Except Allah - The

True Friend Indeed!

(M. Javed Naseem)

ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ

مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ قَلِيلاً مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Follow (O men!) the revelation given

unto you from your Lord, and follow not,

as friends or protectors, other than Him!

Little it is you remember of admonition.”

(al-Quran 7:3)

These days, everyone is looking for friends – girl friends, boy friends, etc. On the internet, which is being used as a tool to spread more evil than good, people have thousands of friends and they share with them all kinds of stuff – good and bad. People are so busy on the internet that they have no time for their families and relatives. But if you ask them how many real friends they have, they start thinking and cannot give a definite number. Yes, this is the modern living!

Prophet Solomon said: ‘Of a thousand whom you know, one be your friend.’

Prophet Jesus Christ said: ‘The friend is a singular thing that is not easily found, but is easily lost, for the friend will not suffer contradiction against him whom he supremely loves. Beware, be you cautious, and choose not for friend one who loves not him whom you love. Know you what friend means? Friend means nothing but physician of the soul.’

‘And so, just as one rarely finds a good physician who knows the sicknesses and understands to apply the medicines thereto, so also are friends rare who know the faults and understand how to guide to good.’

(From the Gospel of Barnabas)

The saying goes: A friend in need is a friend indeed. He is a rare commodity. We can find many who’ll claim to be our friends, still we cannot find one real friend who is 100 percent reliable, strong, solid, dependable, more knowledgeable, God-fearing, wiser and great advisor; who could handle every situation and who could get us out of trouble of any kind. The only entity of that magnitude is called Omnipotent.  And there is no parallel to Allah, the Creator, the Cherisher, the sole Provider, the Wise, the Merciful and the Beneficent.

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ

يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ
“Your (real) friends are (no less than)

Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship

of) Believers - those who establish regular

prayers and regular charity, and they bow

down humbly (in worship).”

(al-Quran 5:55)

وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ

فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَالِبُونَ
“As to those who turn (for friendship) to

Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship

of) believers, it is the fellowship of Allah

that must certainly triumph.”

(al-Quran 5:56)

Well, it’s a very clear suggestion that we should turn to Allah for friendship because that’s the friendship that will get us through all tests, trials and harmful situations.

It’s very natural for Muslims to have Allah in their hearts and minds. As our Prophet told us that ‘every child is born in the nature of Islam, it’s the parents who make him non-believer’. It’s difficult for the Westerners to understand the importance of Allah in our lives. We believe that He is our only Friend and Protector in this world and in the Hereafter.

Prof. Caesar E. Farah of the University of Minnesota writes:

“It would be difficult to observe a more thorough manifestation of devotion to God than is evinced by the followers of Islam. No other religion appears to inculcate as much dependence on God in the trivia of daily life, nor does God figure so centrally among other religious groups in the ups and downs of ordinary living.  Indeed, no task, commitment, performance, journey or repose, however minute or momentous, pleasurable or not pleasurable; is undertaken without the involvement of Allah. No blessing or bounty of any sort is received except through the grace of Allah. Misfortunes are endured with passivity and resignation, but faith in Allah remains unwavering, as it is His sole prerogative to bestow or withhold as He sees fit.”

Yes Professor, you are absolutely right. Allah is everything, and is in everything for us. He is our sole Provider. We cannot forget that one day we have to stand in front of Him and answer questions. Without His help, we just cannot achieve anything in this life, or in the Hereafter. He reminds us:

وَتُوبُوۤاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعاً أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“… And turn unto Allah together, O (you)

believers, in order that you may succeed.”

(al-Quran 24:31)

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا

فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ

مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ شَفِيعٍ أَفَلاَ تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
“It is Allah Who has created the heavens

and the earth, and all between them, in six

days, and is firmly established on the Throne

(of Authority). You have none, besides Him,

to protect or intercede (for you). Will you

not then receive admonition?”

(al-Quran 32:4)

We cannot count on any other relationship or friendship that is better or superior to that because there’s none! Friendship with those who don’t respect your beliefs and Faith is not worth it.

يَـۤأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ

دِينَكُمْ هُزُواً وَلَعِباً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ

وَٱلْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
“O you who believe! Take not for friends

and protectors those who take your religion

for a mockery or sport - whether among

those who received the Scripture before you,

or among those who reject Faith; but fear

you Allah, if you have faith (indeed).”

(al-Quran 5:57)

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيّاً فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ

وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلاَ يُطْعَمُ قُلْ إِنِّيۤ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ

أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكَينَ

“Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend

other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens

and the earth, Who feeds and is never fed?

Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender

(unto Him). And be not you (O Muhammad)

of the idolaters!”

(al-Quran 6:14)

It goes without saying that a believer is better than a non-believer. A believer is a realist who appreciates his Creator and the Supreme Controller of the universe. He knows well who is running the ‘show’. In return, Allah rewards him:

إِنَّ وَلِيِّـىَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَابَ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى ٱلصَّالِحِينَ
"For my protector is Allah, Who revealed

the Book (from time to time), and He will

choose and befriend the righteous.”

(al-Quran 7:196)

لَهُمْ دَارُ ٱلسَّلاَمِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمْ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
“For them will be a home of peace in the

presence of their Lord. He will be their

friend, because they practiced (righteousness).”

(al-Quran 6:127)

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُواْ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ

جَاهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلاَ رَسُولِهِ

وَلاَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“Or you think that you shall be abandoned,

as though Allah did not know those among

you who strive with might and main, and

take none for friends and protectors except

Allah, His Messenger, and the (community

of) Believers? But Allah is well-acquainted

with (all) that you do.”

(al-Quran 9:16)

When you believe in Allah with all sincerity and honesty, you are counting on Him, and He’ll never let you down.

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلاَنَا

وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

“Say: Naught befalls us save that which

Allah has decreed for us. He is our Protecting

Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust!”

(al-Quran 9:51)

On the other hand, those who are not believers, they are denying the biggest reality – the presence of a Supreme Power that cannot be denied scientifically. They are the friends of Shaitan (the Devil).

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

“… Lo! We have made the devils protecting

friends for those who believe not.”

(al-Quran 7:27)

فَرِيقاً هَدَىٰ وَفَرِيقاً حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلضَّلاَلَةُ

إِنَّهُمُ ٱتَّخَذُوا ٱلشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ     
“Some He has guided; others have (by

their choice) deserved the loss of their way;

in that they took the evil ones, in preference

to Allah, for their friends and protectors,

and think that they receive guidance.”

(al-Quran 7:30)

كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ مَن تَوَلاَّهُ فَأَنَّهُ يُضِلُّهُ وَيَهْدِيهِ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
“About the (Evil One) it is decreed that

whoever turns to him for friendship, him

will he lead astray, and he will guide him

to the Penalty of the Fire.”

(al-Quran 22:4)

The false or fake friends can, not only destroy our worldly life but also the life in the Hereafter. They’ll lead us to Hellfire. As a matter of fact, we don’t have any protecting friend nor helper except Allah. The Almighty has made it very clear in the Holy Quran:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ يُحْيِـى   وَيُمِيتُ

وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ
“Unto Allah belongs the dominion of

the heavens and the earth. He gives life

and He takes it. Except for Him, you

have no protecting friend nor helper.”

(al-Quran 9:116)

When you are practicing righteousness and you trust in Allah as your Protecting Friend and Helper, you’ll be free of all kinds of fear, worries and grief. That’s His promise:

أَلاۤ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Behold! Verily on the friends of Allah

there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.”

(al-Quran 10:62)

إِذْ هَمَّتْ طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ تَفْشَلاَ وَٱللَّهُ

وَلِيُّهُمَا وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

“When two parties of you almost fell

away, Allah was their Protecting Friend.

In Allah let believers put their trust.”

(al-Quran 3:122)

Allah tells us repeatedly in the Quran that we don’t have any real friend or protector except Him. Everybody (friend) is with us for a short time taking care of his own interest. At the end of the day, when in trouble, we find ourselves all alone.

وَمَآ أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ
"Not on earth nor in heaven will you be able

(fleeing) to frustrate (His plan), nor have you,

besides Allah, any protecting friend or helper."

(al-Quran 29:22)

فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلواَةَ وَآتُواْ ٱلزَّكَواةَ وَٱعْتَصِمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ

هُوَ مَوْلاَكُمْ فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ

“… So establish worship, pay the poor-due,

and hold fast to Allah. He is your protecting

friend; a blessed Patron and a blessed Helper!”

(al-Quran 22:78)

قُلْ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَعْصِمُكُمْ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ

أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوۤءاً أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلاَ

يَجِدُونَ لَهُمْ مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّاً وَلاَ نَصِيراً
“Say: Who is it that can screen you from

Allah, if it be His wish to give you punishment

or to give you Mercy?" Nor will they find,

besides Allah, any protecting friend or helper.”

(al-Quran 33:17)

وَمَآ أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلأَرْضِ وَمَا لَكُمْ

مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ

“You cannot escape in the earth, for

besides Allah you have no protecting

friend nor any helper.”

(al-Quran 42:31)

The highly placed officials, the rich people of high status, the agents of so-called ‘super powers’ or the ‘big guns’ cannot help you a bit when the destiny strikes.

إِنَّهُمْ لَن يُغْنُواْ عَنكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْئاً وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّالِمِينَ

بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

“Lo, they can avail you naught against Allah.

And lo, as for the wrong-doers, some of

them are friends of others; and Allah is

the Friend of those who ward off (evil).”

(al-Quran 45:19)

In other words, you must be on the right path; promoting good and warding off evil; surrendering and submitting to the will of God. That’s the path of righteousness. And that will qualify you for the best friendship of all – the friendship with Allah.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِيناً مِمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ

واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفاً وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً
“Who can be better in religion than one

who submits his whole self to Allah, does

good, and follows the way of Abraham the

true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham

for a friend.”

(al-Quran 4:125)

Allah is our best Friend, rather only Friend that can help us, guide us and take us through thick & thin. He is the One that can protect us from Shaitan and take us all the way to Heaven. He tells us:

فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْآنَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَىٰ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

“And when you recite the Quran, seek

refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast.

Lo, he has no power over those who

believe and put trust in their Lord.”

(al-Quran 16:98-99)

Satan is our biggest adversary, greatest enemy and the most ruthless of fighters who are out there to test our faith. Satan and his army have been constantly fighting the believers right from the day one of the creation of Adam & Eve. It’s very easy for them to mislead us, make us waver, derail us and misguide us in every step of life. Humans are their easy prey. It’s only with the help and protection of Allah that we can stand up to them. Allah is the only Friend and Protector Who will always stand by us.

If our faith is not strong and we are on shaky grounds, we are tempted to make Satan our friend as he approaches us every minute of the day with something new and enchanting. And it is very difficult to resist the temptation. The Almighty says about Shaitan:

إِنَّمَا سُلْطَانُهُ عَلَىٰ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ

“His power is only over those who make

a friend of him, and those who ascribe

partners unto Him (Allah).”

(al-Quran 16:100)

It’s not easy to resist the temptation and fight the Satan. But a sincere and honest effort is due on our part. Allah always   helps those who have sincerity of purpose.

And here are the signs of those who fall an easy prey to the devils. The Almighty Allah says:

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَاطِينُ

تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ

يُلْقُونَ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ

وَٱلشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ ٱلْغَاوُونَ

“Shall I inform you upon whom the

devils descend? They descend on every

sinful, false one. They listen eagerly,

but most of them are liars. As for

poets, the erring follows them.”

(al-Quran 26:221-224)

Now, here is a clear warning. We must stay away from sin and avoid the company of the sinful. They are not our friends even if they claim to be our friends. They’ll disappoint us, deceive us, desert us and eventually hurt us.

وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَانُ لِلإِنْسَانِ خَذُولاً

“… Satan was ever man’s deserter

in the hour of need.”

(al-Quran 25:29)

So, there is no Friend, nor Helper except Allah. If we want to escape the fury of God on the Day of Judgment, we better obey Him and make friend with Him. We should please Allah instead of pleasing our worldly masters or so-called ‘friends’, who are actually the friends of Satan. 

May Allah help us in our efforts to stay away from the friends of Satan and establish a true, honest and sincere friendship with Allah – the only Friend we need, the only Friend indeed.

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