Anyone who obeys Allah's commandments is one of the blessed ones. However, there is a group of people who are under the protection of Allah. The question arises who could be these special people be who are under the protection of Allah and for whom the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has cautioned others not to harm them, for if any harm and injustice is done to them, Allah will Himself take stock of such people.
Who are these people then? These are mentioned in a Hadith quoted in Sunan Ibn Majah / Book 36 Tribulations / كتاب الفتن) / Chapter 6: The Muslims are under the Protection of Allah / باب الْمُسْلِمُونَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ / as Hadith number # 3945 under:
It was narrated from Abu Bakr Siddiq that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever offers the morning prayer, he is under the protection of Allah, so do not betray Allah by betraying those who are under His protection. Whoever kills him, Allah will seek him out until He throws him on his face into Hell.”
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ كَثِيرِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ الْحِمْصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْوَهْبِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ الْمَاجِشُونُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَوْنٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ حَابِسٍ الْيَمَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تُخْفِرُوا اللَّهَ فِي عَهْدِهِ فَمَنْ قَتَلَهُ طَلَبَهُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يَكُبَّهُ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ " .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
The Hadith emphasizes the importance of the Fajr (morning) prayer and the special protection granted by Allah to those who observe it.
Explanation of the Hadith:
- Significance of Fajr Prayer: The Fajr prayer is one of the five obligatory prayers in Islam and holds a special place due to the timing and effort required to wake up early. It marks the beginning of the day with worship and remembrance of Allah, setting a spiritual tone for the rest of the day.
- Protection from Allah: The Hadith states that those who perform the Fajr prayer are under Allah’s protection (dhimmah). This "protection" means that Allah grants them His safeguarding, guidance, and care throughout the day. Being under Allah’s protection is a profound blessing and an assurance of divine security.
- Warning Against Harming Those Under Allah’s Protection: The Hadith warns others not to harm or betray those who are under Allah’s protection. To harm a believer who has performed their Fajr prayer is akin to violating a sacred trust with Allah Himself. This emphasizes the seriousness of maintaining respect for the sanctity of fellow Muslims.
- Severe Consequences for Harm: The Hadith makes it clear that anyone who harms or kills a believer under Allah’s protection will face dire consequences. Allah will seek retribution against such a person until they are punished severely, emphasizing the gravity of violating the rights of others.
Qur'anic References:
- Protection and Guidance for Believers:
- "Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful." (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:38)
This verse aligns with the Hadith, highlighting that Allah defends and protects those who have faith in Him. Performing acts of worship, such as Fajr prayer, strengthens this protection and defense.
- Respect for the Sanctity of Life:
- "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right." (Surah Al-Isra, 17:33)
The Qur'an strictly prohibits unjust killing, emphasizing the sanctity of human life. The Hadith reinforces this teaching by illustrating that harming those under Allah’s protection is a severe violation.
- Consequences for Betraying Trusts:
- "O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence]." (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:27)
- Betraying a person under Allah’s protection is also considered a betrayal of Allah Himself. This verse warns against treachery, aligning with the Hadith’s emphasis on the severe consequences for harming fellow believers.
- Warning of Hell for Those Who Harm Believers:
- "But whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally. Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:93)
- This verse parallels the Hadith by stating that those who harm or kill believers will face severe punishment in Hell. It underscores the severe spiritual consequences of such actions.
Wisdom Behind the Hadith:
- Emphasizing the Importance of Fajr: Fajr prayer is a test of faith and discipline. By establishing Fajr, a believer demonstrates their commitment to Allah, which earns them divine protection.
- Strengthening Community Bonds: The Hadith discourages acts of treachery against fellow Muslims, promoting trust, respect, and a sense of security within the community.
- Warning Against Injustice: It serves as a powerful deterrent against harming others, especially those who have a strong connection with Allah through their worship. It highlights the sacredness of every believer’s life.
- Encouraging Upright Behavior: By reminding Muslims of Allah’s protection over those who pray, the Hadith motivates believers to uphold good character, avoid conflicts, and respect one another.
This Hadith thus teaches the profound importance of the Fajr prayer, not just as a routine act of worship but as a key to divine protection. It warns against violating the rights of those who are under Allah’s care and highlights the severe consequences of such actions, both in this life and the Hereafter. The Qur'an and Hadith together create a powerful reminder of the sanctity of life, the importance of trust, and the value of maintaining strong ties with Allah and His believers.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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