3 Reasons Why Allah Must Be Defended

Some people hold the belief that Allah does not need to be defended. Their reason is that Allah (God) is All-Powerful and All-Mighty, and therefore requires no defense. Such logic is easily refuted, as this statement is fundamentally a defect of reason attempting to sound logical. It is a statement typically made by people who dislike Allah and His religion. If one insists on using that logic, we should ask them: "Why do you express gratitude (thankfulness) to Allah (God)? Isn't Allah All-Rich and All-Generous? He doesn't need your gratitude or your thanks!" "Why do you worship God? Isn't God All-Mighty and All-Powerful? He doesn't need your worship and doesn't need to be worshipped!" "Why do you do good to others? Isn't God All-Good and Capable of taking care of humanity without your assistance? He doesn't need your good deeds!" and so on. These are all examples of the same flawed logical framework.

When a servant defends and supports Allah, his Lord, it does not mean that Allah is not All-Powerful or All-Mighty. It is the same as when a citizen helps and defends his country; it does not mean his country is weak, fragile, or powerless. Rather, that defense is carried out as a form and consequence of his loyalty and allegiance to the country. It is impossible for a lover to willingly see something he loves insulted, even if, in reality, the object of his affection does not need him. This is similar to someone who fiercely defends a ruling regime as a display of loyalty to that authority, even though, in reality, that authority does not need his defense. However, the motives for defending authority vary: some defend the regime for the sake of their stomach (material gain), status and power, political and financial interests, and other reasons. As for those who defend Allah, their motive is generally pure sincerity and unadulterated loyalty built upon a foundation of love, because they know their worldly affairs may disappear if they defend their Lord, and they can only hang their hopes and faith on their Lord alone, the One they defend and love.

Therefore, a Muslim is not only permitted to defend Allah, but is also required to carry out this defense. This is in contrast to the hypocrites who, in fact, sell their "Lord" for their worldly interests. Some are even shameless enough to sell the religion of others for their worldly gain. There are at least three reasons why every Muslim must offer a defense of God. Allah mentions these three points in the Qur'an.

1. Allah's Command to His Servants

Defending Allah is not just a recommendation but a command that borders on obligation. This command applies not only to the Ummah (community) of Prophet Muhammad but also to previous nations. Fulfilling this command is an example set by the righteous people of the past. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ

"O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, 'Who are my supporters for Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are supporters of Allah.' And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and another faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant." (QS. Saff: 14) Imam Qatadah bin Di’amah (tabi’in and student of the Companion Anas bin Malik) said when interpreting this verse:

قَدْ كَانَتْ لِلَّهِ أَنْصَارٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ تُجَاهِدُ عَلَى كِتَابِهِ وَحَقِّهِ

“Indeed, Allah has supporters (defenders) from among this nation who strive to defend His book and His right.” (AR. At-Tabari in Jami’ Al-Bayan, 13/365) Imam Abu Al-Layth As-Samarqandi Al-Hanafi said:

وَمَعْنَاهُ انْصُرُوا اللهَ وَانْصُرُوا دِينَ اللهِ، وَانْصُرُوا مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، كَمَا نَصَرَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ عِيسىَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ

“The meaning is (O believers) support Allah and support the religion of Allah, and support Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, just as the Disciples (Hawariyyun) supported Jesus the son of Mary.” (Bahr Al-Ulum, 3/445) Imam Ibn Jizzy Al-Maliki said:

وَالْمَعْنَى كُوْنُوا أَنْصَارَ اللهِ كَمَا قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ حِينَ قَالَ لَهُمْ عِيسَى مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللهِ

“The meaning is, be supporters of Allah, just as the Disciples answered when Jesus said to them, 'Who will support me for Allah?'” (At-Tashil li Ulum At-Tanzil, 2/372) Imam Al-Baghawi Asy-Syafii said:

أَيِ انْصُرُوا دِينَ اللَّهِ مِثْلَ نُصْرَةِ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ لَمَّا قَالَ لَهُمْ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَنْ أَنْصارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ

“Support the religion of Allah, similar to the support given by the Disciples when 'Isa ‘alaihis Salam said to them, 'Who will support me for Allah?'” (Ma’alim At-Tanzil, 5/81) Imam Ibn Adil Al-Hanbali said:

كُونُوا حَوَارِيِّي نَبِيِّكُمْ لِيُظْهِرَكُمُ اللهُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَكُمْ كَمَا أَظْهَرَ حَوَارِيِّي عِيسَى عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَهُمْ

“(The meaning is) be the defenders of your prophet so that Allah may grant you victory over those who oppose you, just as Allah granted victory to the defenders of Jesus over those who opposed them.” (Al-Lubab fi Ulum Al-Kitab, 19/64) All of these verses, followed by the interpretations of Islamic scholars from various madhhabs, emphasize the demand to support Allah. That is, to support the religion of Allah and His Messenger. This is certainly not supporting His Essence (Dhat), because His Essence needs no support, but rather His religion, the teachings of His Prophet, and the community of His Messenger. This is clearly an obligation for every believer to support Islam when this religion is degraded and humiliated. It also explains that supporting the religion of Allah is a tradition of the righteous people of the past, namely the loyal students of Prophet Jesus who believed in Allah and Prophet Jesus in order to defend Prophet Jesus and the teachings he brought from Allah—not the teachings understood by the Christians, of course.

2. To Gain Allah's Help

A believer needs to defend Allah and His religion, not because Allah needs this defense and support, but so that he may be granted help by Allah. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ

“O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.” (QS. Muhammad: 7) Imam Qatadah bin Di’amah said:

قوله إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ لِأَنَّهُ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ مَنْ سَأَلَهُ وَيَنْصُرَ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ

“Allah's statement, 'if you support Allah, He will support you,' is because it is incumbent upon Allah to give to those who ask Him and to support whoever supports Him.” (AR. At-Tabari in Jami’ Al-Bayan, 17/161) Imam Ibn An-Nahhas An-Nahwi said:

الْمَعْنَى إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا دِينَ اللهِ وَأَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَجَعَلَ ذَلِكَ نُصْرَةً لَهُ مَجَازًا يَنْصُرْكُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَيْ يَدْفَعُ الشَّدَائِدَ عَنْكُمْ

“The meaning is, if you support the religion of Allah and His allies, Allah makes that 'support for Him' as a majaz (connotative meaning), so that Allah will help you in the Hereafter, which means Allah will ward off the terrors (on the Day of Resurrection) from you.” (I’rab Al-Quran, 4/119) Imam Az-Zamakhshari said:

إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا دِينَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُوْلَهُ يَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ وَيَفْتَحْ لَكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدامَكُمْ فِي مَوَاطِنَ الْحَرْبِ أَوْ عَلَى مَحَجَّةِ الْإِسْلَامِ

“(Its interpretation), if you support the religion of Allah and His Messenger, Allah will grant you victory over your enemy, and grant you conquest, and plant firmly your feet in the fields of battle or upon the path of Islam.” (Al-Kashshaf, 4/318) Imam Ibn Kathir added:

فَإِنَّ الْجَزَاءَ مِنْ جِنْسِ الْعَمَلِ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ ، كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ: "مَنْ بَلَّغ ذَا سُلْطَانٍ حَاجَةَ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ إِبْلَاغَهَا، ثَبَّتَ اللَّهُ قَدَمَهُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ"

“Because the recompense is of the same kind as the deed itself. This is why Allah said, 'and plant firmly your feet.' The interpretation (of planting firmly your feet) is similar to the content of the hadith: 'Whoever conveys to a ruler the need of a person who is unable to convey it, Allah will plant firmly his foot upon the Sirat (bridge) on the Day of Resurrection.'” (Tafsir Al-Quran Al-‘Azhim, 7/310) This indicates that supporting Allah will invite Allah's help to the servants themselves. Among His help for the servants is victory when confronting the enemies of Allah in the world, steadfastness in His religion, and firmness of foot when crossing the bridge (Sirat) on the Day of Resurrection until they successfully enter His Paradise. This promise of help is strongly affirmed by Allah in another verse:

وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ

"...and Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." (QS. Al-Hajj: 40). Therefore, it is natural for Muslims who have sound faith to compete in supporting Allah by supporting His religion and His teachings. This shows that those Muslims understand the teachings of their religion and the content of their own Holy Book.

3. Allah's Praise for Those Who Support Him

Allah also praises those who support Him. Allah makes this praise an example for the Muslim Ummah, establishing it as a hallmark of the Muhajirun (Emigrants) during the Prophet's time. Allah says:

لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنْصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ

“(The wealth of fay' [1] is) for the poor Emigrants who were driven out from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger. It is they who are the truthful.” (QS. Al-Hashr: 8)

Who are the Muhajirun? They are the Companions of the Prophet who were the first to embrace the message of the Messenger of Allah and sacrificed their wealth and lives for the sake of Islam. They are the people whom Allah promised Paradise while they were still alive. This proves that supporting Allah is the path of the Companions and a Sunnah(practice) established for the Ummah of Muhammad. Allah says:

وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

“And the first to embrace Islam of the Emigrants (Muhajirin) and the Supporters (Ansar) and those who followed them with good conduct—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.” (QS. At-Tawbah: 100)

When Allah describes the Muhajirun as people who support Allah and His Messenger, it indicates that the generations of Muslims after them must follow their path and possess their character, which is supporting Allah and His Messenger, so that Muslims may achieve Allah's pleasure as they did and gain Paradise as promised by Allah for them and for anyone who follows them.

The conclusion of this explanation is that supporting Allah, His Messenger, and His religion is both a demand and a guidance in Islam, and it is a virtue and a characteristic that every Muslim must possess. This is because Allah has described the two best generations of His righteous servants—the Disciples of Prophet Jesus and the Muhajirun, the Companions of Prophet Muhammad—as His supporters and the supporters of His Messenger. So, is it still appropriate for a believer to refuse to support Allah and to be doubtful in defending Him? No Muslim objects to supporting and defending Allah except for a hypocrite whose hypocrisy is clear or a person lost in their ignorance. Is it still fitting for a follower of Muhammad to say, "Allah does not need to be defended," when his own Holy Book, as bright as the midday sun, demands him to defend Allah and His Messenger?!

As for those who believe that their God does not need to be defended, such a person should logically not be angry if his place of worship is destroyed by a group of terrorists of unknown origin. Is not the God he worships All-Mighty and All-Powerful? Certainly, He would not need government security forces to guard their places of worship when they hold their holiday celebrations. Does not their God not need to be defended because He is All-Powerful? Surely, their God should be able to protect the places of worship of His religion and the loyal followers of His teachings from bomb attacks. Does not their God not need to be defended because He is All-Mighty? He should blame his God when the place of worship of his God is destroyed by troublemakers coming from some unknown realm.

Wallahu a’lam bis shawab (And Allah knows best what is correct).