The protection of Allah Ta'ala

Normally, man needs his well-being. And man cannot acquire his well-being on his own. Even a king cannot acquire his well-being by himself. He did not become a king by himself. He became a king through the people. If there are no people, who will he rule? A king depends on people more for his well being. A person who lives in the bush will be able to cope with life unlike a king. If the king is able to fend for himself, then he will do so with great difficulty. Therefore, a king is more dependent on others for his welfare compared to an ordinary person. And an ordinary person needs others more compared to a person who is poorer than him. This means that in this Dunya, we need each other for our well being. That is why we see people in general look for means that can make them comfortable. If one feels hungry and thirsty, one goes in search of food. If one does not have money, one seeks help from those who have. If one is oppressed due to being alone, one seeks help from those who may assist one. If one is sick, one goes to a doctor and takes medicine. All means that a person takes to make him comfortable are the most fragile means that exist. And these means are more fragile than a spider web if not coupled with Allah Ta'ala’s assistance.

It is Allah Ta'ala Himself who makes the fire light up. It is Allah Ta'ala Himself who makes the fire burn. It is Allah Ta'ala Himself who makes the knife cut. Water is under the control of Allah Ta'ala Himself. When Allah Ta'ala wants, it rains. It is through the command of Allah Ta'ala that we get droughts and cyclones. And sometimes it rains but one does not see the desired effect. It is Allah Ta'ala Himself who cures. There are people who can be cured by a simple herbal treatment just as there are others who cannot be cured through medicines that cost them thousands of rupees. A person can suffer from insomnia in his house which is well air-conditioned on a very comfortable bed while a very poor person who sleeps on rocks, on straw or on a simple broken bed, may begin to snore as soon as he lay down his head. Therefore, all the means that exist to seek well-being in this world will not be effective as long as Allah Ta'ala does not want it. That is why Allah Ta'ala says in this Aayah:

مثل الذين اتخذوا من دون الله أولياء كمثل العنكبوت اتخذت بيتا وإن أوهن البيوت لبيت العنكبوت لو كانوا يعلمون

"The example of those who take defenders besides Allah is like the example of a spider who spins a web. Without doubt, the weakest of homes is the home (web) of the spider, if only they would know!" (S 29: V 41)

Allah Ta'ala is showing the striking point that nothing  can be of benefit although it may appear effective if Allah Ta'ala does not want. A person goes to hide in a well-equipped fortress. Outwardly, this person is already secured. But if Allah Ta'ala does not want, this fortress also will not represent more than the web of a spider. Let’s contemplate on the state of Japan. In few seconds, Allah Ta'ala returned this country to 50 years back although it seemed to be very powerful. We can have all the worldly means. And in our perception, they seem very efficient and very sophisticated but when Allah Ta'ala decides, all this does not represent more than a spider web. And that too is merely a comparison to get an idea. In reality, it does not even represent anything. Let's look at the irony of that. It is extremely fragile but when Allah Ta'ala wants, He uses the most fragile thing to destroy the most powerful one. Allah Ta'ala does not need great things. Allah Ta'ala has the ability to turn everything upside down just as he has the ability to keep everything in order. Allah Ta'ala used Abaabeel to destroy the elephant. What would we have thought? This bullet is not effective. A bigger bullet is required. But Allah Ta'ala does not need that also. On the other side, Allah Ta'ala used a spider web which is most fragile to protect Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) when Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) left Makkah to go to Madina with Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu). Firstly, he hid in a cave (Ghar-e-Thaur). As soon as they entered, Allah Ta'ala planned matters. He had a spider spin its web at the entrance of this cave. Then a pigeon came and laid two eggs. Here everything is fragile. The Kuffaar came and one of them wanted to look inside. His companion said to him: "Are you mad?" What are you looking for? Don't you see that a spider web has been woven long before the birth of (Nabi) Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) (due to the spider web appearing to be very old). In addition, a pigeon laid two eggs in it. This bird is untamed and it does not stay where there are people."

Allah Ta'ala enables everything to happen. He protects whoever He wants in a very subtle way.

... وما يعلم جنود ربك إلا هو ...

"... None knows the armies of your Rabb but He ..." (S 74: V 31)

There is a great treasure in our hand. And it is the firm belief in the ability and the Qudrat of Allah Ta'ala. If a person wants to get success and protection, then he must come to Allah Ta'ala. Turning our backs to Allah Ta'ala is a way to make our situation more fragile than a spider web just as Allah Ta'ala Himself mentioned in this Aayah.

[English version of "Protection Allah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.5]