This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty has told His believing servants that if they help His religion, He will grant them victory and steadfastness at every opportunity. The Lord of the universe says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ﴾
"O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet."
Reference: (47-Muhammad:7)
At another place, He states:
﴿وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ﴾
"And Allah will surely support those who support Him."
Reference: (22-Al-Hajj:40)
Allah Almighty has commanded His believing servants to support this true and sincere religion by their lives, wealth, and actions, which Allah the Almighty has revealed for obedience and servitude. Just as the disciples of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) responded to his call, helped him in the work of invitation, and pledged that when the time comes, they would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives. Thus, Allah Almighty says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ ۖ فَآمَنَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّائِفَةٌ ۖ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ﴾
"O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah, as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, 'Who will be my supporters for Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are supporters of Allah.' And a faction of the Children of Israel believed, and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant."
Reference: (61-As-Saff:14)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in the exegesis of the above verse that "when the disciples said to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) that they would support and assist him in conveying the invitation to the people, the Spirit of Allah (peace be upon him) sent them as preachers among the Israelites and Greeks towards the cities of Syria. During the days of Hajj, the Master of the Messengers (peace be upon him) used to say: Is there anyone who will give me a place so that I may convey the message of Allah? The Quraysh are preventing me from delivering the message of my Lord."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 322/3. Sahih Ibn Hibban, No: 6274
Ibn Hibban declared it "Sahih."Thus, the tribes of Aws and Khazraj of Medina were granted this eternal honor by Allah Almighty. They pledged allegiance to the Prophet, accepted his words, and made a strong covenant that if the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to them, then no power, red or black, would harm him; they would fight with their lives on his behalf and would not let any harm come to him. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) migrated with his companions to them, they truly fulfilled their promise and kept their word. For this reason, they were distinguished with the honorable title of Ansar, which became their distinctive name."
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 408/5 - Printed by Maktaba Qudsiya, Lahore.
Some commentators say that this verse gives glad tidings to the believers of support, victory, and success from their Lord, provided they remain united and strive for the elevation of the upright religion and completely avoid mutual discord.
وبالله التوفيق
Allah Almighty has graciously promised that those among the People of the Book who believe in the Messenger (peace be upon him), honor and respect him, support and assist him, and follow the teachings of the Holy Quran, Allah the Lord of the universe will grant them success in this world and the Hereafter. Thus, the Lord of the Worlds says:
﴿الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
"For those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong, and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil, and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:157)
The emigrants and the poor who left their homes for the pleasure of Allah and to support His religion reached Medina in such a state that they had neither bread to eat nor clothes to cover themselves. Due to their sincerity and devotion, Allah Almighty honored them with the title "Siddiqeen" (the truthful). Allah Almighty says:
﴿لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ﴾
"It is for the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their wealth, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger. Those are the truthful."
Reference: (59-Al-Hashr:8)
The person who supports the religion of Allah is considered enviable by the Shariah. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Messenger, the intercessor of the believers (peace be upon him), said:
لا حسد إلا فى اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلط على هلكته فى الحق ورجل آتاه الله الحكمة فهو يقضي بها ويعلمها .
"Only two types of people are worthy of envy: one is the person whom Allah has given wealth and then granted him the ability to spend it in the way of truth; and the other is the person whom Allah has granted wisdom, so he judges with it and teaches others."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Knowledge, Chapter on rejoicing in knowledge and wisdom, No: 73 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Traveler's Prayer, Chapter on the virtue of one who recites and teaches the Quran, No: 1896.
Among the rights of Allah, the fundamental right is to support and assist His religion. Allah the Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا . لِّتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا.﴾
"O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp. O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and support him and honor him and glorify the praise of Allah morning and evening."
Reference: (48-Al-Fath:9)
The protector of the religion is protected by Allah Himself. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
احفظ الله يحفظك احفظ الله تجده تجاهك .
"Protect (the religion of) Allah, and Allah will protect you; protect (the religion of) Allah, and you will find Him before you."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Book on the Description of the Resurrection, Softness, and Piety, No: 2016
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it "Sahih."
