In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

When Allah says “He is with us” then it can take one of three meanings

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him

The shaykh says in his book Riyaad as-Saaliheen (1/150-151) under the chapter: “Watchfulness”:

“Know that the accompaniment which Allah attaches to Himself depends on the context and what is connected to it. Sometimes it can mean:

A.the requirement of Him encompassing the creation with His knowledge, might, power, disposal of affairs, and other than that as mentioned in this verse:

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ‌ۚ

“…And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be” [Surah Hadeed:4]

And His statement:

مَا يَڪُونُ مِن نَّجۡوَىٰ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمۡ وَلَا خَمۡسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُہُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡنَىٰ مِن ذَٲلِكَ وَلَآ أَڪۡثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كَانُواْ‌ۖ

“…There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth (with His Knowledge), nor of five but He is their sixth, not of less than that or more, but He is with them wheresoever they may be…” [Surah Mujaadilah:7]

B.Sometimes it can intend His threats and warnings, as He said:

يَسۡتَخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يَسۡتَخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمۡ إِذۡ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرۡضَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا

“They may hide (their crimes) from men, but they cannot hide (them) from Allâh, for He is with them, when they plot by night in words that He does not approve, And Allâh ever encompasses what they do.” [surah Nisaa:108]

This is a threat and warning for them to clarify what Allah is not pleased with from statements that they hide from the people. They think Allah does not know while He is the all-Knower of everything.

C.Sometimes it can take the meaning of help, aid, and affirming anything that resembles that. As Allah stated:

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ ثَانِىَ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ إِذۡ هُمَا فِى ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا‌ۖ

“If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allâh did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (Muhammad and Abu Bakr) were in the cave, and he said to his companion (Abu Bakr): ‘Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us.’”[Surah Tawbah:40]

This is attached to a specific person. This is accompaniment for the Messenger (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and both of them were in the cave. When Abu Bakr said to the Messenger:

“O Messenger of Allah, if one of them were to look to their feet they would surely see us!” That was because Quraysh were looking for them.

The Messenger (peace be upon him) replied:

“Do not be sad for verily Allah is with us. What do you think of two, the third of whom is Allah?”

This is like His statement with regards to Musaa and Harun when Allah ordered them to go to Fir’awn.

الَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفۡرُطَ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوۡ أَن يَطۡغَىٰ (٤٥) قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ‌ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ

“They said: ‘Our Lord! Verily! We fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should transgress (all bounds against us).’ He (Allâh) said: ‘Fear not, verily! I am with you both, Hearing and Seeing.'”[Surah Taha: 45-46]

So if Allah was with Musaa and Harun was it possible for them to be harmed by Firawn and his army? No, it was not possible! This type of accompaniment is special and confined to a specific instance.

Translated by: Michael AbdusSalaam Deonarain

الفقير الى الله