Seeking Help

The Quran classifies 'seeking help' into three categories. It explains the nature of help (Madadd) that the Believers would receive; that which the misguided would receive and lastly it explains the nature of help to the unbelievers. 

Allah Ta'aala says in the Quran, "Truly your Helper is Allah and the Messenger and those of the Believers who uphold the prayer (Salaah) and they give charity and they bow down. And he who turns for help to Allah and the Messenger and the Believers, then certainly the elite party of Allah they are the triumphant ones." -alQuran 5:55,56-

In this verse, Allah Ta'aala says that He is (الولي). Imam alBayhaqi radi Allahu anhu says that this Name of Allah Ta'aala means The Helper. -I'tiqaad ala Mazhabas Salaf Ahl Sunnah wa Jama'aat-

In giving Tafseer of this verse, Qaadhi Iyaadh radi Allahu anhu narrates that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam said, 'I am the Helper of every Believer.' -ash-Shifa of Qaadhi Iyaadh, Imam Suyuti in his Asma un Nabi sallAllahu alayhi wasallam-

The great Mufassir Imam ibn Jareer at-Tabari radi Allahu anhu quotes Hadrath Abu Ja'far radi Allahu anhu who says that this verses means: 'There is no helper for you, Oh Believers, except Allah and His Rasool and those Believers whom are described by Allah Ta'aala as He has mentioned. The Tafseer then goes on to say that the Believers who are being described here, are actually the Awliya Allah.-Tafseer ibn Jareer Tabari-

The verse, 'And he who turns for help to Allah and the Messenger and the Believers, then certainly the elite party of Allah they are the triumphant ones' teaches some very interesting lessons. This verse is encouraging the Believers to seek help from Allah Ta’aala and from RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam as well as from the Awliya radi Allahu anhum. The verse does not say that we should seek EITHER Allah Ta’aala’s help OR that of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam. Instead the verses encourages that we should seek Help from each one.

This privelege, the Quran explains is for the true Believers only. But what about rest of the world. Does the rest of the world have the blessing of receiving assistance in this manner? The Quran explains that regarding receiving help, there are two more categories.

The first category are those that were part of Deen al Islam, but have deviated in some way or the other. Either they have been oblivious to the Deen, or they have brought worldly delights like merry making into the Deen or they have even ventured into Shirk, eg the Ahl Kitaab who were on the true Deen but have turned to Shirk by their idea of trinity.

The Quran says to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam about these people,

"Renounce caring for those who made their Deen a game and an amusement and the life of the world seduces them into misguidance and make mention (to them) through the Quran that a soul is destroyed through what it brings upon itself, to it (this type of soul) there is no Helper and no Intercessor except Allah ..."  

alQuran 6:70-

The Quran clarifies that this type of misguided people can only receive help from Allah Ta’aala. Many times the Quran speaks about these people saying that they should only seek help from Allah Ta’aala. Unlike the believers mentioned in verse 55 of Surah Maaida, these people can not appeal for help from RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam nor from the pious.

At the begining of the verse, Allah Ta’aala asks that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam stop caring for these people. Then later in the verse, Allah Ta’aala asks that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam nonetheless makes Dawah to them by reciting the Quran to them. Whilst this verse teaches us that these people have lost out on the care and special concern of RasoolAllah sallAllahu Alayhi wasallam, the previously mentioned verse (5:55) confirms that this care and concern continues for the Believers in the form of the Help of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam. The Quran also explains to us the last category, those whose hearts have become sealed in Kufr. These people have passed the limits and have no chance of guidance. Allah  Ta'aala says,

"and regarding the unbelievers there is no helper for them."  

alQuran 47:11-

This verse very clearly explains that the unbelievers have no helper.

Thus, the Quran has differentiated receiving help into three categories. The first are the Believers, they have the blessing of receiving help from Allah Ta’aala, from RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and from the pious. The second category are those who were on Deen but have deviated. These persons are restricted to only asking Allah Ta’aala for help.The third category are those unbelievers whose hearts are sealed in Kufr. They will have no helper whatsoever.

May Allah Ta'aala keep us in the first category of the Believers, who receive help from Allah Ta'aala, as well as RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and the Awliya. Ameen.