Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
In Part 2 (Safeguarding Allah) we explained what Safeguarding Allah means and mentioned safeguarding the commands of Allah and detailed that in Part 3 (Safegaurding Allah’s Commands). However to come completely under the purview of the words of the Hadith –“Safeguard Allah and He will safeguard you” it is extremely critical to know limits of Allah and how you need to safeguard them.
Safeguarding the Head and Stomach
Some of the things that the believer must safeguard are his head and stomach. lbn Mas’ud reports that the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Being shy before Allah as is truly deserving is to safeguard the head and what it retains and the stomach and what it contains.” It is recorded by Ahmad and Tirmidhi. (Albani in Sahih al-Targhib #1724-2638-3337 ruled it Hasan Ii ghayrihi)
Safeguarding the head and what it retains includes safeguarding the hearing, seeing and tongue from fallig into the prohibited. Safeguarding the stomach and what it contains includes safeguarding the heart from persisting in the proscribed. Allah has mentioned all of this in His saying,
“The hearing, the sight and the heart – each of these will be questioned.”
Safeguarding the stomach and what it contains includes safeguarding it from consuming unlawful food and drink.
Safeguarding the Tongue and Private Parts
It is also obligatory to safeguard the tongue and private parts from infringing on the proscribed. Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ”Whoever safeguards what is between his jaws and what is between his legs will enter Paradise.” (Hakim #8058, Sahih)
Bukhari records it on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa’d from the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) with the wording, ”Whoever guarantees me what is between his jaws and legs, I will guarantee him Paradise.”(Bukhari #64 7 4-6807)
Allah, Most High, has specifically ordered the safeguarding of the privates and has praised those who do so,
“Say to the believers that they should lower their eyes and guard their private parts.” (al-Nur(24): 30)
” … men and women who guard their private parts ••. “(al-Ahzab (33): 35)
” … those who guard their private parts – except from their wives or those they own (as slaves), in which case they are not blameworthy. .. “(al-Mu’minun (23): 5-6)
It is reported that Abu Idris al-Khawlani said, ‘When Adam descended to earth, the first thing that Allah enjoined upon him was the safeguarding of the privates and that he should only ever put them in that which was lawful.’
We have covered what safegurading Allah means and how can we completely come under the purview of “Safeguard Allah and He will safeguard you”. In the next part we will explain How Allah Safeguards those who Safeguard Him.