Hadith 19 & 20 — Reliance on Allah and the Shield of Shame

[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.]

Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

Part One: Be Mindful of Allah — The Foundation of Protection

Brothers,

Today we continue our journey through Imam Nawawi's forty hadith with two teachings that build the fortress of faith in our hearts. We begin with Hadith 19, one of the most treasured pieces of advice the Prophet ﷺ ever gave.

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: One day I was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ when he said to me:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2516),"O young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah. When you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the entire nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with what Allah has already written for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with what Allah has already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."]

This is comprehensive wisdom—wasiyyah jami'ah. In these few sentences, the Prophet ﷺ gave Ibn Abbas, and through him the entire ummah, the keys to success in both worlds.

The Context of This Precious Advice

Picture the scene: A young boy, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old, riding behind the greatest man who ever lived. The Prophet ﷺ could have given him any advice—about prayer, about fasting, about charity. But he chose to teach him about the very foundation of faith: mindfulness of Allah.

Why Ibn Abbas? Because he was young, his heart was receptive, and the Prophet ﷺ knew this advice would shape his entire life. And it did. Ibn Abbas became known as "the ocean of knowledge," the master interpreter of the Qur'an, all because he took this advice to heart.

The Prophet ﷺ begins with "O young man"—showing affection and drawing attention. Then he says, "I will teach you words"—indicating something precious, something to treasure. What follows is guidance that transforms everything.

First Command: "Be Mindful of Allah and He Will Protect You"

The Arabic word is "ihfadh Allah"—literally, "guard Allah's boundaries." What does this mean?

It means:

Guard His commands: Do what He orders
Guard His prohibitions: Avoid what He forbids
Guard His rights: Fulfill what He deserves
Guard His boundaries: Don't cross the limits He set

When you guard Allah's boundaries, Allah guards you. The protection is comprehensive:

Protection of your faith from doubt
Protection of your heart from corruption
Protection of your body from harm
Protection of your provision from loss
Protection of your family from evil
Protection in this life and the next

Allah tells us in the Qur'an:

[Quran,2:257,"Allah is the Protector of those who believe. He brings them out of darkness into light."]

When you are mindful of Allah, He becomes your guardian—not just your Lord, but your protective guardian who watches over you constantly.

The Meaning of Allah's Protection

What does it mean that Allah protects you? Does it mean nothing bad will ever happen? No. Prophets were harmed. Righteous people face trials. But Allah's protection means:

1. Protection from spiritual harm: Even if you face physical difficulty, your faith remains strong. The people of the trench were burned alive, but their faith was protected. They died as martyrs, victorious in the sight of Allah.

2. Protection from lasting harm: What seems harmful may actually be good. Yusuf (peace be upon him) was thrown in a well, enslaved, imprisoned—but Allah was protecting him throughout, leading him to become a minister.

[Quran,12:100,"Indeed, my Lord is subtle in what He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."]

3. Protection you don't see: How many disasters did Allah turn away from you that you never knew about? Allah gives you strength to endure, and He diverts harms before they reach you. The Prophet ﷺ told us:

[Hadith,Ahmad (11069),"There is no person whom Allah does not have an angel assigned to protect from people and things that could harm him until his appointed time comes."]

Second Command: "Be Mindful of Allah and You Will Find Him Before You"

When you need guidance, it will come. When you need support, it will arrive. Allah will be there, ahead of you, preparing your path. Everything will remind you of Him—the sky, the earth, events around you.

The greatest meaning: when you die, when you're resurrected, when you stand for judgment, you will find Allah pleased with you, ready to welcome you to Paradise.

[Quran,89:27-30,"O tranquil soul! Return to your Lord, well pleased and well pleasing. So join My righteous servants, and enter My Paradise."]

Third Command: "When You Ask, Ask Allah"

This is the heart of tawhid—the oneness of Allah. Don't direct your requests to creation. Don't put your hopes in people. Don't make du'a to the dead or absent. Ask Allah alone.

This doesn't mean you can't seek help from people in worldly matters. The Prophet ﷺ himself asked companions for assistance. But ultimate reliance is on Allah. When you ask someone for help, you know they're just a means—Allah is the true provider.

Ibn Taymiyyah explains this beautifully:

[Quote,Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Ubudiyyah),"Asking Allah is worship. And worship is only for Allah. So whoever asks creation for what only Allah can do has committed shirk. And whoever asks creation while relying on Allah has practiced tawakkul."]

The difference is where your heart is attached. Are you attached to the means or to the Provider of means? People ask for jobs, for money, for solutions—but forget to ask Allah. Then they wonder why their hearts feel empty even when they get what they wanted.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (3604),"When you ask Allah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is the middle and highest part of Paradise, and above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful."]

Don't limit your requests. Don't think small. You're asking the King of kings, the Owner of everything. Ask Him for Paradise, for forgiveness, for guidance, for everything you need.

Fourth Command: "When You Seek Help, Seek Help from Allah"

Similar to asking, but more specific—when you need assistance, turn to Allah first. Make du'a before making phone calls. Pray before emailing. Seek Allah before seeking people.

This teaches us the proper order:

First: Ask Allah and rely on Him
Second: Use the means Allah provided (people, effort, resources)
Third: Thank Allah for whatever results

In this environment, you're limited in who you can ask for help. But you have unlimited access to the One who controls everything. As Allah says:

[Quran,65:3,"And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him."]

Sufficient. You don't need anyone else if you have Allah. Everyone else is extra, but Allah alone is enough.

The Reality of Divine Decree: "The Pens Have Been Lifted"

The hadith then teaches us about qadar—divine decree. No one can benefit or harm you except with what Allah has written. This brings incredible peace:

You stop fearing people: They can't harm you unless Allah allows it
You stop being arrogant: Any success you have is from Allah
You stop being depressed: Any failure is part of Allah's plan
You trust completely: Whatever happens is exactly what was meant to happen

But understand this correctly. Qadar doesn't mean you don't try—it means you try with the knowledge that Allah controls the outcome. You use means, but you don't rely on means. You work hard, but you don't worship work. You plan, but you surrender to Allah's plan.

The Prophet ﷺ taught both concepts together. A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave it untied and trust in Allah?" The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2517),"Tie it and trust in Allah."]

Use the means, then trust the result to Allah. That's the balance.

Practical Application: Living with Mindfulness

Before you speak: "Is this pleasing to Allah?" Before you act: "Am I guarding His boundaries?" When you face trials, remember Allah is protecting you. Nothing happens except what He wrote.

Guard the five prayers above everything. Guard your tongue from haram speech, your eyes from haram sights, your heart from haram thoughts. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Muslim (223),"Whoever prays the two cool prayers (Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise."]

Just two prayers—but prayed with mindfulness, with excellence. This is guarding Allah's boundaries.

Additional Wisdom from This Hadith

In another version, the Prophet ﷺ added: "Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Victory comes with patience, relief comes with affliction, and hardship comes with ease."

Build your relationship with Allah when things are good, so when trials come, the relationship is already strong. Every difficulty you face with patience becomes a victory. Hardship and ease are paired together—when you're in difficulty, relief is already on its way.

[Quran,94:5-6,"For indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease."]

Brothers, Ibn Abbas treasured these words his entire life. They shaped his knowledge, his worship, his character. Let them shape us too.

Part Two: The Shield of Shame — Haya as Moral Protection

Brothers,

Now we turn to Hadith 20, which reveals one of Islam's most important but often overlooked principles. On the authority of Abu Masood Uqbah bin Amr al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bukhari (3484),"Verily, from what people have grasped of the words of the earliest prophets is: If you feel no shame, then do as you wish."]

This is a profound statement that requires careful understanding. The Prophet ﷺ is quoting from the wisdom of previous prophets, showing that this principle is universal across all divine messages.

Understanding the Hadith Correctly

Some people misunderstand this hadith. They think it's permission—"do whatever you want if you're shameless." No. This is not permission. This is a warning, a rebuke, and a principle all in one.

The scholars explain it three ways:

1. A Threat: If you've lost your shame, you will do anything. Nothing will stop you. This is a warning about the danger of losing haya. It's like saying, "If you have no fear, then go ahead and jump off a cliff." It's not permission—it's showing the consequence of losing your moral restraint.

2. A Command: Only do what you would not be ashamed to do. Before any action, ask: "Would I be ashamed if people saw this? Would I be ashamed before Allah?" If yes, don't do it. If no, proceed. This makes shame your moral compass.

3. A Statement of Reality: The person with no shame will indeed do as he wishes, because shame is what restrains us from evil. Remove the shame, and nothing stops the evil. This is descriptive of human nature.

All three meanings work together. The hadith warns us, guides us, and describes reality.

What Is Haya (Shame/Modesty)?

Haya is often translated as "shame" or "modesty," but it's more comprehensive. The scholars define it as:

"A quality in the soul that prevents one from committing ugly or inappropriate actions, and prevents one from falling short in giving people their rights."

Haya has two directions:

1. Haya toward Allah: Being ashamed to disobey Him, ashamed to be ungrateful, ashamed to sin against the One who gives you everything.

2. Haya toward people: Being ashamed to do things that are socially degrading, morally wrong, or harmful to others.

The Prophet ﷺ emphasized haya throughout his life:

[Hadith,Muslim (59),"Faith has seventy-odd branches, the highest of which is saying La ilaha illallah, and the lowest of which is removing harmful objects from the road. And haya is a branch of faith."]

Haya is part of faith itself. You can't have complete faith without haya, and you can't have haya without faith.

The Connection Between Faith and Shame

Why did the Prophet ﷺ make haya a branch of faith? Because:

1. Faith creates awareness of Allah: When you believe Allah sees you, you feel ashamed to sin before Him. The stronger your faith, the stronger your sense of shame.

2. Faith creates love for Allah: When you love someone, you're ashamed to disappoint them. Believers love Allah, so they're ashamed to disobey Him.

3. Faith creates recognition of blessings: When you recognize all that Allah has given you, you're ashamed to use His blessings in disobeying Him.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described the Prophet's character:

[Hadith,Bukhari (3562) & Muslim (2320),"The Prophet ﷺ was more modest than a virgin in her private chamber."]

The greatest man who ever lived—yet the most modest. That's the prophetic model.

Levels of Haya

The scholars mention three levels: natural haya (instinct), acquired haya (developed through knowledge), and haya before Allah (the highest level).

The goal is the highest level—being ashamed to sin even when no one sees you, because you know Allah sees you. Most people have natural shame and won't do certain things in public. But believers have shame before Allah and won't do those things in private either.

What Happens When Shame Is Lost?

When people lose shame, they sin openly, boast about wrongdoing, and mock what's right. One shameless act leads to another—the person not ashamed to lie won't be ashamed to cheat. The progression of sin accelerates.

[Quran,3:135,"And those who, when they commit immorality or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and do not persist in what they have done while they know."]

The righteous sin privately and repent. The shameless sin publicly and persist. The Prophet ﷺ warned:

[Hadith,Hakim (7296),"Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who sin openly. Part of sinning openly is when a man does something at night, then in the morning, though Allah has kept his sin concealed, he says, 'O so-and-so, I did such-and-such last night.' His Lord had covered him all night, but in the morning he removed Allah's covering."]

The ultimate consequence: when shame dies, the heart becomes hard. Nothing moves it. It becomes like stone—or harder.

[Quran,2:74,"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder."]

How to Develop and Protect Haya

1. Remember Allah Sees You: Cultivate awareness that Allah watches you always. Before any action, remember: Allah sees me.

[Quran,50:16,"We are closer to him than his jugular vein."]

2. Remember Death and Judgment: Imagine standing before Allah, your actions displayed. Would you be ashamed? Let that shame prevent you now.

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2307),"Be ashamed before Allah as you should truly be ashamed. To be truly ashamed before Allah is to guard the head and what it contains, guard the stomach and what it holds, remember death and decay, and whoever wants the Hereafter abandons the decoration of this world."]

3. Choose Good Company: The company you keep affects your shame. Be around shameless people, and your shame erodes. Be around modest people, and your modesty strengthens.

4. Lower Your Gaze and Guard Your Tongue: The eyes are the gateway to the heart. Shameless speech leads to shameless actions.

[Quran,24:30,"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them."]

Haya in This Environment

Living here presents unique challenges to maintaining haya:

Common Challenges:

Crude language is normalized
Immodest conversations are constant
Privacy is limited
Pressure to conform to shameless behavior

Islamic Responses:

Be different. Your haya will stand out, and that's good
Don't participate in vulgar talk, even to fit in
Lower your gaze even when it's difficult
Guard your character even when others don't
Remember: temporary social comfort isn't worth eternal shame

The Prophet ﷺ reminds us that maintaining our principles is what matters:

[Hadith,Bukhari (6133),"If you have no shame, do as you wish" warns against losing this protective quality, because the believer chooses to have shame, and therefore chooses to do what's right.]

The Blessing of Haya

When you maintain haya, you're protected from sin, honored among people, and you draw closer to Allah. All prophets had tremendous haya—when you develop it, you're following their example.

[Hadith,Abu Dawud (4798) & Tirmidhi (2009),"Haya and faith are companions. When one of them is lifted, the other is lifted as well."]

Bringing It All Together

Brothers, look at how these two hadiths complement each other:

Hadith 19 teaches us to be mindful of Allah and rely on Him alone
Hadith 20 teaches us that shame before Allah prevents us from sin

When you combine them:

You ask only Allah for help (Hadith 19), and you're ashamed to ask Him while disobeying Him (Hadith 20)
You trust that Allah protects you (Hadith 19), and you're ashamed to betray that trust (Hadith 20)
You know nothing happens except by Allah's will (Hadith 19), so you're ashamed to use His decree as an excuse (Hadith 20)

This is the complete Muslim personality: relying completely on Allah, and being completely ashamed to disappoint Him.

In this place, with limited options and constant challenges, these two principles can transform your experience:

Ask Allah for everything. He's never far. He's always listening. He controls all outcomes.

Feel shame before Him in all situations. He sees you always. He knows your heart. He judges by your intentions.

O Allah, make us mindful of You in all our affairs.

O Allah, protect us as we strive to protect Your boundaries.

O Allah, make us among those who ask only You and seek help only from You.

O Allah, bless us with haya that protects us from sin.

O Allah, protect our hearts from hardness and our souls from shamelessness.

O Allah, make us among those who guard their gaze, tongue, and character.

O Allah, let these two hadiths guide our lives until we meet You.

We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.

Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.

I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.]