The Reality of Taking Refuge with Allah
Since 2012-12-04
Shaikh Abu Rumaysah Refi Shafi
Now, know that the reality of seeking refuge that is established in the heart of the believer surpasses these definitions and is beyond them. These definitions only serve as examples and symbols. The actual state that is established in the heart when it takes refuge with, holds fast to and throws itself before its Lord, as well as its state of neediness, submission and humility before Him is beyond description.
The word `adha and its derivatives carry the meaning of being careful and wary, guarding and fortifying, being rescued and victorious. Its essential meaning is to flee from something you fear will harm you to something that will save you from it. This is why the one you seek refuge with is called ma`adh and malja’ (the source of refuge and recourse).
The hadith mentions that when al-Jawn’s daughter entered upon the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) [after their marriage] he moved his hand (to touch her) and she said, ‘I take refuge with Allah from you.’ He said, “You have sought refuge with the Ma`adh, return and rejoin your family.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«أن ابنة الجون، لما أدخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ودنا منها قالت: أعوذ بالله منك فقال لها: لقد عذت بعظيم، الحقي بأهلك» رواه البخاري
Therefore, the meaning of a`udhu is: I take refuge, guard myself and take precaution.
There are two opinions concerning the basic meaning of this verb. The first is that it has the meaning of satar (covering or protection) and the second is that it is has the meaning of luzum al-mujawara (firmly sticking to what adjoins it). As for the first opinion, the Arabs would say that a plant growing by the trunk of a tree had `uwwadha. This is because this plant did `adha with the tree by growing under its shade and by its trunk. The same applies to the one who takes refuge because he seeks protection and cover from his enemy with the one he seeks refuge with. As for the second opinion, the Arabs would say that flesh which was stuck to a bone and could not be dislodged had `uwwadha. This is because it refused to be separated from the bone. The same applies to the one taking refuge for he sticks firmly to the one he is seeking refuge with and refuses to be distanced.
Both of these opinions are correct because seeking refuge subsumes both meanings. The one taking refuge seeks protection with the one he is seeking refuge with and sticks firmly to him. His heart attaches itself to him and holds fast exactly as a child sticks close to its father when threatened by an enemy. The same applies to the one taking refuge for he flees from an enemy set on destroying him to his Lord, throwing himself between His hands, holding firmly to Him, sticking close to Him and resorting to Him.
Now, know that the reality of seeking refuge that is established in the heart of the believer surpasses these definitions and is beyond them. These definitions only serve as examples and symbols. The actual state that is established in the heart when it takes refuge with, holds fast to and throws itself before its Lord, as well as its state of neediness, submission and humility before Him is beyond description.
In a similar vein, love of Him and fear of Him can only be described in a deficient way because they can only truly be apprehended by experiencing them. This is similar to the case of someone trying to describe the pleasure of sexual intercourse to a person who is impotent and has no sexual urge. No matter how much you describe it and how many examples you give; never will he truly understand it. However, if you were to describe it to a person who does have these urges and has had intercourse, he will fully apprehend your descriptions.
He also said in Bada’i` al-Fawa’id,
The phraseology of taking refuge is ‘I take refuge (a`udhu)’ and ‘I took refuge (ta`awwadhtu).’ If someone were to ask, the command to take refuge with Allah syntactically employs a sin (س) and ta (ت) as in His saying,
{So when you want to recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one).} [al-Nahl 16:98]
{فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّـهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ} النحل: 98
Transliteration: Faitha qarata alqurana faistaAAithbiAllahi mina alshshaytani alrrajeemi
Why does the statement of taking refuge not include this sin and ta?
The reply: the sin and ta are grammatically used to denote seeking something. When someone says, ‘Asta`idhu with Allah,’ he is saying, ‘I seek refuge with Him.’ When he says, ‘Astaghfirullah,’ he is saying, ‘I seek Allah’s forgiveness.’
However, when the person says, ‘I take refuge (a`udhu) with Allah,’ he is going beyond just seeking it and is actually enacting his desire to recourse to Allah. There is a clear difference between actually taking refuge and seeking refuge. Therefore, because a person who is seeking refuge is actually recourse to Allah and holding firmly to Him, he says the verb that denotes this rather than saying the verb that denotes that he only seeks this.
The opposite is true when saying, ‘Astaghfirullah’ (I seek Allah’s forgiveness) because in this case the person is asking Allah to forgive him. Therefore, when he says, ‘Astaghfirullah,’ he is enacting his desire to ask Allah for forgiveness.
There is no harm in saying ‘Asta`idhu bi’llah,’ i.e. I seek refuge with Allah, but the meaning implied here is not the same as doing the actual act of holding fast to, recourse back to, and fleeing to Allah. The first is just asking his Lord to protect him, the second is actually doing it and the act itself presupposes the request and need. This then is the best way of seeking refuge and it was for this reason that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say, “I take refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan,” and, “I take refuge with Allah’s perfect words,” each time saying, ‘A`udhu’ rather than ‘Asta`idhu’.
«أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم» رواه مسلم، «أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات» رواه مسلم
Indeed, this is what Allah taught him to say with His words,
{Say: I take refuge with the Lord of Daybreak} [al-Falaq 113:1]
{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} الفلق: 1
Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alfalaqi
{Say: I take refuge with the Lord of Mankind.} [al-Nas 114:1]
{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ} الناس: 1
Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alnnasi
Employing the word ‘A`udhu’ rather than ‘Asta`idhu.’
Notes: Ibn al-Qayyim, Bada'i al-Fawa'id
Translation by Abu Rumaysah
Translation by Abu Rumaysah
Source: www.islam21c.com
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