AL-MUSTI`AN - One Who Is Called upon for Help

Say: "Lord, judge with truth! Our Lord is the All-Merciful, the One Whose help is sought in the face of what you describe." ( Surat al-Anbiya', 21:112)

People need to feel Allah's existence and power both in times of difficulty and of ease. In other words, during every moment of their lives, all people are in need of prayer, for unless Allah wills, they cannot attain anything. Given that we are created with many inherent weaknesses, people can only live by means of Allah's mercy and favor.

On the other hand, Allah is the sole Deity in Whom one can take refuge. People are in need of Him, and therefore seek help and guidance only from Him. Without His permission, no one can help himself or someone else. Allah has the strength to make anything at any time He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it “Be!” and it is.

He allocates provisions among His servants, pours down rain from the heavens, and grants blessings. He heals people when they are sick, makes them laugh or shed tears, exalts whoever He wills, and directs all affairs from heaven to Earth. No one can protect themselves if our Lord withholds His blessings or sends a disaster, and no one can deflect a blessing if He wills to bestow it. Thus, the universe and all of its inhabitants, whether living or non-living, takes refuge in Him and asks for help only from Him. The Qur'an reveals these facts, as follows:

Do they make things into partner-deities who cannot create anything and are themselves created; who are not capable of helping them and cannot even help themselves? If you call them to guidance, they will not follow you. It makes no difference if you call them or stay silent. Those you call on besides Allah are servants, just like yourselves. Call on them and let them respond to you, if you are telling the truth. Do they have legs with which they can walk? Do they have hands with which they can grasp? Do they have eyes with which they can see? Do they have ears with which they can hear? Say: “Call on your partner-deities, try all your wiles against me, and grant me no reprieve. My Protector is Allah, Who sent down the Book. He takes care of the believers.” Those you call on besides Him are not capable of helping you. They cannot even help themselves. If you call them to guidance, they do not hear. You see them looking at you, yet they do not see. ( Surat al-A‘raf, 7:191-98)