The Name An-Naasir is mentioned one time in the Noble Qur’an in the plural form. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:150):
بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّٰصِرِينَ
“Nay, Allaah is your Maula (Protector, Helper, Patron, Lord, etc.) and He is the Best of helpers.”
The Name An-Naseer is mentioned four times in the Noble Qur’an.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Anfaal (8:40):
وإن تولوا فاعلموا أن الله مولاكم نعم المولى ونعم النصير
“And if they turn away, then know that Allaah is your Maula (Patron, Lord, Protector, and Supporter, etc.), (what) an Excellent Maula and (what) an Excellent Helper!”
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:45):
والله أعلم بأعدائكم وكفى بالله وليا وكفى بالله نصيرا
“Allaah has full knowledge of your enemies, and Allaah is Sufficient as a “Wali” (Protector) and Allaah is Sufficient as a Helper.”
In Surat al-Hajj (22:78), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
واعتصموا بالله هو مولاكم فنعم المولى ونعم النصير
“And hold fast to Allaah [i.e. have confidence in Allaah, and depend upon Him in all your affairs]. He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper!”
And Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Furqaan (25:31):
وكفى بربك هاديا ونصيرا
“But Sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.”
THE MEANINGS OF THE NAME WITH REGARDS TO ALLAAH
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said: “‘Nay, Allaah is your Maula’, i.e. He is your Protector, Guardian and Helper against your enemies who have disbelieved. ‘And He is the Best of helpers,’ not who you fled to among the Jews and disbelievers in Allaah! So hold fast to Allaah Who is your Helper and Supporter and Maula and seek help from Him Alone and not from those who are awaiting evil for you and looking forward to your destruction.” [Jami‘ul-Bayaan]
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) also said regarding Allaah’s Statement (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And Allaah is Sufficient as a Helper,’ that “Allaah is Sufficient for you as a Helper against your enemies and the enemies of your Religion; those who are intending to destroy you and your Religion.” [Jami’ul-Bayaan]
He (Ibn Jarir) (Rahimahullaah) said regarding the meaning of “Naseer” in Surat al-Furqaan: “Allaah is Sufficient for you against your enemies, i.e. let not your enemies frighten you from your enemies among the Mushrikeen (polytheists, disbelievers, etc.). Allaah (Ta’ala) is telling Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that He (Ta’ala) will help him (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) against his enemies; and to be patient in regards to His (Ta’ala) Commandments and to continue to convey His Message to them.” [Jami’ul-Bayaan]
Al-Hulaimi (Rahimahullaah) said: “An-Naseer is the One Who makes the victory easy. An-Naseer is the One Who is the trustworthy Who will not forsake His waliy (believing slave), nor let him down (disappoint him).” [Al-Minhaj]
Al-Qurtubi (Rahimahullaah) said: “It has many meanings, one of them is giving help. Allaah helps His believing slave against his enemy. Naseer is an exaggerative expression of Naasir (i.e. more intensive in meaning).” [Al-Kitab al-Asna]
Al-Asbahaani (Rahimahullaah) said: “An-Naasir and An-Naseer mean, He Who gives victory to the believers over their enemies. It is He Who keeps their feet firm when they meet their enemy, and He Who casts fear in the hearts of their enemy.” [Al-Hujjah]
In regards to the following verse (22:78), Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said:
واعتصموا بالله هو مولاكم
“And hold fast to Allaah”
means, seek the help and support of Allaah and put your trust in Him, and get strength from Him,
هو مولاكم
“He is your Maula,”
means, He is your Protector and your Helper. He is the One Who will cause you to prevail against your enemies.
فنعم المولى ونعم النصير
“What an Excellent Maula and what an Excellent Helper.”
means, He is the best Maula and the best Helper against your enemies. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
THE IMPACT OF BELIEVING IN THESE NAMES
1- Allaah (Ta’ala) is truly An-Naseer, Who gives help and victory to His Messengers and Prophets and their believing followers. He is the true source of victory. The triumphant is the one whom Allaah helps and supports; and the disgraced and defeated is the one whom Allaah has disgraced and forsaken.
Al- Qurtubi (Rahimahullaah) said: “It is incumbent upon every adult to believe that absolute victory belongs to Allaah, as He says in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:160):
إن ينصركم الله فلا غالب لكم
“If Allaah helps you, none can overcome you.”
Victory requires a Helper, a helped one, and one who is helped against.
Allaah’s support for His Awliyaa’ (allies, believing slaves) with angels is a kind of victory and help for them against their enemies; as He (Ta’ala) helped and supported His Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions on the day of Badr. On that day, the angels helped and supported the believers against their enemies because the enemies of the believers are enemies to Allaah and His angels. Also Allaah’s help for the angels is to help them in worshipping and obeying Him. This is because the angels have no enemies since they are all light; there is no darkness in them.
This kind of help does not require there to be a defeated party.
However, man is fought by Iblis, his enemy, and his desire. Accordingly, if Allaah helps him, He will help him internally against all these, and if Allaah helps him manifestly then He will help him against his disbelieving enemies and all oppressors and wrongdoers.
If man is given help against his manifest (open) enemy, and if he stays steadfast on the Religion of Allaah and shows patience, yet the Kaafir is the winner, it is also a kind of victory for the believer. This is because his patience in fighting his enemy and staying firm on repelling the desire – to forsake his position (desertion) is also considered a victory. It is an internal victory and reward (from Allaah) as he attained the help and support of Allaah against his enemy Iblis who is always aiming to cause man to fail.” [Al-Kitab al-Ansa]
This is the help of Allaah for His servants.
2- As for the support of the slave for his Lord, it is by worshipping Him and establishing the Rights of Allaah, keeping his covenants to Him and avoiding His prohibitions.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Muhammad (47:7):
إن تنصروا الله ينصركم ويثبت أقدامكم
“If you help (in the Cause of) Allaah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.”
Al-Qurtubi (Rahimahullaah) said regarding this verse: “If the Nasr is giving help, and it is not possible to help Allaah either with statement or with action, then how is it said (interpretation of meaning) ‘If you help Allaah, Allaah will help you’?
The answer covers many aspects:
First: One supports the religion of Allaah with Jihaad (defending it)
Second: One helps His Awliyaa’ with Du’aa (invocation)
Third: One helps and supports His Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
He (Ta’ala) attributed the ‘Nasr’ (victory) to Himself as an honor for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), His Awliyaa’ (special believing slaves) and the religion; as He attributed the goodly loan to His Noble Self in the following verse as a consolation for the poor:
من ذا الذي يقرض الله قرضا حسنا
“Who is he that will lend to Allaah a goodly loan?” [Surat al-Baqarah 2:245]
The verb form of the word ‘Nasr’ has been mentioned in many instances in the Noble Qur’an – to indicate that this is a practical Attribute of Allaah – attributed to those whom Allaah has particularized with help and support; and that is the angels and believers.
The true ‘Nasr’ is help by way of love and allegiance; but giving help against evil is not called ‘Nasr’. Therefore, it is not said if the Kaafir overpowers the believers that he (the Kaafir) is helped or is triumphant; rather, it is said that he has empowered (overcome) the believer.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:90):
ولو شاء الله لسلطهم عليكم
“Had Allaah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you.”
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned that at the end of time, the unjust Imaams (leaders ) will be given help and victory, i.e. they will be helped against the disbelievers and Allaah’s Nasr (help and support) for His Religion returns to Him, to keep His Word.
It is as he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “And Allaah may support this Religion (Islam) with a wicked man.” [Al-Bukhaari – Book of al-Qadar no. 6606]
Al-Asbahaani (Rahimahullaah) said: “It is incumbent upon everyone to enjoin the Ma’roof (good) and forbid the Munkar (evil) and to believe that Allaah will support him. Allaah said in Surat Muhammad (47:7) [interpretation of the meaning]: ‘If you help (in the Cause of) Allaah, He will help you.’
Meaning Allaah (Ta’ala) will help and support everyone who seeks Allaah’s Pleasure by his speech and actions.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon him who sees a Munkar (evil) to change it with his hand if he has the strength to do that, or with his tongue if he is weak; and if he fails to do either of them, then he must deny it with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.” [Al-Hujjah]
Allaah (Ta’ala) is able to support His Religion; for He Alone is the One Who has given victory to His slaves and honored His soldiers and defeated the confederates. He is All-Strong, All-Able to do everything; but He afflicts and tests His servants to make manifest who supports His Religion and Shar’ (law) and who turns away from supporting Him.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Muhammad (47:4):
ذلك ولو يشاء الله لانتصر منهم ولكن ليبلو بعضكم ببعض
“Thus [you are ordered by Allaah to continue in carrying out Jihaad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam (i.e. saved from the punishment in the Hell-Fire), but if it had been Allaah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He let you fight), in order to test you, some with others.”
And He (Ta’ala) says in Surat at-Tawbah (9:40):
إلا تنصروه فقد نصره الله
“If you help him [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] not (it is no matter), for Allaah did indeed help him.”
3- Allaah (Ta’ala) has clearly mentioned to His servants in many verses, that they do not have a helper other than Him nor any supporter except Him. This is in order for their hearts to be directed to Him and their hands to implore Him. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:107):
وما لكم من دون الله من ولي ولا نصير
“And besides Allaah you have neither any ‘Waliy’ (protector or guardian) nor any helper.”
This meaning has been repeated many times in the Qur’an. And Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Mulk (67:20):
أمن هذا الذي هو جند لكم ينصركم من دون الرحمن
“Who is he besides the Most Beneficent that can be an army to you to help you?”
And He (Ta’ala) also says in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:126):
وما النصر إلا من عند الله العزيز الحكيم
“And there is no victory except from Allaah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
His believing slaves have believed with certainty in this matter. Nuh [Noah (‘Alayhis-salaam)] said to his people when they criticized him that most of those who responded to his call were from among the poor and weak people and they commanded him to drive them away:
ويا قوم من ينصرني من الله إن طردتهم أفلا تذكرون
“And O my people! Who will help me against Allaah if I drove them away? Will you not give a thought?” [Surat Hud 11:30]
Prophet Saalih (‘Alayhis-salaam) said:
فمن ينصرني من الله إن عصيته
“Who then can help me against Allaah if I were to disobey Him.” [Surat Hud (11:63)]
The believing man of Pharaoh’s (Fir’aun) family said to his people, reminding them of the evil consequence of their disbelief and turning away from believing in Allaah and His Messenger:
يا قوم لكم الملك اليوم ظاهرين في الأرض فمن ينصرنا من بأس الله إن جاءنا
“O my people! Yours is the kingdom this day, you are uppermost in the land. But who will save us from the Torment of Allaah, should it befall us?” [Surat Ghaafir (40:29)]
And Allaah (Ta’ala) said about the people of Nuh (‘Alayhis-salaam) in Surat Nuh (71:25):
مما خطيئاتهم أغرقوا فأدخلوا نارا فلم يجدوا من دون الله أنصارا
“Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire and they found none to help them instead of Allaah.”
When Allaah (Ta’ala) made the earth to swallow Qaroon (Korah), the arrogant disbeliever, He (Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Qasas (28:81):
فما كان له من فئة ينصرونه من دون الله وما كان من المنتصرين
“Then he had no group or party to help him against Allaah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.”
Similarly when Allaah ruined the property of the man who disbelieved in his Lord and the resurrection and destroyed his garden, He (Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Kahf (18:42):
فأصبح يقلب كفيه على ما أنفق فيها وهي خاوية على عروشها ويقول يا ليتني لم أشرك بربي أحدا
“And he remained clapping his hands with sorrow over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: “Would I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!”
Then He (Ta’ala) says in verse (43):
ولم تكن له فئة ينصرونه من دون الله وما كان منتصرا
“And he had no group of men to help him against Allaah, nor could he defend or save himself.”
4- The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say the following supplication when he went on an expedition:
اللهمَّ أنت عَضُدي ونَصيري، بِكَ أحول، وبك أصولُ وبِكَ أُقاتل
“O Allaah! You are my support and You are my Helper, and by You (i.e. by Your Might and Your Power and Your Aid and Your Help) do I fight.” [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawoud and at-Tirmidhi, Authenticated by al-Albaani who graded it Saheeh]
5- He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say in his supplication:
لا إله إلا الله وحده أعَزَّ جُنْدَهُ، ونَصَرَ عبْدَهُ وغَلَبَ الأحزابَ وحدهُ، فلا شئ بعْدَهُ
“There is no true God but Allaah, He honored His soldiers and gave them victory (over their enemy, the disbelievers) and conquered the parties (of polytheism) all by Himself. There is nothing to remain after Him.” [Muslim]
When the conditions of the Hudabiyah treaties became heavy upon the Companions of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “I went to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said: ‘Aren’t you truly the Messenger of Allaah?’
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Yes.’ I said: ‘Then why should we be humble in our Religion?’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘I am Allaah’s Messenger and I do not disobey Him, and He will make me victorious.’” [Al-Bukhaari]
📚 Source:
An-Nahjul Asmaa fee Sharh Asmaa’ Allaahul-Husnaa by Shaikh Muhammad an-Najdi
🌿
Always feel free to share the khair!
