The preacher of the Grand Mosque: Types of God's favor and the virtue of drawing closer to Him
In an atmosphere of faith filled with tranquility and reverence, the worshippers performed the Friday prayer in the Grand Mosque, where they listened to an eloquent sermon delivered by His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Maher bin Hamad Al-Muaiqly, in which he addressed an important doctrinal and spiritual topic related to the concept of “God’s guardianship” over His servants, and the effect of knowing God Almighty on the Muslim’s behavior and psychological stability.
The honor of knowing God and His beautiful names
The preacher of the Grand Mosque began his sermon by emphasizing a fundamental principle regarding the hierarchy of knowledge, explaining that the honor of a science is derived from the honor of its subject matter. Since God Almighty is the Great Creator and Lord of the heavens and the earth, knowledge of Him, His names, and His attributes is the noblest and most esteemed of all sciences. He further explained that a servant's knowledge of his Creator is the true measure of the strength of his faith and the degree of his reverence. The more a servant knows of his Lord, the greater his veneration, fear, and hope in Him become.
Dr. Al-Muaiqly pointed to two great names from the beautiful names of God, namely “Al-Wali” and “Al-Mawla,” explaining that God is the one who takes charge of the affairs of all creation, and in His hand are the keys to the heavens and the earth, and He is able to resurrect the dead and manage the affairs of the universe.
The difference between general and special jurisdiction
In a detailed legal explanation, His Eminence clarified that God's guardianship is divided into two main types, thus removing any confusion about the concept of divine care:
- General sovereignty: This is the sovereignty of power, governance, and authority, encompassing all of creation without exception, whether believers or disbelievers, righteous or wicked. For it is God Almighty who determines their sustenance and lifespans, and all are subject to His universal will and power.
- Special guardianship: This is the guardianship of care, love, support, and divine favor. This is a divine gift bestowed by God upon His believing servants and righteous allies. The Sheikh emphasized that this guardianship is not attained through mere wishing, but rather through striving against one's own desires and seeking God's guidance. Whenever a believer sins, he hastens to return to his Guardian and Master through repentance and seeking forgiveness.
The path to God's special guardianship and its fruits
The preacher of the Grand Mosque cited a sacred hadith qudsi (divine saying) that illustrates the vastness of God's grace and generosity towards His chosen servants, explaining that when God takes a servant under His wing, He chooses him, guides him, and facilitates the means of good for him. Whoever draws near to God by a handspan, God draws near to him by an arm's length; whoever comes to Him walking, God comes to him running—a powerful indication of God's swift response and closeness to His servants who turn to Him.
Dr. Al-Muaiqly concluded his sermon by emphasizing the great psychological and spiritual impact of this guardianship, pointing out that whoever has God as his guardian, his heart is filled with tranquility and peace, and he trusts in the victory and support of his Lord in facing the difficulties of life, in accordance with the Almighty’s saying: “And God is sufficient as a guardian and God is sufficient as a helper,” which strengthens in the souls of Muslims the values of reliance and certainty.
This sermon comes within the context of the guiding and spiritual role played by the pulpit of the Grand Mosque, where the eyes of Muslims from all over the world turn to follow these sermons that reinforce correct Islamic concepts and address issues of faith and good deeds.
