Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur'an: Obtaining the Aid and Support of Allah

"And Allah will surely support those who support Him [i.e., His cause]. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might."

In this verse Allah promises His aid to those who hold fast to the religion zealously. In the Qur’an, Allah gives the example of Saul (Talut) and his army. Some of the men in Saul’s army who were about to fight against the army of Goliath (Jalut) displayed weakheartedness and feigned that they had no strength to fight. However, those who had true faith in Allah and served Him zealously showed courage and said: "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient." They sought refuge in Allah, so Allah supported the pious servants with His help and made them victorious over the army of Goliath in spite of their small number. The event is described in the Qur’an as follows: "And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, ‘Indeed, Allah will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand.’ But they drank from it, except a very few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, ‘There is no power for us today against Jalut and his soldiers.’ But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, ‘How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient.’ And when they went forth to face Jalut and his soldiers, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.’ So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and Dawud killed Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of favor to the worlds."

In addition, Allah adds more faith to His devout servants’ faith and strengthens them by sending down tranquillity into their hearts when they hold fast to the religion. This feeling of tranquillity and calm enables them not to worry no matter what befalls them. The support Allah provided to believers for their zeal is shown in the Qur’an: "It is He Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise."

"Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest."

"Then Allah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the unbelievers."

In the Qur’an, Allah also provides us with the knowledge that while unbelievers were devising a plan to assassinate our Prophet Muhammad, Allah supported him by sending down tranquillity: "If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet] – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muhammad] said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."

Allah’s help, as related in the Qur’an, is one of the rewards believers will obtain in this world because of their zeal. The recompense they will receive in the hereafter, on the other hand, is certainly much greater.