The earth is guarded because of the Awliya Allah

Hadith 14: The Messenger of Allah has said; “There will always be forty men on this
earth till the Day of Judgement by whom Allah protects this earth. When one of them passes
away Allah appoints another person in his place and they reside are all over the earth.”1 (Al-
Khallal narrates from Ibn ‘Umar RadiAllaho anhuma).

Hadith 15: The beloved Prophet of Allah has said; “Verily there are three hundred Awliya
(friends) of Allah chosen the whole mankind whose hearts are upon the heart of Prophet
Adam Alaihis Salaam. Forty are those whose hearts are upon the heart of Prophet Musa
Alaihis Salaam. Seven are those whose hearts are upon the heart of Prophet Ibraheem Alaihis
salaam. The hearts of five are attached to the heart of Angel Jibra’il, three are attached to the
hearts of Mika’il and one is he whose heart is upon the heart of Israfil Alaihimus Salaam.
When a Wali passes away, one of the three replaces him. When one of the three passes away
then one of the five takes his place. One of the seven takes over the place of one of the five,
one of the forty replaces the seven, one of three hundred occupy the place of one of the forty,
and a Muslim is appointed to take over the place of one of the three hundred. Through the
blessings of these three hundred and sixty five, the transactions of life and death, falling of
the rain, growth of vegetation and the removal of calamities takes place.”2 (Abu Na’eem in
al-Hilya and Ibn ‘Asakir narrate from Abdullah Bin Mas’ud RadiAllaho Anhu).

Hadith 16: The Prophet has said; “There are three types of people who read the Qur’an.”
(After mentioning one who read for the worldly goods, the second who reads but does not act
upon what he has read then the Prophet said). “The third is he who reads the Holy Qur’an
and cured the illnesses of his heart by its medicine. He thus spent his nights in wakefulness
(worshipping Allah) and spent his days in thirst (by fasting) and stood in the Mosque reciting
the Qur’an; and wearing hats of asceticism, read the Quran softly and cried. These are such
people by whom Allah removes the calamities. In addition, He brings fourth wealth, money
and possessions from the hands of the infidels and showers rain from the skies. I swear by
Allah! These sorts of Qurra of the Qur’an are more successful than (those who posses) red
sulphur.”3 (Ibn Habban in his al-Du’afa, Abu Nasr al-Sijziyyu in al-Ibana and Dailami
narrate from Buraidah RadiAllaho anhu. Imam Baihaqi in Shub al-Iman narrates from al-
Hasan al-Basari RadiAllaho Anhu).

Hadith 17: The Prophet once said; “Indeed the stars are the protectors of the skies when
they will disappear then that will come which was promised, (meaning the skies will be torn
apart). I am the protector of my companions. When I will leave then that will come which
was promised, (i.e. disputes). My companions are the protectors of my Ummah. When they
will leave, then that will come which was promised to come, (lies, false religions and

1
Kanz al-‘Ammal, with reference to Khilaal from Ibn ‘Umar, Hadith# 34614, (Muassas al-Risala, Beirut),
vol.12, p. 191.
2
Hilya al-Awliya, introduction of the book, (Dar al-Kitab al-‘Arabi, Beirut), vol. 1, p. 9.
Tareekh Dimashq al-Kabeer, the chapter on Ma Ja’a Anna Bi al-Sham Yakoon al-Abdal, (Dar Ihya al-Turath
al-‘Arabi, Beirut), vol. 1, p.223.
3
Su’ab al-Iman, Hadith# 2621, (Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut), vol.2, pp. 531-531.
Kanz al-‘Ammal, with reference to Hub Fi al-Du’afa, Hadith# 2882, (Muassas al-Risala, Beirut), vol.11, p. 623.
intermingling with the infidels”).4 (Ahmad and Muslim narrate from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari
RadiAllaho anhu).

Hadith 18 and 19: The Prophet has said; “The stars are the protectors of those in the skies
and my family are the protectors of those who reside on the earth.” (Abu Ya’la in his masnad
narrates from Salma ibn al-Akwa’ RadiAllaho Anhu through a good-Hasan chain. Hakim
narrates in his Mustadrak and said it is a sound hadith and Tu’aqqib authenticiated the
narration of Ibn ‘Abbas RadiAllaho Anhuma and his words are “My family are the protectors
of my Ummah. When they will leave then that will come which was promised…”).5

I (the author) say: If the meaning of Ahl al-Bait is meant generally, as it is apparent by the
words of the Hadith then maybe here the protection means the protection of the general
devastation; the disappearance of the Qur’an, the destruction to the Ka’ba and the demolition
of Madinatul Munawwara. As long as the Ahl al-Bait will remain, these things will not
appear, and Allah and His Prophet know the best. Alternatively, it means the appearance
of misguided groups, and sects specifically. (Like it is in the Hadith of Musnad Abu Ya’la in
which he narrates from Salama Bin Akwa’ through a Hasan chain. Haakim narrates in al-
Mustadrak and authenticated it, and from Ibn ‘Abbas which follows it. The words are, “The
stars are protectors of the people from drowning, and my Ahl al-Bait are protectors of my
Ummah from divisions.” 6)

Hadith 20: The Prophet has said, “My Ahl al-Bait are the protectors of my Ummah.
When there shall remain no one from my Ahl al-Bait then that shall come which was
promised.”7 (Narrated by Haakim and followed the narration of Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah
RadiAllahu Anhuma).

Hadith 21: On the authority of Abdullah Ibn Abbas RadiAllaho Anhuma who narrates; “One
of the signs of the birth of the Prophet Sallallaho alaihi Sallam was that all the animals of the
Quraish talked that night and said, ‘We swear by the Lord of the Ka’ba! That Prophet is
coming who is the guard/protector of the entire world and is the sun of its people” (shedding
the light of guidance).8

4
Sahih Muslim, The book on al-Fada’il, chapter on Anna Baqa’a al-Nabi Amaan li al-Sahaba, (Qadimi
Kutub Khana, Karachi), vol.2, p. 308.
Musnad Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Narrating from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, (al-Maktab al-Islami, Beirut), vol.4, p. 399.
5
Al-Sawa’iq al-Muhrika, the chapter on Al-Amaan bi Baqa’ihim, (Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut), p.351.
6
Al-Mustadrak Li al-Haakim, the book on Ma’rifat al-Sahaba, (Dar al-Fikr, Beirut), vol.3, p. 149.
7
Al-Mustadrak Li al-Haakim, the book on Ma’rifat al-Sahaba, (Dar al-Fikr, Beirut), vol.3, p. 149.
8
Al-Khasais al-Kubra with reference to Abi Nu’aim from Ibn ‘Abbas RadiAllahu Anhu, the chapter on Ma
Dhahara Fi Layla Moulidihi, (Markaz Ahl Sunnat, Gujarat), vol.1, p. 47.