Prophetic Reverence: How to Show True Support? – Episode 34

Summary

In this thirty-fourth episode of our series, we reflect on a verse that connects faith with practical devotion, offering a clear lesson in Prophetic Reverence. The instruction is direct, but putting it into practice needs understanding and sincere effort.

1. Understanding Holy Quran 48:9: Support, Reverence, and Exalting Allah SWT

The main command is in the words:

وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

“…that you support him, revere him, and exalt Him morning and evening.”
(Surah Al-Fath, 48:9)

A key question is: who is the object of “support” and “revere”? Grammatically, these verbs follow the call to “believe in Allah SWT and His Messenger.” They are a natural extension of that belief. While the final command to “exalt Him” clearly refers to Allah SWT, supporting and revering His Messenger is how that faith is shown in action. Tafsir Al-Mizan notes the link, stating that upholding the Prophet’s PBUH mission means upholding Allah SWT’s cause. To believe is to act.

2. Practical Steps for Supporting Islamic Leadership

How do we follow this command now? It starts with wisdom in how we deal with leadership. Giving sincere advice is a duty, but it must be done with great respect and care. Public criticism or mockery can harm the community’s unity and dignity. Take the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Its terms at first seemed unfair, testing the companions’ support. True reverence meant trusting the Prophet’s PBUH judgement, a trust that was later proven right by divine wisdom. In the same way, our approach should be to give respectful, private advice when necessary, to protect the community’s honour. This unified obedience, based on Prophetic Reverence, has a strong effect on the community, building respect and strength.

3. The Ongoing Act of Exalting Allah SWT

The verse ends with the command to “exalt Him.” This exaltation, *tasbih*, is much more than speech. It actively glorifies Allah SWT through steady obedience to His commands. We cannot call any action that goes against His law an act of exaltation. The phrase “at dawn and evening” is meaningful. It refers to a state of constant, aware submission. While specific prayers have set times, our focus on divine obedience must be unbroken. In this way, our support for the Prophet’s PBUH legacy and our respect for righteous leadership become part of a steady, daily practice of living rightly.

The experience of the companions at Hudaybiyyah shows us that perfecting this support needs constant effort. Our love for Allah SWT is shown by how closely we follow His Messenger’s PBUH path. May we live by these principles with wisdom and unity, making sure our actions always show true devotion and a full grasp of Prophetic Reverence, strengthening our hearts and our community with every dawn and every evening.

Tagged as:
Islamic Leadership Prophetic Reverence Surah Al-Fath