Jihad: The forgotten obligation
24: Guarding the Leader of Jihaad
Narrated Aisha (ra), the Prophet (saw) was vigilant one night and when he reached Madinah, he said, "Would that a pious man from my companions guard me tonight!" Suddenly we heard the clatter of arms. He said, "Who is that?" He, (the newcomer) replied, "I am Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas and have come to guard you". So the Prophet (Saw) slept (that night). (Sahih Bukhari, p.404, vol.1)
It has been stated in a narration of Tirmidhi that, Aisha (ra) narrated that guarding used to take place outside the house of the Prophet (saw) until the verse: "Allah will protect you from people" (Maidah: 67) was revealed. The Prophet (saw) moved the guards away.
Imam Bukhari (ra) has named this chapter "Vigilance during the Holy Battles in Allah's cause".
To arrange security methods for protection is not against tawwakul (perfect reliance on Allah) as tawwakul lies in the heart and these source of protection are used for the physical protection.
The Prophet (saw) used to confront the enemy in a very close distance but one occasion he worse two chain armours.
It is clear from the above hadith, that those who fear assassination attempts from the kafirs (unbelievers) have to use security to protect themselves, so that the enemy cannot make them an open target. If the security is not implemented and eminent Muslim personalities are attacked and killed, inevitably the Muslim's strength would become weak and the unbeliever's terror would be case in the hearts of the Muslims and the eminent figures amongst the Muslims would not remain safe. It is quite remarkable that the Prophet (saw) used the Sahabas (ra) to guard him with weapons but the Muslim scholars, pious people, and eminent figures of today dislike weapons.
A further point which can be taken from this hadith is that the Prophet (saw) said, "I wish a pious Sahabi (ra) would come and guard me". It is clear from this statement that one should choose pious and reliable people for security. There can be no trust in a disobedient person (sinner), he can easily change and can cause harm himself. Therefore, those who do not fear from the disobedience of Allah and cannot be trusted in their wordly duties, should not be selected to undertake the security. This is why obedient pious Muslims should be appointed for this duty who would fulfill this duty as an act of reward and an act of worship and not a wordly job. They should also be adequately capable of protecting them from the enemy.
Another point which we learn from this hadith is that those who have the capability of fulfilling this duty should place themselves forward, as this is good and will make the person being protected happy.