The Prophet (Saws) mentioned in a ḥadīth;

“ابْغُونِي ضُعَفَاءَكُمْ فَإِنَّمَا تُرْزَقُونَ وَتُنْصَرُونَ بِضُعَفَائِكُمْ”

“Seek out the vulnerable among you. Indeed, you are only given provision and support due to your support of the weak.” 

(Tirmidhī – Hasan Ṣaḥīḥ).

When I first heard this ḥadīth, I was fascinated by the deep meaning held within it. As insān, on a global and domestic level, it’s easy to attribute success, whether in war, business, or other endeavours solely to the amount of effort we put in. Are we successful because of our strength, our financial resources or our abilities? No, rather the Prophet (saws) indicates that Allah’s assistance descends by our concern for the vulnerable (poor, oppressed etc.).

It’s mentioned in Rawdat’l-Mutaqīn that Ibn Baṭṭāl said ‘the understanding of this hadith is that the weak have greater sincerity in supplication and are more fearful in worship due to their hearts being void of attachment to the glitter of this dunya’.

For this reason, the Prophet (saws) uses an order ‘seek out the vulnerable amongst you’, indicating that they are a means of receiving divine help. 

On a general level (and taking the ḥadīth slightly out of its context in reference to Jihād), it’s extremely important that we genuinely support those considered vulnerable – whether in our families, our workplaces or any other spheres of life when we are trying to reach a particular objective. We should make time for those we know who are struggling, who may be oppressed, suffering financial difficulties or generally going through a tough period. 

We have no idea of those whom we may help (who others may ignore) might in fact be from the friends of Allah and through their du’as, prayers and sincerity, we *ourselves* may be bestowed divine assistance.