The Holy Quran, akin to a clear and boundless spring, presents divine knowledge in the form of luminous verses to humanity and unfolds the paths of felicity and elevation before mankind. Among these verses, the concepts of Muayyad (the Supported) and Junood (Hosts) appear as two radiant jewels, manifesting a special aspect of divine power and mercy. These two concepts, which respectively refer to Gods support and empowerment of the faithful servants and His countless armies in the heavens and the earth, are among the Qurans key themes revealing the grandeur of the Lord and His wise system in guiding creation. The present treatise, through reflection upon relevant verses and profound analysis, explores these two concepts and, with a clear and dignified language, delineates the means of benefiting from these truths for a faithful life.
Muayyad, one of the Lords beautiful names, signifies the one who empowers and strengthens, through whom God aids His special servants, particularly the prophets and saints, with power and victory. This attribute, rooted in the word Yad meaning power, appears in the Holy Quran manifesting various levels of divine support: from special support with the Holy Spirit for the beloved to general support with victory and provision for the believers. These degrees, like a ladder towards divine nearness, elevate humanity beyond material limitations and connect it to a divine authority.
One of the most prominent examples of divine support is the assistance granted to Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him) by the Holy Spirit, which is referenced in multiple verses of the Holy Quran. This support, bestowed upon Gods special beloved, empowered Jesus to perform miracles such as creating birds, healing the sick, and raising the dead.
Those are the messengers: We have preferred some of them over others. Among them are those to whom God spoke; He raised some in degrees. And We gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit.
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:253)
The Holy Spirit, like a divine strike force, is a tremendous and unparalleled power granted only to special saints. This power enabled Jesus to manifest miracles beyond human capability without the need for armies or guards. This support acts as a key that opens the doors of the unseen world to humans, guiding them towards high levels of divine proximity. Although reaching this level is difficult for ordinary humans, through worship, supplication, and contemplation on divine verses, one may attain lower degrees of such support.
Alongside special support, the Holy Quran speaks of general support for the believers, manifesting in the form of victory and pure provision. This support, granted to the majority of the early Muslim believers, reflects Gods vast mercy, assisting believers against enemies and hardships.
And remember when you were few and weak in the land, fearing that people might abduct you; then He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful.
(Surah Al-Anfal, 8:26)
This verse reflects the grandeur of divine support in its general form. The early Muslim believers, who were in hardship and weakness, were empowered and provided for by God and thus achieved victory. This support, like a life-giving rain upon the dry land of the believers souls, indicates that God aids only the believers with His power and victory, while disbelievers are deprived of this grace.
Junood, meaning divine armies, encompasses all material and immaterial beings that operate under the Lords will. These armies include angels, jinn, and natural elements such as wind and birds, displaying an infinite range of divine authority.
And to Allah belongs the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Almighty, Wise.
(Surah Al-Fath, 48:4)
This verse, like a window into divine grandeur, shows that the Lords hosts, both in the heavens and the earth, act under His wisdom and authority. No one but God is aware of the extent and nature of these armies, as mentioned in Surah Al-Muddaththir: And none knows the hosts of your Lord except Him. These hosts, from angels and jinn to wind and birds, function as an organised army serving the divine will.
In the story of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him), the divine hosts included jinn, humans, and birds who operated under his command. This diversity signifies Gods power in employing various beings to achieve His purposes.
And gathered for Solomon were his hosts of jinn and men and birds, and they were arranged in ranks.
(Surah An-Naml, 27:17)
This verse vividly illustrates the diversity of the divine hosts. Solomon, relying on these hosts, established an unparalleled dominion where jinn, humans, and birds each played a role in fulfilling Gods will. In Surah Al-Ahzab, the wind and unseen armies (hosts you do not see) came to the aid of the believers and crushed their enemies.
The Holy Quran speaks of the existence of enemies for the prophets, composed of humans and jinn. These enemies, called devils, attempt to mislead humanity through suggestion and deception. However, this challenge is part of the Lords wise system that prevents weakness and arrogance.
And thus We have appointed for every prophet an enemy, devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion.
(Surah Al-Anam, 6:112)
This verse serves as a wise warning, indicating that the existence of enemies is part of the divine engineering of the universe. Just as death prevents societal stagnation, enemies protect humans from weakness and arrogance. God, through His hosts, aids the believers against these enemies and guarantees their ultimate victory.
Angels, as part of the divine hosts, have various roles from delivering glad tidings and success to supporting the believers. Although jinn surpass humans in power and speed, they lack human intellect and insight.
When the angels said: O Mary, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him.
(Surah Aal Imran, 3:45)
Angels, like luminous messengers, convey divine messages to special servants and, with their immense power, support the believers. Jinn, despite their number and power, have intellectual limitations and cannot compete with humans in knowledge and governance. These differences render the world a dynamic and bustling environment governed by divine management.
