Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allaah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter. And Allaah will cause to go astray those who are Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers), and Allaah does what He wills” [Ibraaheem 14:27]

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said, concerning the aayah “Allaah will keep firm those who believe…”, this word is “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” Al-Nasaa’i narrated that al-Baraa’ said: “[The aayah] ‘Allaah will keep firm those who believe…’ was revealed concerning the torment of the grave, when it is said, ‘My Lord is Allaah and my religion is the religion of Muhammad.’ That is what Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning), ‘Allaah will keep firm those who believe…’”

The general meaning of the aayah:

The general meaning of the aayah has to do with the support which Allaah gives to His believing slaves and keeps them firm in this world and in the Hereafter, helping them to adhere to the Straight Path and to belief in Tawheed. The meaning also has to do with the fact that this support is denied to the wrongdoers and kaafirs, because of their wrongdoing and kufr, and because they are far away from the truth and they follow the desires of their own selves and the whispers of the Shaytaan, they prevent others from following the straight path and they express enmity towards those who do follow the straight path.

How Allaah supports His believing slaves and keeps them firm in this world:

His support in this world means two things:

(1) – He keeps them firm in the grave when they are questioned by the angels. Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated that al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘When the believer is made to sit up in his grave, someone comes to him, then he bears witness that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. That is what Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world, and in the Hereafter” [Ibraaheem 14:27]’” Al-Qaffaal and his group said, “in this world” means in the grave, because the dead are still in this world until they are resurrected. Al-Maawardi also narrated this from al-Baraa’, who said, “What is meant by ‘this world’ is the questioning in the grave,’ and what is meant by ‘the Hereafter’ is the questioning on the [Day of] Resurrection. (al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam il-Qur’aan by al-Qurtubi, 9/238)

(2) – This keeping firm also has to do with keeping them steadfast in faith, Islam, taqwa, righteousness and doing good deeds. It also has to do with the help and support of Allaah for His righteous slaves, and his granting them victory and giving them the strength to adhere to the word that stands firm in this world, to strong faith, to certain belief and to absolute submission to the rulings, commands and prohibitions of Allaah. Al-Qurtubi said in his book al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam il-Qur’aan that the phrase “Allaah will keep firm” means that Allaah will cause them to persist in saying the word that stands firm. [The poet] ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah said:

“Allaah will cause you to stand firm in doing good, as He supported Moosa and gave him victory”

This meaning is supported by other texts of the Qur’aan, for example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

“Truly, Allaah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinoon (good doers)” [al-Nahl 16:128]

“and (as for) the believers, it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).” [al-Room 30:47]

“Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge” [al-Mujaadilah 58:11]

“Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest" [al-Ra’d 13:28]

How Allaah will keep His believing slaves firm in the Hereafter:

It was narrated that al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib said: “What is meant by ‘this world’ is the questioning in the grave, and what is meant by ‘the Hereafter’ is the questioning on the (Day of) Resurrection.”

As mentioned above, the keeping firm in this world is keeping (the believer) firm when he is questioned by the two angels in the grave, and keeping the believer firm in adhering to the truth, taqwa and righteousness in this world. The keeping firm in the Hereafter means keeping the believer firm on the Day of Resurrection, when he is questioned about his deeds and actions, his youth and his life, his wealth and possessions, his duties towards himself, towards others and towards the people around him, his different dealings and his affairs which have to do with his Islamic duties, commands and prohibitions, what he did and did not do. So the believer remains firm and steadfast – by the help of Allaah and by His will – on the Day of Resurrection and in the grave, and throughout the life of al-Barzakh. Allaah will keep him firm with contentment, security and steadfastness. That will be because of the previous good deeds that he had done, and his firm adherence to the correct belief, and his fulfilling the duties of sharee’ah as proven in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and his following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his attitude and his saheeh Sunnah, without adding or innovating anything, without taking away anything or deviating, but he followed the method of the righteous salaf and acted in accordance with the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah.

The wrongdoers are not kept firm:

What is meant by wrongdoers here is the kuffaar, because they have wronged themselves and disbelieved in the signs of Allaah. They have replaced the word that stands firm and true faith with whatever is dictated to them by their deviant minds and corrupt desires.

The wrongdoers or kaafirs are not made to stand firm on the right path, and they do not find contentment in this world or in the Hereafter. They will be faced with a painful torment, loss and regret in the Hereafter and in the grave, and they will live a life of misery, confusion and difficulty in this world. That is because of their sin, corruption and being far removed from the path of guidance and righteousness. Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Haatim and al-Bayhaqi narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “When the kaafir is dying, there come to him angels – peace be upon them – who beat him on the face and the back. When he is placed in his grave he is made to sit up and it is said to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He does not reply to them, and Allaah causes him to forget about that. When he is asked, ‘Who is the Messenger who was sent to you?’ he is not guided in any way and he does not reply to them.  This is what Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And Allaah will cause to go astray those who are Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)’ [Ibraaheem 14:27].”

All things are in the hands of Allaah, everything is in the hands of Allaah: “and Allaah does what He wills” [Ibraaheem 14:27 – interpretation of the meaning] – this refers to whether He punishes people and misguides people. Guidance and misguidance are in the hands of Allaah, good and evil are in His hand, benefit and harm are in His hand, according to His laws and signs, according to people’s potential to accept good or evil.

We ask Allaah to keep us firm in adhering to the Straight Path and the true way, in this world and in the Hereafter, for He is the One Who is Able to do that. And the end of our prayer is, praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.