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Undoubtedly
one of the greatest goals of the Muslims is to see their religion
prevail, the Book of their Lord dominate, and the banner of Islam raised
high. Muslims yearn for the day when they will liberate their occupied
lands, regain their position and might, and attain peace and stability.
Some Muslims may wonder why the victory is delayed. Some of them even,
may be overcome by despair and fear that Allah has forsaken the Muslims.
In
fact, Allah’s help for the believers is one of the realities of
existence and
an everlasting law in the universe. It may be delayed for wisdom known
only to Allah. Truth may suffer some defeat, and falsehood may temporary
prevail; however, the believers should exert their effort and fulfill
the elements and requirements of victory. After that they are not
responsible for the results; the victory thereafter is decided by
Almighty Allah for He alone knows the appropriate and suitable time for
victory, and all the affairs of the universe rest with Him. He says,
[Ye
(Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad)
threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test
the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.]
(Al-Anfal 8:17)
Victory
may be delayed because the Muslim Ummah is not yet strong enough, or not
yet ready for such a victory. It may also be delayed so that the Ummah
may strengthen its relationship with Allah. It may be delayed so that
Muslims may struggle and sacrifice for the sake of Allah alone and for
His religion. Regardless of how long falsehood rises, it will eventually
vanish and be defeated. Allah says, [Truth
hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound
to vanish.] (Al-Israa’ 17:81) However, the
wisdom of Allah necessitates the existence of falsehood as a kind of
trial for the Muslims, for if Allah had so willed, there would not have
been any disbelief or falsehood, but life is a struggle between good and
evil. Allah says, [If Allah willed He could have punished them
(without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by
means of others.]
(Muhammad 47:4)
Some
Muslims wrongly think that Allah will help them merely because they are
Muslims regardless of their conditions. They wonder how disbelievers
should overcome Muslims and occupy their lands. But Allah makes it
clear, [O
ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your
foothold firm.]
(Muhammad 47:7) He did not say: ‘As long as you are Muslims, I will
help you and make your foothold firm, no matter what your conditions and
deeds are.’
Muslims
suffered defeat in the battle of ‘Uhud, although they were led by the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. Also, in the battle
of Hunayn, most of the Muslims felt defeated, though the Prophet was
with them, because they were so deluded by their great number that some
of them said, ‘We shall never be defeated out of fewness.’ How can
Allah help a man who does not help His cause and merely claims to be a
believer? `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “We do not
defeat our enemy through our great numbers and sophisticated weapons;
rather, we defeat them through our obedience to Allah and their
disobedience to Him. Thus, when we disobey Allah, we become like them in
sins and thus they will defeat us.”
Allah
has unchangeable laws which He enforces in the universe and the life of
mankind. These laws involve the requirements and elements of victory and
the causes of defeat. To achieve victory, Muslims should heed the
elements of victory and fulfill them, and at the same time, refrain from
the causes of defeat.
Of
these elements of victory is to have firm and strong faith and steadfast
belief; for strong belief purifies the hearts. This, in turn, leads to
the reformation of the conditions and therefore, Allah grants Muslims
victory and fulfills His promise, [Lo!
We verily do help Our messengers, and those who believe, in the life of
the world and on the day when the witnesses arise.]
(Ghafir 40:51)
Sincerity
is another element of victory. It is the fuel for the Muslims’
struggle and endeavor. Only sincere steadfast believers are worthy of
victory. Such sincerity would be reflected in tireless work and
ceaseless effort. Allah says, [As
for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo!
Allah is with the good.]
(Al-`Ankabut 29:69)
Another
element of victory is to help the religion of Allah and practice it in
words, deeds, and belief, by performing <i>salah<i/>
(Prayer), giving zakah (obligatory alms), enjoining all that is good and
forbidding all that is evil. Allah says, [Those
who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said:
Our Lord is Allah. For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by
means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques,
wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been
pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is
Strong, Almighty. Those who, if We give them power in the land,
establish Prayer and pay the poor due and enjoin kindness and forbid
iniquity. And Allah's is the sequel of events.]
(Al-Hajj 22:40-41)
Patience
is an important element of victory. This quality is necessary to weather
hardships and overcome obstacles. This can be learnt from the
Prophet’s reported advice to Abu Jandal, “O Abu Jandal, be
patient and seek your reward from Allah; for Allah will give you and the
oppressed ones who are with you a succor and provide for you a way out
of your hardship.” The prophet emphasizes this principle while
teaching his cousin, Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
him). He said “Be you aware that victory comes with patience.”
The Prophet himself is instructed by Allah to adhere to patience. Allah
Almighty says, [And
(O Muhammad) follow that which is inspired in thee, and forbear until
Allah gives judgment. And He is the Best of Judges.]
(Yunus 10:109)
Among
the elements of victory also is to depend on the indefatigably Powerful
Lord, to submit one’s affairs to Him and to put one’s trust in Him.
It is only then that one shall have no fear of the enemies of Allah.
Indeed, victory, honor, and glory come from Allah alone. During the
battle of Hunayn, the believers saw themselves as great in number which
made them forget the real source of power and victory. So, Allah left
them and their multitude, but their multitude was of no avail. In this
regard Allah says, [Allah
hath given you victory on many fields and on the day of Hunayn, when ye
exulted in your multitude but it availed you naught, and the earth, vast
as it is, was straitened for you; then ye turned back in flight; Then
Allah sent His peace of reassurance down upon His messenger and upon the
believers, and sent down hosts ye could not see, and punished those who
disbelieved. Such is the reward of disbelievers.]
(At-Tawbah 9:25-26)
Among
the most important elements of victory is making
<i>du`aa’</i> (supplication). When Prophet Nuh (Noah)
finished building the ark, he sought refuge with Allah through
supplication and did not rely on material means only. He invoked Allah,
for he knew that supplication is one of the greatest weapons of victory.
The Qur’an recorded for us how this noble Prophet supplicated and how
his supplication was immediately answered. Allah says [And
Noah said: My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers in the land. If
Thou shouldst leave them, they will mislead Thy slaves and will beget
none save lewd ingrates. My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who
entereth my house believing, and believing men and believing women, and
increase not the wrong doers in aught save ruin.]
(Nuh 71:26-28)
Taking
good care of the weak and destitute is also an element of victory. It
was reported that Allah’s Messenger said to Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, “You
are being provided for and given victory only because of the weak ones
among you.” In another hadith, he said, “Allah only makes
this ummah victorious because of the weak ones among them - through
their supplications, prayers, and sincerity.”
Another
element of victory is the proper understanding of the reality of this
world as an insignificant and temporal means of enjoyment; as well as
the understanding of the Hereafter and its everlasting bliss.
Standing
firm in faith and upholding the truth, making a lot of
<i>dhikr</i> (remembering Allah), unity, and cooperation are
also important elements of victory. Allah says, [O
ye who believe! When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much,
that ye may be successful.]
(Al-Anfal 8:45)
Preparing
the means of material strength is also a crucial element of victory.
Allah says, [Make
ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered,
that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.]
(Al-Anfal 8:60)
In
view of the unfavorable situations in which Muslims are living nowadays,
there is no doubt that they are in dire need of a ray of hope that can
refresh their spirits and revive their hope of a bright future. In the
early days of Islam when Muslims were very few and helpless and the
Messenger was being persecuted by his own clansmen, Allah revealed to
him the story of Prophet Yusuf in order to give him glad tidings of a
brilliant future. Therefore, one of the greatest causes of victory is to
raise in the Muslims the hope of a bright future and to plant the seeds
of confidence and optimism in their souls. Allah has promised them
victory and authority in the land. The Prophet used to give his
companions the glad tiding of victory while they were still under
persecution. He would tell them, “The earth was contracted for me
and I could see all its parts. And the authority of my nation shall
reach all that was shown to me of the earth.” All attempts to
eradicate this religion or undermine its bases are destined to fail.
Allah says, [Fain
would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will
perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.]
(As-Saff 61:8)
Thus,
though it is unknown to us when the victory will come, we, nevertheless,
are sure that Islam is naturally meant to survive, lead, and control. We
should therefore not lose hope because of the temporary weakness from
which we are suffering today. It was reported that the Prophet said, “Islam
prevails and is not prevailed upon.”
These
are glad tidings that remove all despair, put all afflicted peoples on
the right path and restore hope to all the Muslims. The Prophet said, “Let
this Ummah have the glad tiding of glory, high rank, support, and
authority in the land.”
Finally,
it is high time for the Muslims to review their conditions, take the
initiative and return to Allah with full determination to reinstate
their position, regain their strength, and restore their might and
dignity. This necessitates hard work, tireless effort, and, most
importantly, unshakeable faith and confidence. Only in this way, can
Muslims liberate their lands, overcome their enemies, and achieve the
ultimate victory.
*
Based on a Friday sermon delivered by sheikh `Abdul-Bari Ath-Thubayti in
the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah - www.islaam.net
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