The current state of the Muslim nation and the afflictions and calamities that many Muslim countries are currently facing is not hidden from anybody. Much blood has been shed and the enemies scramble over it.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:214), addressing the best of His Messengers, Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يأتكم مثل الذين من قبلكم مستهم اليأساء والضراء وزلزلوا حتى يقول الرسول والذين معه متى نصر الله ألا إن نصر الله قريب
“Do you think that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said: ‘When (will come) the Help of Allaah?’ Yes certainly, the Help of Allaah is near.”
It is reported by al-Bukhaari that Khabbab ibn al-Aratt (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “We said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Why do you not invoke Allaah to support us? Why do you not supplicate Allaah for us? He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Those who were before you (believers); a saw would be placed in the middle of the head of one of them and he would be sawn until his feet, and he would be combed with iron combs between his skin and bones, yet that would not make him change his religion.” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said: “By Allaah! This matter (religion) will spread (or expand) by Allaah until the traveler leaves San’a’ to Hadramawt (both in Yemen, but a great distance from each other) fearing only Allaah and then the wolf for the sake of his sheep. You are just a hasty people.”
This Hadeeth means that victory only comes after succeeding in trials.
Therefore, no desperation should be practiced at times of being weak, and there is no room for losing hope at the absence of establishing the religion. Rather, one should be talking about the victory of Islam and its spreading, and about the highness of this nation and its status.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Ghaafir (40:51):
إنا لننصر رسلنا والذين آمنوا في الحياة الدنيا ويوم يقوم الأشهاد
“Indeed, We will support Our Messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.”
Also, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat as-Saffaat (37:171-173):
ولقد سبقت كلمتنا لعبادنا المرسلين، إنهم لهم المنصورون وإن جندنا لهم الغالبون
“And Our Word [i.e. Decree] has already preceded for Our servants, the Messengers.
[That] indeed, they would be those given victory.
And [that] indeed, Our soldiers [i.e. the believers] will be those who overcome [if not in this world, then definitely in the Hereafter].”
Also, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat ar-Room (30:47):
وكان حقا علينا نصر المؤمنين
“And incumbent upon Us was support of the believers (bestowal of victory).”
In Surat Muhammad (47:7), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا إن تنصروا الله ينصركم ويثبت أقدامكم
“If you support Allaah[1], He will support you and keep your feet firm.”
It is a promise from Allaah that He will make easy for him [the one who supports Allaah], the means of victory such as firmness and other than that.
In Surat al-Hajj (22:40), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
ولينصرن الله من ينصره إن الله لقوي عزيز
“And Allaah will surely support those who support Him [i.e. His Cause]. Indeed, Allaah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.”
In current situations, one should look considerably in the Book of Allaah and contemplate the meaning of victory and support; one should look into the facts as regards the triumph of the Religion of Allaah. Keeping these facts hidden and being heedless of them caused falling into hastiness and caused desperation and isolation for many people.
The first thing that should be considered:
It is a must to differentiate between the victory of the preachers and reformers and the prevalence of the Religion of Allaah and the spreading of Islam. One should not connect the weak state of the Ummah with the spread of the Religion and its triumph. The victory is from Allaah.
والله يؤيد بنصره من يشاء
“Allaah supports with victory whom He pleases.”[Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:13)]
وما النصر إلا من عند الله العزيز الحكيم
“And there is no victory, except from Allaah.” [Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:126)]
and it is not by abundance or strength (force); but Allaah bestows guidance upon whomever He wills. He (Ta’ala) bestows upon whomever He wills by using him in obedience to Him and by him serving His (Allaah’s) Religion.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hujurat (49:17):
بل الله يمن عليكم أن هداكم للإيمان إن كنتم صادقين
“Rather Allaah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be truthful.”
In Surat Muhammad (47:4), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
ذلك ولو يشاء الله لانتصر منهم ولكن ليبلوبعضكم ببعض
“And if Allaah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others.”
The wisdom behind the trials and hardship of the believers:
In the context of the consolation of Allaah for the believers after the battle of ‘Uhud, Allaah (Ta’ala) mentions the exaltedness of the believers and the reason behind testing them in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:139-142):
ولا تهنوا ولا تحزنوا وأنتم الأعلون إن كنتم مؤمنين، إن يمسسكم قرح فقد مس القوم قرح مثله، وتلك الأيام نداولها بين الناس وليعلم الله الذين آمنوا ويتخذ منكم شهداء والله لا يحب الظالمين، وليمحص الله الذين آمنوا ويمحق الكافرين.أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يعلم الله الذين جاهدوا منكم ويعلم الصابرين.
“Do not lose heart or fall into despair, for you will gain the upper hand if you are believers. If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched them. Such days [of varying fortune], We give to people in turn, so that Allaah may test those who believe, to choose martyrs from among you – Allaah does not like the wrongdoers – and that Allaah may purify the believers and destroy the disbelievers. Do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allaah has not yet tested who amongst you fights [in His Cause] and who are patient? You did indeed wish for death before you encountered it.* Now you have seen it with your own eyes.” *What is meant here is that they wished for martyrdom.
Shaikh as-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Allaah encourages the believers, strengthens their will, and boosts their morale by saying, ‘do not lose heart or fall into despair.’ Do not show physical weakness or fear during times of hardship. Exhibiting physical weakness and mental cowardice may become a cause of increase in your hardship and the strengthening of your enemies. Therefore, keep your determination strong and remain steadfast; cast out grief and sorrow from your minds, and become strong to fight the enemy. Showing this type of behavior is not good for the believer, who, according to Allaah’s Promise, is needful of His rewards and blessings both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allaah declares, ‘for you will gain the upper hand if you are believers.’
Afterwards, Allaah consoles the faithful for the disgrace they suffered [at ‘Uhud] by describing the wisdom behind it. Allaah says, ‘If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched them.’ They and you have equally been hurt, but you have hope in Allaah while they do not. Allaah (Ta’ala) says elsewhere:
“If you are suffering [hardship], so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you hope from Allaah that which they cannot hope.” [Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:104)]
‘Such days [of varying fortune] We give to people in turn.’ Allaah’s wisdom in this is that He grants a share of the worldly things to everyone, be he a believer or a disbeliever. This share constantly changes with success sometimes coming to one group and sometimes to another. However, this world is finite and will come to an end, while, on the other hand, the Hereafter is eternal and everlasting. The good end is only for the faithful.
1- ‘So that Allaah may test those who believe,’ which is also from Allaah’s great wisdom that He puts His servants in trials and tribulations so that the difference between the faithful and hypocrites becomes evident. If the faithful were consistently victorious, then some people might enter into Islam whose hearts have not truly accepted it.
2- ‘and to choose martyrs from among you.’ This is also from Allaah’s wisdom, because martyrdom is the highest stage of reverence in the Sight of Allaah, and cannot be achieved if the means are absent. So Allaah provides His faithful servants with the means that, despite being difficult and unappealing to a person’s self, takes them to those levels of reverence that they love to attain. ‘Allaah does not like the wrongdoers,’ as Allaah says elsewhere:
ولو أرادوا الخروج لأعدوا له عدة ولكن كره الله انبعاثهم فثبطهم وقيل اقعدوا مع القاعدين
“If they really had intended to go out with you, they would have made some preparations, but Allaah was averse to their going, so He made them lag behind; it was said: ‘Stay with those who stay behind.’”[Surat at-Tawbah (9:46)]
3- ‘That Allaah may purify the believers,’ which is also another of Allaah’s wisdoms that He, by placing His servants into trials and tribulations, pardons their sins and absolves them of their mistakes. This is a proof that martyrdom and waging war for Allaah’s Cause absolve a person’s sins and mistakes.
4- Another of Allaah’s wisdoms behind this is that He prescribes all this to ‘destroy the disbelievers,’ that is, He has made [Jihaad] a means of counteracting the disbelievers. When the disbelievers become victorious, they adopt a rebellious attitude and grow in their rebellion, until they become deserving of a severe punishment in this world. This is also a great benefaction from Allaah upon His faithful [that he gives the hypocrites a miserable end in this world].
Subsequently, Allaah asks, ‘Do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allaah has not yet tested who amongst you fights [in His Cause] and who are patient?’ This is a rhetorical question which implies negation. Allaah intends to notify us that we should not think that we will enter Paradise without making any toil and effort or without enduring hardships for His Cause. This is because Paradise is Allaah’s greatest reward and we must struggle and make a complete effort to attain it; the bigger the reward, the bigger the effort to gain that reward.” [Tayseer al-Kareem-paraphrased and summarized]
If this is the case, then you should know that victory does not have only one form or one aspect, as indicated in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
Aspects of Victory and Kinds of Triumph
The following illustrate some aspects of victory and support which the Muslim should know in order that he undertakes the responsibility to serve his religion and protect his Ummah; and that he will have insight regarding his matters and a proof of his path.
1- The first form of victory is triumph with dominance; defeat of the enemies and the manifestation of the people of truth.
This kind of victory, which people like and are waiting for, makes it a measure (criteria) for the success of their works, and the balance by which they measure their afflictions (trials). This kind of victory is beloved to the selves as Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat as-Saff (61:13):
وأخرى تحبونها نصر من الله وفتح قريب وبشر المؤمنين
“And [you will obtain] another (favor) that you love – victory from Allaah and an imminent conquest, and give good tidings to the believers.”
The Sunnah (Way) of Allaah has already been decreed and pre-ordained, that it will not be granted to all the believers, nor will it be granted at all times or in all places.
2- The second form of victory is the ruination of the disbelievers and the rescue of the Messenger(s) and the believers –such as when Allaah (Ta’ala) gave victory (support) to His Prophet Nuh [Noah (‘Alayhis-salaam)] who remained among his people a thousand years minus fifty years,
“but none had believed with him except a few.” [Surat Hud (11:40)]
So Allaah (Ta’ala) drowned all the disbelievers (did not leave anyone of them alive) and Allaah made the progeny of Nuh the survivors. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Anbiyaa’ (21:76-77):
ونوحا إذ نادى من قبل فاستجبنا له فنجيناه وأهله من الكرب العظيم، ونصرناه من القوم الذين كذبوا بآياتنا إنهم كانوا قوم سوء فأغرقناهم أجمعين.
“And (remember) Nuh (Noah) when he cried (to Us) aforetime. We listened to his invocation, and saved him and his family from great distress.We helped him against people who denied Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). Verily, they were a people given to evil, so We drowned them all.”
Another example for this type of victory is the support and help of Allaah for his Prophets Hud, Saalih, Lut and Shu’aib (‘Alayhumus-salaam). Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Ankabut (29:40):
فكلا أخذنا بذنبه فمنهم من أرسلنا عليه حاصبا ومنهم من أخذته الصيحة ومنهم من خسفنا به الأرض ومنهم من أغرقنا وما كان الله ليظلمهم ولكن كانوا أنفسهم يظلمون.
“So, We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent a violent wind with a shower of stones (as the people of Lut), and of them were some who were overtaken by the awful cry (as Thamud or Shu’aib’s people, and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow (as Korah), and of them were some whom We drowned (as the people of Nuh, or Fir’awn (Pharaoh) and his people). It was not Allaah who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.”
3- The third form of victory is taking revenge against the enemies and the be liars after the death of the Prophets and the righteous predecessors.
Imaam at-Tabari (Rahimahullaah) said in his Tafseer regarding Allaah’s Statement in Surat Ghaafir (40:51) (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses shall stand forth (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).”
“Either by elevating them over those who belied (denied or opposed) Us or by taking revenge against those who belied them in this world after the death of Our Messenger; as We did with the killers of Prophet Yahya (‘Alayhis-salaam) by making Nebuchadnezzar II to overpower them and kill them, also as happened in the story of the boy and the people of the ditch.” Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said that As-Suddi said: “Allaah never sent a Messenger to a people but they (the people) killed the Messenger or some of the believers who were calling to the truth, but soon that generation passed away. Then Allaah sent them someone who supported their call and sought vengeance for their (the Messenger and believers) blood from those who did that to them in this world.
So the Prophets and believers may be killed in this world, but their call will prevail in this world. [At-Tabari]” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
4- The fourth form of victory is correct evidence and convincing proof.
Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said regarding the verse in Surat as-Saffaat (37:171-172):
ولقد سبقت كلمتنا لعبادنا المرسلين، إنهم لهم المنصورون
“And Verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers, that they verily would be made triumphant.”
Meaning: It has already been stated in the first Book (in the preserved Tablet) that the Messengers and their followers will ultimately prevail over their people, who disbelieved in them and went against them. They would prevail them in this world and the Hereafter, and how Allaah destroyed the disbelievers and saved His believing servants. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
At-Tabari (Rahimahullaah) said: “It has already been stated in the Mother of the Book (Al-Lauh al-Mahfudh, i.e. the preserved Tablet), for them will be victory and prevalence by proofs.” This is explained in Surat al-An’aam (6:83) when Allaah (Ta’ala) says about Ibraheem [Abraham (‘Alayhis-salaam)]:
وتلك حجتنا آتيناها إبراهيم على قومه نرفع درجات من نشاء، إن ربك حكيم عليم.
“And that was Our conclusive argumentwhich We gave Ibraheem against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees (and that elevation is victory). Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.”
His people had argued with him concerning Allaah (see verses 80-82). Similarly, Allaah’s Statement in Surat al-Baqarah (2:258):
فبهت الذي كفر
“So the disbeliever was overwhelmed (by astonishment).”
And the word “Baht” in Arabic language is defeat. The disbeliever was defeated and Allaah’s Prophet Ibraheem (‘Alayhis-salaam) was triumphant by al-Hujjah (clear convincing proof – or argument).
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[1] Supporting Allaah means, 1- Establishing His Religion 2- Calling (people) to it (Da’wah) 3- Jihaad against His enemy. The intention when doing all the previous matters should be to seek Allaah’s Countenance
Sources:
📚 Khutbah of al-Haram of Makkah “The Aspects of Victory of the Muslim Nation” by Shaikh Saalih ibn Humaid conducted on 2/12/1435 A.H.
📚 Tayseer al-Kareem by Shaikh as-Sa’dee
📚 Tafseer Ibn Katheer
🌿
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