All praise be to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions and those who followed his guidance.
Whoever ponders on the Glorious Qur'an revealed by Allah to explain everything, a means of guidance, mercy and glad tidings for Muslims will find a manifest revelation in the factors of victory, the means of empowerment on earth, and the annihilation of enemies, regardless of how strong they are. He will also find that those means and factors are all related to two basic factors which are:
true faith in Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and sincere Jihad (fighting) in the Cause of Allah. It is wellknown that the Shar`y Iman (faith), with which Allah has associated victory and good reward, includes devotion to Allah (Exalted be He) in every act, following His ordinances, and abstinence from His prohibitions. Moreover, Iman includes obligatory application of Shari`ah (Islamic law) as the judgment of all matters in the society, enjoining virtues, forbidding vices and referring all disputes among people to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) of His Messenger (peace be upon him). In addition, it includes the obligatory preparation of every possible means of power to defend religion and land and to fight those who deviate from AlHaqq (the Truth) until they return to it.
The second factor is the true Jihad and it is also one of the obligatory acts of Iman. Indeed, Allah (Exalted be He) has drawn our attention to and made a special mention of it in many places in His Book. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined Jihad on the Ummah (nation based on one creed) and exhorted to it because of its great importance
and the dire need for it. Most people can not be deterred from their falsehood by mere menace and threat. There should be a deterrent ruling to make them abide by AlHaqq and prevent them from falsehood.
Whenever any Ummah or country possesses these two basic factors: Believing in Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and Jihad in the Cause of Allah, they will be victorious and Allah will empower them on the earth and grant them succession. This is really Allah's Promise that can never be broken and Allah's Way (of conducting affairs) that can never be changed. The early generations of this Ummah had honor, empowerment, and victory over enemies, proving the evidence mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an and the Sunnah of the honest Messenger (peace be upon him). Whoever has minor knowledge about the Islamic history, will be certain of the truthfulness of what we mentioned above and will know that it is an accomplished fact that should not be ignored. The only reason is what we have previously mentioned about the sincerity of the first generation in their belief in Allah, His Messenger, and in fighting in the Cause of Allah by words, actions and belief.
Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, here are some Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths confirming what was mentioned in order that you can be fully aware and wellinformed. Thus, you could call to the Path of your Lord and draw the attention of your fellow Muslim to the means of achieving victory and beware of the causes of defeat. If Allah guides even one man through you that is better for you than possessing the most valuable of the camels.
This Hadith is authentically narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allâh, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.
Mufassirs (exegetes of the Qur'an) unanimously agreed that supporting Allah (Glorified be He) is to support His religion by acting according to its teachings, calling to it and fighting those who oppose it. This meaning is comprised in the other Ayah from Surah AlHajj in which Allah (Glorified be He) says: Verily, Allâh will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allâh is AllStrong, AllMighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin IqamatasSalât [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salât (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakât and they enjoin AlM a' rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid AlMunkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islâm has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur'ân as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: and (as for) the believers, it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).
There is no doubt that a true Mu'min (believer) is the one who abides by the ordinances of Allah, believes in His tidings, abstains from His prohibitions, and takes His law as a judge. Allah (Glorified be He) says: O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you
Allah (Glorified be He) says in manifestation of the attributes of the believers and pious people: It is not AlBirr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but AlBirr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his
wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to AlMasâkîn (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs AsSalât (IqâmatasSalât ), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfil their covenant when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are AlMuttaqûn (the pious See V.2:2).
O my brothers and sisters! Ponder over these good attributes and noble manners then get accustomed to them. You will be one of the true believers and successful pious people. There is no doubt that it is the duty of everyone who belongs to Islam whether he is a king, a leader, an Emir or the like to reproach himself and strive hard to acquire such noble manners and act according to them. Moreover, he should obligate those under his authority to abide by these manners and deeds which Allah (Exalted be He) has enjoined on Muslims. He should be sincere in doing this, seek the help of Allah, and employ pious people who can help him perform the ordinances of Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) as much as possible, support them as much as possible, and cooperate with other kings, leaders, and masters in this great matter which provides them with honor, victory and empowerment on the earth.
Allâh has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
Commanding His servants to prepare power, Allah (Glorified be He) in Surah AlAnfal says: And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allâh does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allâh shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.
He (Allah) commanded them to be cautious of the enemies and their plots, so He (Exalted be He) says in Surah AnNisa': O you who believe! Take your precautions, and either go forth (on an expedition) in parties, or go forth all together.
When you (O Messenger Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) are among them, and lead them in AsSalât (the prayer), let one party of them stand up [in Salât (prayer)] with you taking their arms with them; when they finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which have not yet prayed, and let them pray with you taking all the precautions and bearing arms. Those who disbelieve wish, if you were negligent of your arms and your baggage, to attack you in a single rush, but there is no sin on you if you put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because you are ill, but take every precaution for yourselves. Verily, Allâh has prepared a humiliating torment for the disbelievers.
O brothers and sisters! Consider carefully this great teaching and eloquent instruction from the Creator of the earth and the Heavens, Who is allknowing of the secrets and hidden matters and in Whose Hands lies the relief of our hearts and in Whose Hands lies the complication of matters and their relief, you will know that Islam pays much attention to causes, exhorts people to consider them, and warns them about neglecting or ignoring them. You will know that it is not permissible for a Muslim not to
pursue worldly causes or even neglect them. At the same time, it is not permissible for a Muslim to trust them, for he should rely on Allah Alone, believing that He (Glorified be He) is the Provider of victory. Indeed, this is the true essence of legal Tawakkul (putting one's trust in Allah) which is to believe that every matter has a cause or a means in order to be materialized, be concerned with them, rely on Allah, and put our trust in Him. Allah has emphasized this meaning in many Ayahs; such as Allah's saying (Exalted be He):
And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him.
He mentioned Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) first which is the greatest means whose essence is to obey Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) in everything concerning the belief in sensuous, spiritual, political and military causes. Afterwards, He mentioned Tawakkul, as Allah says (Exalted be He): And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him.
(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): "I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession." Allâh made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except from Allâh. Verily, Allâh is AllMighty, AllWise.
Allah (Glorified be He) mentions the sincere Jihad in several Ayahs along with its consequences including victory in this world and happiness in the Hereafter. He also clarifies the attributes of true Mujahids (those striving in the Cause of Allah) to be distinguished from others. Allah says (Exalted be He): March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), and strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allâh. This is better for you, if you but knew.
O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allâh much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful.
And obey Allâh and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are AsSâbirûn (the patient). And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh; and Allâh is Muhîtun (encircling and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.
Think about these great attributes of the true Mujahids and you will know the condition which Muslims have reached these days and the condition of the past Mujahids. Moreover, you will know the reason behind their success and the failure of those who came after them. There is no means to achieve victory in this world and happiness in the Hereafter but through acquiring the manners which Allah (Exalted be He) ordained, called to them and associated victory with them. Allah (Glorified be He) has manifested such manners in His Plain Book in the Ayahs mentioned above and others. Allah says (Exalted be He): O you who believe! Shall I guide you to