بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
[إِنَّ اللهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْراً]
“Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” [Surat At-Talaq:3]
(Translated)
It is no secret to anyone the tragic reality and the life of hardship and misery that Muslims live in every part of the world. In some places, it is greater, clearer, more brutal, and more criminal, such as in Sudan, where war rages among its own people in service of the interests of the colonizers. Similarly, in the Blessed Land - Palestine, where the brutal genocide is waged by the Jewish entity against Gaza with American support and the betrayal and conspiracy of the rulers of Muslim countries. This war has affected humans, trees, and stones alike. The aggression and crimes committed by the Jews in the West Bank, especially in its north, mirror their crimes in Gaza.
It is also no secret the nations' collusion against them, the schemes and conspiracies they weave, the plundering of their wealth and resources, and their relentless efforts to prevent their unity and the restoration of their dignity. Under these tragic conditions, some Muslims have fallen into despair and frustration, losing hope in the change of circumstances and in Allah's victory for them. On the other hand, others have adopted a passive reliance on divine predestination, waiting for Allah’s victory to descend upon them without engaging in any action, contrary to the divine laws of change.
Those who have succumbed to despair, especially after the brutal war of the Jews on Gaza, have assessed matters based on material calculations. They viewed the situation from the perspective of military capabilities and technological advancements possessed by Western nations, particularly America, which supplied the Jews with lethal weapons. They saw America’s dominance and influence in Muslim lands and concluded that America and its Jewish entity cannot be defeated. Their attitude resembles what was said about the Mongols: "If you are told that the Mongols have been defeated, do not believe it."
What these people have failed to realize is that Allah’s power and strength surpass all tyrants and oppressors. What appears difficult or impossible to us is easy for Allah (swt). When Allah grants victory to His believing servants, He does so regardless of their numbers or equipment, and regardless of their material strength. Let them look at the history of Muslims and see how small their numbers and equipment were in their decisive battles against the heavily armed disbelievers, yet Allah (swt) granted them victory. Allah (swt) says:
[كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإذْنِ اللهِ] "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah” [Surat Al-Baqara:249].
Regardless of the strength of their enemies, it amounts to nothing before the power of Allah, who is the Almighty, the Supreme over His servants. If Allah (swt) decrees victory, no one can prevent it, and if He withholds it, who can grant it afterward?
[إِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَنْصُرُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَعَلَى اللهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ]
“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely. [Surat Aal-i-Imran:160].
Thus, it is incorrect for a Muslim’s belief to be influenced by fear of the enemy's numbers and equipment, just as it is incorrect to be deceived by their own numbers and weapons. Our numbers and equipment will not bring us victory unless Allah (swt) grants it, and the Battle of Hunayn serves as a lesson:
[وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنكُمْ شَيْئاً وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ]
“and [even] on the day of Hunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.” [Surat At-Tawba:25].
Likewise, the numbers and weapons of our enemies will not prevent us from achieving Allah’s victory, no matter how great their power and arrogance.
It is an essential part of every Muslim’s belief that despair and hopelessness are forbidden:
[إِنَّهُ لاَ يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللهِ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ]
“Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.” [Surat Yusuf:87].
It is also incorrect to despair in the Muslim Ummah and to deny any good in it. However, this does not mean justifying its silence and failure to support Gaza and the oppressed Muslims. Rather, we warn them, especially those in positions of power who can support their brothers of the dire consequences of their silence and betrayal in both this life and the Hereafter. But it also means that we do not lose hope in the Ummah or deny the presence of goodness within it. The Muslim Ummah has always and will always produce heroes, conquerors, and liberators. The Prophet (saw) said:
«إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ هَلَكَ النَّاسُ فَهُوَ أَهْلَكُهُمْ» “When a person says that people are ruined he is himself ruined.”
As for those who are certain that Allah (swt) will grant victory to His servants no matter what, believing in His promise and the glad tidings given by His Messenger (saw), yet they wait for Allah (swt) to fulfill His promise without taking any action, we say to them: Yes, Allah has made victory for the believers a fixed and unchanging right: [وَكَانَ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] “and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.” [Surat Ar-Rum:47].
However, He also commanded us to take action and strive to change the reality:
[وَقُلِ اعْمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى اللهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ] “And say, "Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers.” [Surat At-Tawba:105] He did not command us to simply wait and pray.
Allah’s divine laws do not change. He (swt) does not send down angels to establish a Khilafah (Caliphate) and fight our enemies while we remain idle. Rather, He (swt) sends angels as reinforcements and glad tidings for His victory to the believers, just as He did at the Battle of Badr:
[إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ]
“[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.” [Surat Al-Anfal:9].
If we look at the stories of the prophets in the Quran,
[لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُوْلِى الْأَلْبَابِ] “There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding.” [Surat Yusuf:111] we see that this divine law applied to them just as it did to all those who carried the call throughout history. The Quran narrates their suffering, their immense efforts, and the long years they spent calling people to the truth and working to change the corrupt reality. In the end, Allah (swt) granted them victory along with the faithful who stood by them.
Thus, we must understand that Allah’s victory for the believers is tied to their sincere faith, obedience, and effort, as He (swt) says:
[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ]
“O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.” [Surat Muhammad:7].
If we support Allah, He will support us. Supporting Allah (swt) means adhering to His laws and engaging in the actions that lead to the establishment and dominance of the deen. By Allah’s grace, there are those in this Ummah who are committed to these actions, working tirelessly day and night as part of a movement striving to change the corrupt reality and establish the Khilafah (Caliphate), rejoicing in Allah’s promise and the glad tidings given by His Messenger (saw).
In conclusion, trials and tribulations are part of Allah’s laws in creation to distinguish the righteous from the wicked. The intensification of hardship and the severance of worldly means often precede relief, as Allah (swt) says:
[حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ جَاءهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاء وَلاَ يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ]
“[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.” [Surat Yusuf:110].
Everything is decreed by Allah (swt) and has an appointed time that neither advances nor delays. Allah (swt) will grant victory to His believing servants at the time He has determined:
[وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْراً]
“And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” [Surat At-Talaq:3].
The stories of Allah’s punishment of the oppressors, His support for His believing servants, and the promises He (swt) has given us through His Messenger (saw) of Islam’s triumph and empowerment all bring peace and reassurance to our hearts. The Prophet (saw) said:
«إنَّ اللهَ زوَى لي الأرضَ فرأَيْتُ مَشارِقَها ومَغارِبَها فإنَّ أُمَّتي سيبلُغُ مُلْكُها ما زويَ لي منها»،
"Allah gathered together the earth for me and I saw its eastern and western parts. My people will attain to rule over it so far as it was gathered together for me.”
We ask Allah to make us among those who witness the honor of Islam and the establishment of its state soon, by His will.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Bara’ah Manasrah