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| Elements of Victory |
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| WhatDFish |
| 09/29/02 at 15:18:49 |
| Elements of Victory by Imâm al-Haramain 'Abdul-Bârî ibn ‘Awad ath-Thubaytî -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rabî ‘ul-Awwal 12, 1423 (May 24, 2002) All praise is due to Allâh, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allâh be upon the Messenger of Allâh, his household and companions. Brethren in faith, there is no doubt in the fact that one of the greatest goals of the Muslims is to see their religion prevailing, the Book of their Lord dominating and the banner of Tawhîd (Islamic Monotheism) rising high, making them rejoice at the help of Allâh. Allâh’s help for the believers is one of the realities of existence and an everlasting way of Allâh. It may be delayed for an honourable purpose, which is intended by Allâh where it initially appears that the Muslims are defeated. Truth may suffer some defeat at a war and falsehood may temporary prevail. But all are in the view of the Qur’an, forms of victory which its wisdom is unknown to men. The believers are not responsible for results, they are only required to follow the path of the Qur’an and its commandments. The victory thereafter, is of the concern to Allâh which He puts to wherever He wills. He says, “You killed them not but it was Allâh Who did kill them. And you (Muhammad) threw not when you threw but it was Allâh Who threw, that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him. Verily, Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (Al-Anfâl 8:17) Victory may be delayed because the ummah is not yet strong enough or because the environment is not yet ready for such a victory. It may also be delayed so that the ummah may strengthen its relationship with Allâh. It may be delayed so that Muslims may make all their struggle and sacrifices for the sake of Allâh alone and for His religion. As for falsehood, no matter how it rises, it will eventually vanish and be defeated. Allâh says, “And say: ‘Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely, falsehood is bound to vanish.” (Al-Isrâ 17:81) However, the wisdom of Allâh necessitates the existence of falsehood as a kind of trial for the Muslims. For, if Allâh had so willed, there would not have been any disbelief or falsehood. Allâh says, “If it had been Allâh’s Will, He himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others.” (Muhammad 47:4) The Muslim ummah does not know when and how will the victory of Allâh come. The hosts of Allâh by which He helps His friends are many. In the battle of Banu Nadîr, fear was a soldier of Allâh; in the battle of Badr, the angels, drowsiness, rain and pebbles all became among the soldiers of Allâh. Wind, cobweb and other things are also among the soldiers of Allâh. Allâh says, “And none can know the hosts of your Lord but He. And this is nothing else than a reminder to mankind.” (Al-Muddaththir 74:31) Ibrâhîm At-Taymî narrated on the authority of his father that he said, “We were with Hudhyfah when a man said: ‘Had I met the Messenger of Allâh, I would have fought along with him and be put to test by that.’ He said this as if he was demeaning the trials that the companions experienced and their jihad with the Prophet. Hudhayfah then told the man: ‘Would you do that? We were with the Messenger of Allâh on the night of the battle of Ahzâb (battle of the trench) when we were seized with a severe wind and cold. The Prophet said, ‘Who can go and seek for us the news of the enemy and have my companionship on the Day of Resurrection as a reward?’ All of us kept quite and nobody answered. He repeated the request and nobody answered. He then said, ‘Hudhayfah! Get up and get the news of the enemy for me.’ Then I had no choice since he had called me by name to stand up.” (Muslim) The people were reluctant because of the severe cold, hunger and fear that they were suffering from. For the (almost) one month siege had weakened them, that in addition to the darkness of the night and the wind that was severely cold. Allâh refers to this critical situation when He says, “When they come upon you from above you and from below you, and your eyes grew wild and you were terribly frightened, and you were harbouring doubts about Allâh. Then the believers were tried and severely shaken.” (Al-Ahzâb 33:10-11) In these tense situations, Allâh gave victory to His armies when they least expected it and He sent a wind that put the ranks of the disbelieving confederates in disarray. “And Allâh suffices the believers in the fighting. And Allâh is Ever All-Strong, All-Mighty.” (Al-Ahzâb 33:25) Some Muslims wrongly think that Allâh will help them as long as they remain as Muslims whatever their conditions may be, but Allâh says, “O you who believe! If you help in the cause of Allâh, He will help you and 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 had suffered defeat in the battle of Uhud, even with the Messenger of Allâh in their midst. In the battle of Hunayn, most of the Muslims had felt defeated, though the Prophet was with them, because they were so deluded by their multitude that some of them said, ‘We shall never be defeated out of fewness.’ How can Allâh help a man who does not help His cause and merely claims to be a believer?! ‘Umar said, “We do not defeat our enemy through our great numbers and or sophisticated ammunitions, we defeat them through our obedience to Allâh and our enemies’ disobedience to Him. But when we disobey Allâh, we become like them in sins and they will then defeat us.” Allâh has unchangeable ways by which He controls the universe and men. Of these are elements of victory and causes of defeat. And the underlying reason behind these ways is to expose what is in the people’s hearts through their deeds and not their words or mere wishes, so that real believers may be recognised and helped by Allâh. Of these elements of victory is to have firm and strong belief in Islamic Monotheism; for sincere belief purifies the hearts; and this leads to reform of the conditions and Allâh will then make the Muslims victorious and give them authority because the elements of victory is inherent in the people’s hearts. Allâh says, “Verily, We will make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh) in this worldly life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.” (Ghâfir 40:51) History also tells us of stories of nations who had believed and were minority, hungry and destitute. They were truthful with Allâh and they freed themselves from their own wishes. Allâh then made them victorious and gave them authority in the land. Sincerity is another element of victory. The sincere one is supported by Allâh and sufficed by Him. He says, “Is Allâh not Sufficient for His slave?” (Az-Zumar 39:36) Allâh’s support and help for His slave will be in accordance with his sincerity to Him. Yes, it will be in accordance with one’s preparedness for that support. Allâh says, “As for those who strive hard in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our paths. And verily, Allâh is with the good doers.” (Al-‘Ankabût 29:69) Another element of victory is to help the religion of Allâh and practise it in words, deeds and belief, by performing Salâh, giving Zakâh, enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil. Allâh says, “Verily, Allâh will help those who help His cause. Truly, Allâh is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those who if We give them power in the land, they enjoin the performance of prayer, pay Zakâh, enjoin all that is good and forbid all that is evil. And with Allâh rests the end of all matters.” (Al-Hajj 22:40-41) Victory after patience is the lesson learnt from the admonition of the Messenger of Allâh to Abû Jandal, “O Abû Jandal, be patient and hope for your reward from Allâh; for Allâh will give you and the oppressed ones who are with you a succour and provide for you a way out of your hardship.” (Ahmad) In his admonition to his cousin, Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, the Prophet said,“Be you aware that victory comes with patience.” In the end of a Makkan sûrah, Allâh commands His Messenger to be patient, saying, “And follow the Revelation sent unto you and be patient till Allâh gives judgment. And He is the Best of judges.” (Yûnus 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 then that one shall have no fear of the enemies of Allâh. Indeed, victory, honour and glory come from Allâh alone. During the battle of Hunayn, the believers saw themselves as great in number and the greatness of their number made them forget the reality of power and victory. So, Allâh left them and their multitude, but their multitude availed them of nothing. It is in this regard that Allâh says, “Truly, Allâh has given you victory on many battlefields, and on the Day of Hunayn, when you rejoiced at your great number, but it availed you naught and the earth as vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight. Then Allâh did send down His tranquillity on His Messenger (Muhammad) and on the believers, and sent down forces (angels) which you saw not, and punished those who disbelieved. Such is the recompense of disbelievers.” (At-Tawbah 9:25-26)] Among the most important elements of victory is du‘â (supplications). When Prophet Nûh (Noah) finished from building the ark, he sought refuge with Allâh through supplications and did not rely on material means only. He invoked Allâh, for he knew that supplication is one of the greatest weapons of victory. The glorious Qur’ân recorded for us how the Prophet supplicated and how his supplication was immediately answered inn these noble verses, “And Nûh said: ‘My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth! If You leave them, they will mislead Your slaves and they will beget not but wicked disbelievers. My Lord! Forgive me, my parents and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. And to ache wrong doers, grant You not increase but destruction.” (Nûh 71:26-28 ) Taking good care of the weak and destitute is also an element of victory. The Messenger of Allâh said to Sa‘d bin Abî Waqqâs, “You are being provided for and given victory only because of the weak ones among you.” (Al-Bukhârî) In another hadeeth, the Messenger of Allâh said, “Allâh only makes this ummah victorious because of the weak ones among them – through their supplications, prayers and sincerity.” (An-Nasâî). Another element of victory is proper understanding of the realities of this world, its insignificance and temporal enjoyment; as well as understanding of the Hereafter and its everlasting bliss. Standing firm in faith and upon the truth, doing a lot of dhikr, unity and cooperation are also important elements of victory. Allâh says, “O you who believe! When you meet an enemy force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allâh much, so that you may be successful.” (Al-Anfâl 8:45) Provision of material and strength is also a crucial element of victory. Allâh says, “And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy.” (Al-Anfâl 8:60) Brethren in faith! In view of these unfavourable situations in which Muslims are living nowadays, there is no doubt in the fact that they are in dire need of ray of hope that can give them a glad tiding of a bright future. That is the way of Allâh. In the early days of Islâm when Muslims were very few and helpless and the Messenger was being persecuted by his own clansmen, Allâh revealed to him the story of Prophet Yûsuf 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, that Allâh has promised them victory and authority in the land. The Prophet used to give his companions the glad tiding of victory and authority 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.” (Muslim) He gave his companions the glad tiding that the future belonged to this religion and that Islam shall enter all houses. He said, “This religion shall reach its goal as long as the night and day remain. Allâh will not leave a tent-house or a mud-house except that He makes this religion enters it either by might of a mighty one or ignominy of a disgraced one. It is going to be a glory by which Allâh makes Islam powerful and by which He will disgrace and lower disbelief.” (Ahmad) Allâh says, “They intend to put out the Light of Allâh, But Allâh will bring Hi Light to perfection, even though the disbelievers hate it.” (As-Saff 61:8 ) Brethren in faith! 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. The Messenger of Allâh said, “Islam prevails and is not prevailed upon.” (Ahmad) He also said, “Islam shall continue to rise and shirk and the polytheists shall continue to fall. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, the night and day will not cease to exist until this religion prevails over all others.” These are glad tidings that remove all despair, put all afflicted person on the right path and restore hope to all Muslims. The Prophet said, “Let this ummah have the glad tiding of prosperity, glory, religiosity and authority in the land.” (Ahmad). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 09/29/02 at 15:23:45 |
| WhatDFish |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |