Causes of Victory
Victory can be attributed to several key factors, which are outlined as follows:
- Faith and Strong Belief: This is the primary catalyst for victory and is emphasized in the Quran. God’s promise precedes succession, as noted in His saying: “And Allah has promised those among you who believe and do good deeds that He will surely grant them succession in the land.” Thus, God has connected faith with victory; it instills confidence in the Creator and bolsters morale, energizing individuals to strive for success.
- Worship: Worship enhances the bond between the individual and their Creator, enabling humility before Him. It encompasses all aspects of life, manifesting in every action done sincerely for the sake of Allah.
- Wise Leadership and Sound Planning: Islam places great importance on leadership as a necessity of life. As stated in the Quran: “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” Leaders must possess specific qualities, such as strong will and the capacity to shoulder responsibility.
- Preparation: This includes both material and moral aspects as articulated in the verse: “And prepare for them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” This preparation, as mandated by God, should be comprehensive, encompassing all means of fortifying oneself against adversaries and aimed at deterring them from confronting Muslims.
- Consultation: This principle was established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as he sought advice from his companions in various battles and campaigns.
- Patience: As Allah says: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” Throughout numerous verses, God has linked patience with victory.
- Steadfastness: This is emphasized in the verse: “O you who have believed, when you meet a force, stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” Steadfastness is a crucial moral factor contributing to victory.
- Divine Support: This support is granted only to the believers who pursue the means to victory, such as planning and preparing. For instance, Allah supported the noble companions during the Battle of Badr by sending down rain and causing them to slumber, providing them peace of mind, and granting them victory through angels and tranquility.
- Trust in Allah: This involves reliance on Allah and turning to Him in supplication while also taking necessary actions to achieve victory. Believers must fully acknowledge that victory comes solely from Allah, as evidenced by His words: “When you sought help from your Lord, and He answered you, ‘Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.’” Additionally, verses in Surah Al-Ahzab show the true reliance of believers on their Lord.
- God-consciousness and Avoidance of Sin: It is crucial to continually seek help from Allah and adhere steadfastly to His religion, especially for those striving in jihad and activists. As stated: “And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Exalted in Might, those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer, give zakat, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong.” Thus, Allah aids those who uphold His religion and His Prophet’s mission.
Divine Principles of Victory
The attainment of victory is governed by several divine principles established by Allah in the world, including:
- Victory Comes Only from Allah: This is the foundational principle of victory. Allah attributes victory to Himself in many verses, stating: “When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest.” Conversely, He disassociates victory from all others, emphasizing that support comes solely from Him, as seen in the case of the believers in the Battle of Badr.
- Divine Promise: Victory is a divine promise that can only be realized through Allah’s will. Believers must firmly believe in this, as mentioned: “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.” This promise is linked to the obligations of Muslims; they must honor these commitments—including faith and piety—as elucidated in following verses.
- There are Sacrifices Required for Victory: Achievement of victory necessitates efforts and sacrifices, such as patience, as referenced: “Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while there has not yet come to you the example of those who passed on before you?”
- Material Means Alone Are Insufficient: It is essential to believe that mere physical strengths are not enough to secure victory, though that does not diminish their significance.
Obstacles to Victory
There are numerous barriers that can impede the realization of victory, including:
- Failure to adhere to the prerequisites that lead to victory, as previously mentioned.
- Sins and transgressions, which are primary causes of defeat. Allah has indicated in various verses the reasons for the demise of previous nations, underscored by: “Have they not seen how many nations We destroyed before them?”
- Disunity and discord; hence, Islam promotes solidarity, cooperation, and cohesion within the Muslim community, as highlighted: “And do not dispute and thus lose heart and diminish in strength.”
- Overconfidence in numbers; Allah has illustrated the fallacy of this notion at the time of the Companions, where He stated: “How many a small faction has overcome a larger faction by permission of Allah, and Allah is with the patient.”
- Arrogance and ostentation, which lead to self-reliance and material dependency, ignoring that victory is ultimately from Allah alone.
- Widespread hypocrisy within the Muslim community, which serves to demoralize and discourage believers.
- Attachment to worldly life and disobedience to divine commandments, exemplified during the Battle of Uhud when archers disobeyed the Prophet’s orders, and during the Day of Hunayn when believers became entranced by their numbers.
- Lack of a clear Islamic identity. Victory from Allah requires adherence to His laws, and this must be distinctly articulated within the community.
- Luxurious living and yielding to worldly temptations, as indicated: “And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent ones, and they commit disobedience therein.” This reflects the broader issue of abandoning jihad due to indulgence and detachment from preparations necessary for victory.
- The absence of strong role models among Muslims, as well as alliances with adversaries. This is coupled with feelings of despair and the misallocation of leadership positions to those unqualified, further exacerbating the lack of consultation.