أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near! [Qur’an, Al-Baqarah, 2:214]
Perhaps not out of impatience, but out of despair we ask this question almost every day. It is difficult to see human beings around the world massacred, imprisoned, and tortured while the propaganda machine makes the victim look like the oppressor and the oppressor look like the victim. So hasn’t it been long enough? How much longer will we be tested? How much more can we take?
First of all, I am not going to tell you to be patient. What I am going to tell is to be grateful. Thank Allah for the countless blessings he has give you. Also thank Allah for making you live during Islam. We have been chosen to be part of the Final Chapter. Did you think this gift would be easy? If so, you should probably find another religion because the Ummah of Muhammad 
(peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) is not for the weak.
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith. [Qur’an, ‘Āli `Imrān, 3:139]
The Requirements
The victory from Allah has it is own requirements. The Qur’an gives us a formula to follow for attaining this. As an Ummah though, we veered away from this formula and cut straight to despair and ask, “when will the help of Allah come?” Realize this is a sickness and below is the cure.
1. Faith
This is the first requirement. As basic as this sounds, faith is the one we overlook the most. When we look at the sophistication and strength of the enemies of Islam, we get discouraged and give up. Faith dies a bit when thinking like this. This is because the world is no longer seen with the heart, but seen with the mind.
Do not let the numbers, media, money, weapons, and sophistication of the enemies of Islam dazzle you. Remember that is not the formula of victory, but faith is.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَڪِيلُ (١٧٣) فَٱنقَلَبُواْ بِنِعۡمَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضۡلٍ۬ لَّمۡ يَمۡسَسۡہُمۡ سُوٓءٌ۬ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ رِضۡوَٲنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَظِيمٍ (١٧٤) إِنَّمَا ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوۡلِيَآءَهُ ۥ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمۡ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (١٧٥)
Men said to them: “A great army is gathering against you, so fear them”: but it (only) increased their Faith. They said: “For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs.” And they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah: no harm ever touched them; for they followed the good pleasure of Allah: and Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded. It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: be ye not afraid of them, but fear Me, if ye have Faith. [Qur’an, ‘Āli `Imrān, 173:175]
If you want proof of this, look to the past instead of trying to predict the future:
وَلَقَدۡ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدۡرٍ۬ وَأَنتُمۡ أَذِلَّةٌ۬ۖ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (١٢٣) إِذۡ تَقُولُ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكۡفِيَكُمۡ أَن يُمِدَّكُمۡ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَـٰثَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ (١٢٤) بَلَىٰٓۚ إِن تَصۡبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ وَيَأۡتُوكُم مِّن فَوۡرِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا يُمۡدِدۡكُمۡ رَبُّكُم بِخَمۡسَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ (١٢٥
Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus may ye show your gratitude. Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels (specially) sent down? “Yea”― if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught. [Qur’an, ‘Āli `Imrān, 123:125]
More examples of this was during the battles with the Persian Empire. Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas was checking on his army as to why they were being defeated. Even though they were outnumbered by the Persians, this is not what he focused on. Nor did he focus on their training or weaponry. Instead, he passed by the tent of one group of soldiers at night and found the men inside praying Qiyaam, or voluntary night-prayer, and remarked: ‘Victory comes from such a tent’ then he passed by another tent and found the men inside sleeping and remarked: ‘Defeat comes from such a tent.’ This was despite the fact that the men who were sleeping only missed a recommended prayer and not an obligatory one; yet Sa’d considered missing this recommended act to be a reason for defeat.
Another example of how the Ummah should be thinking is the story of Qutaybah Ibn Muslim, who was a great Muslim conqueror. He was the leader of Khurasaan when it was being attacked. He passed by Muhammad Ibn Waasi’, who was one of the Taabi’een, while he had his finger raised towards the heavens supplicating to Allah. Thereupon Qutaybah remarked: ‘That finger is dearer to me than thirty thousand soldiers’.
2. Unity
A large percentage of the defeats of the Ummah have been due to the inner disputes and hypocrites dismantling from within. This continues to be the biggest threat. Until we overcome this, we will continue to be our worst enemy for fragmentation, division, and disunity leads to weakness:
وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. [Qur’an, Al-Anfal, 8:46]
Unity is an important piece of the formula and we cannot succeed without it. This is why we are the largest and weakest nation in the world.
وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَٲنً۬ا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَاۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَہۡتَدُونَ
And hold fast, all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided. [Qur’an, ‘Āli `Imrān, 3:103]
3. Preparations
Did you think we can sit and pray, then wait for Allah’s victory to arrive? The mind, body, and soul must be proactively aligned for the sake of Allah. You cannot just focus on 2 of the 3. We even see prayer involves physical motion in order to be performed. In the same way, victory must involve physical motion in order to be attained. It is not you who should wait for Allah, but Allah is waiting on you.
ـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ
O ye who believe! if ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly. [Qur’an, Muhammad, 47:7]
The faith in Allah should be translated into positive action, into preparing, planning and making ready all means of power. In every fight, physical, moral or spiritual we should arm ourselves with the best weapons and the best arms against our enemy. The power is not intended for oppression nor aggression. It is a defensive power, a deterrent against aggression and tyranny, and for the protection of peace and justice.
Even Gandhi said, ‘I do believe that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence I would advise violence.’ Unfortunately, Muslims would take more heed to Gandhi’s words if they knew this, even though they know it is written in the Qur’an. This is because they fear the media and political-correctness more than the truth.
وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ۬ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلۡخَيۡلِ تُرۡهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّڪُمۡ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُهُمۡۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تُظۡلَمُونَ
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war 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. [Qur’an, Al-Anfal, 8:60]
The Reality
It may be that we are measuring “victory” in the wrong way. Perhaps victory is already happening, but it is beyond our perception:
إِذَا جَآءَ نَصۡرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡفَتۡحُ (١) وَرَأَيۡتَ ٱلنَّاسَ يَدۡخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفۡوَاجً۬ا (٢) فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡهُۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ ڪَانَ تَوَّابَۢا (٣)
When, comes the Help of Allah, and Victory, And thou dost see the People enter Allah’s Religion in crowds, Celebrate the Praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: for He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). [Qur’an, An-Nasr, 110]
The above verses state people will be entering Islam by the masses and this is when Allah’s victory arrives. Is this not what we are seeing now? Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The Qur’an continues to be the “best-seller” book. All this despite the poisonous lies against Islam. The enemies of Islam are spreading Islam more than destroying it. At the same time, they are strengthening the hearts of the Ummah and uniting us. And do not be sad for all those who have fallen:
وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمۡوَٲتَۢاۚ بَلۡ أَحۡيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يُرۡزَقُونَ (١٦٩) فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَٮٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَيَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَلۡحَقُواْ بِہِم مِّنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ أَلَّا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ (١٧٠) ۞ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ بِنِعۡمَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضۡلٍ۬ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١٧١)
Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. They rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. They glory in the Grace and the Bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the Faithful to be lost (in the least). [Qur’an, ‘Āli `Imrān, 3:169-171]
Realize that Allah’s victory is for all of creation and not just for you. Because of this, does it even matter if you see Allah’s victory manifest in your lifetime? Victory is already promised and it will happen with or without you. Our main concern should be if we will be marked down as those who contributed to it or not.
Conclusion
Indeed the Ummah is being oppressed more and more everyday. From Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Kashmere, China, Sudan, France, Mali, Algeria, Russia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the list goes on and on and on.
Don’t despair because the Prophets of Allah went through more troubles than what we face. The question is not when will Allah’s help come, but what are you doing in the meantime?
وَلَقَدۡ كُذِّبَتۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَصَبَرُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُواْ وَأُوذُواْ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَٮٰهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَاۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِىْ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ
Rejected were the Messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the Words (and Decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those Messengers. [Qur’an, Al-Anaam, 6:34]
References
- http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~magamiet/Royal_Holloway_khutbahs/Omar_Tarhuni/allahs_help_and_victory.htm
- http://www.khilafah.com/index.php/concepts/belief/2807-the-victory-of-allah-swt-is-near
- http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=841&Itemid=67
- http://www.irfi.org/articles4/articles_5001_6000/conditions%20for%20victory,%20reasons%20for%20defeathtml.htm
