Allah (SWT) has destined and ensured that humans are the Caliph on this earth. Allah has granted freedom to humans of various tribes and races to administer, to prosper, to build and to develop the earth. Man is allowed to build civilization as best he can. But Allah requires that everything is administered, managed and achieved in accordance to His shariah as ordained through His Apostles.

However, those who transgress or who disregard His rules, even if they are successful on this earth, will surely be punished in the Hereafter, commensurate with the gravity of the wrong and disobedience that they had committed. Hence, every tribe and race among mankind compete to develop and to build their civilizations. Most of them succeed to develop and advance but fail to adhere to the shariah of God. They turn against Allah in the time they were developing and building their civilizations on earth.

Here, I will write and describe the processes leading to the successes that man achieved and the ways they achieved victory and success from time to time in various fields, for our attention. And for the Islamic Ummah, the sort of victory and success that we should work for and achieve. While being successful, we also attain the acceptance (redha) of Allah and as a result of the same efforts, eventually we will also attain good rewards in the Hereafter.

It is necessary to remember that the reasons for the victory and development of a tribe or a race in various fields are at times physical and are at times spiritual. There are reasons that are overt and there are reasons that are covert. There are reasons that are obvious and there are reasons that are not so obvious. There are reasons that are logical. There are reasons that are not logical.

In order to achieve victory and development, Muslims should not merely rely on physical reasons alone, but must also take into account the spiritual reasons as well. Muslims do not depend solely on reasons that are overt but also on covert reasons. For easier understanding, it will be stated in this writing that victory and success is achieved through four reasons as follows:

First

Through the attribute of ‘taqwa’ (fear of God), that is every effort and struggle that is undertaken whether in the battle field, or in making efforts for advancement in economy, development, education, missionary work and others is based on ‘taqwa’. Such struggle and efforts takes into account the shariah of God. While we make efforts, we also purify ourselves. In our struggle, the feeling of being with God is intensified. While we make efforts, the feeling of subservience is increased. The dependence on God is always unshaken. Only in this way will Allah (SWT) guarantee victory and success. Victory and success will happen in accordance to the various levels of effort. If the struggle is great, the victory will also be just as great. If the struggle is small, the victory will be just as small. This is what is meant by the Quran:

1. The right is upon Me to award victory to the “mukmin” (the pious).

2. Whosoever has taqwa, he will surely be shown the way out and will be provided with sustenance from sources unknown.

3. Whosoever has taqwa, he will surely be taught knowledge.

4. Rasulullah SAW said; “Whosoever practices what he knows, then Allah will grant him what he does not know.”

5. This is what was meant by Wakiq (the teacher of Al-Imam Syafie) when he said to Imam As-Syafie; “If you want to recite easily, avoid committing vices (maksiat).”

Second

Victory and success that is granted due to the “barakah” of other people or due to a good deed that Allah regards very highly. As in the case of those who are obedient to their pious parents. People who serve their pious teachers, people who assist in the struggle for the truth that is carried out by the pious, people who are prayed for (do’a) by those who are pious, people who do service to orphans and people who do service to the poor and the destitute. Those who make tawasul to the pious and those who respect the pious. This kind of success is also bestowed to the fasiq (unbecoming) and the infidels. This is what is meant by the Hadith:

“Because of them, they are provided for.”

“Because of them, they are given assistance.”

Third

Victory and help awarded on the basis of “istidraj”. Victory and help of Allah that is granted with His wrath and displeasure towards an individual or a tribe or a race due to his or their tyranny and infidelity or due to their limitless transgressions, so that they become deceived by such victory or success. They continue to be unaware and to forget themselves and they continue to commit atrocity, infidelity and transgressions until they die or are destroyed together with their evil deeds. Finally, they will be thrown into the fires of Hell, Wal’iyazubillah (God forbid).

Fourth

Victory and success on the basis of “quwwah” (physical strength), that is victory and success achieved through physical strength and physical advantages that include knowledge, bodily strength, human resources, sophisticated tools and equipment, the expertise to plan strategy, discipline, diligence, earnestness to work and struggle as well as bravery and resilience in the face of adversities. This type of victory normally happens to anyone or to any tribe or race. In this case Allah awards victory or success commensurate with the effort and capability of the struggle. It is possible that Allah awards such victory and success through ‘istidraj’ (with displeasure and wrath). As in the case when people have become too confident and rely too much on their efforts and capabilities and fail to depend upon the power of Allah Taala. This is what is meant by the sayings of the wise (hukama’) which means:

“The truth that is without discipline will be defeated by the untruth (batil) with discipline.”

That in brief, is our explanation on what happens generally to individuals or to a tribe or race. The victory and success which they achieve are through four means as we have clarified above. Among the four means to achieve victory and success, the first one is the one accepted by Allah. They achieve success on earth and success in the Hereafter. They attain success and forgiveness from God. Victory and success in that first category is the success that is safe and with salvation. This victory and success that is great and global seldom happen. Except for those which are small and localised in nature, this victory and success happens only once in a while in the history of the world. Victory and success through the attributes of “taqwa” allows the Islamic syariah to be developed, its leaders and supporters are humble and subservient (tawadhuk) and prosperity that is achieved can be beneficial for all mankind whether Muslims or infidels. Tyranny and suppression does not exist. Thankfulness to Allah (shukr) is illuminated everywhere and it can be seen that Allah is aggrandized through ibadah (acts of devotion). Wealth is used in the way of Allah and to do service to mankind. The blessings and mercy of God is illuminated and is manifested everywhere through love and care, brotherhood, gentleness, help and assistance, attending to the needs of others before self and through immaculate behavior and virtuous character. As a result, there is peace and tranquility in society and people live in harmony. Fear and apprehension cease to exist.

It is necessary to remember that in victory and success achieved through “quwwah” (physical strength) and “istidraj” (with the wrath of Allah), a lot of destruction will happen. Its leaders and fighters are haughty and arrogant. They will commit tyranny and suppression upon mankind on this earth especially towards their enemies. Prosperity and luxury is only for a certain group of people. The shariah is opposed or disregarded. Upholders of the truth are treated with hostility, opposed and in fact even harassed. The poor people are neglected. The prosperous and the wealthy are apt to waste and to recklessly spend their wealth according to their whims and fancies. Distrust, ingratiation, and discrimination happen. In the end, mankind become negligent and they regard God with apathy. The rules of shariah are transgressed. Mankind becomes self-centered, each living apart and only taking care of themselves. Disunity becomes rampant. Theft and robbery happen often. Killing and strife becomes a culture. Finally, everyone live in fear including the leaders and the rich themselves. Society becomes chaotic and anarchy exists everywhere. Consequently, development and success that is achieved bears no meaning. This is what happened in most eras of human civilization in the past and is still happening in the world today. It should also be remembered that victory and success awarded to a certain tribe or race through “istidraj” (awarded with wrath) is to punish those who have been shown the true path but have failed to take heed. They forget God. They treat the shariah lightly. They forget the Hereafter. Such punishment is to prod them to return to the true path and to revert to God. This is the punishment being meted out to the Islamic community the whole world today because of their neglect.

We are awaiting victory and success based on “taqwa” and we do not know when Allah will make it happen. We hope it will happen soon.

“God! Grant us this wish and expedite this victory and success.”

From: Rufaqa International Daily

Submitted by a Mujahid