Thawban, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying: “A group of people from my Umma will always remain triumphant on the right path and continue to be triumphant (against their opponents). He who deserts them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will remain in this position until Allah's Command is executed.” (Sahih Muslim)
This hadith is reported in various narrations and through multiple chains of narrators, all of which mean that this group or faction is a part of the Muslim community, but not all Muslims. This group is described as the rightful, while others within the Muslim community may differ or even abandon them in certain situations where they need support. This hadith conveys glad tidings to the people of the truth about their exaltation and victory by Allah.
The Characteristics of the victorious sect
The scholars have derived from this hadith the characteristics of this group, which are the same as of the prophet’s companions, the noble predecessors, and the pious believers, who have been there throughout history, even in the darkest of times. They are people of strong faith, often seen as strangers in their times, and righteous even when no one else is. They distinguish between right and wrong even when the line between the two becomes blurred. They are the Islam preachers, who act by the Quran, the link between earth and heavens, and the heirs of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions. They are not swayed by desires or fears, wealth, or positions, only fearing Allah and seeking His pleasure while hoping for the rewards of the Hereafter. In all their actions, they embody this Ayah: "So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner." (Adh-Dhariyat, 50). They flee from all desires and aims to seek one goal: Allah's pleasure.
People who don’t know despair
These people understand the difficulties of the journey and the cost of reform. Therefore, they possess great patience and believe that every effort will bear its fruit, no matter how long it takes. They know that after hardship comes ease, as promised by Allah, and understand that despair is not a Muslim quality. They know that the realities of today were dreams of yesterday, and the dreams of today will be the realities of tomorrow. They believe that there is still time, and believers still have good in them, despite corruption prevailing. They know that the weak will not remain weak forever, and the strong will not maintain their strength for all eternity.
Victory or Martyrdom
Believers dedicate their entire lives to Allah, making His satisfaction their highest goal. To them, living and dying are the same, and nothing can deter them from their objective: victory or martyrdom. They say with confidence, “This is what Allah and His Messenger promised, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. This increased them in faith and submission.” (Al-Ahzab:22). Their strong psychological state is manifested in their steadfastness, endurance of hardships and trials with unparalleled patience. They are convinced that a nation that excels in facing death and knows how to die with dignity, Allah bestows upon it a dignified life in this world and everlasting bliss in the Hereafter. It is only the love of worldly pleasures and the fear of death that have weakened us.
Prepare All the Power You Can
Relying on Allah and trusting Him does not mean a lack of preparation or readiness for battle. In fact, a person of strong faith always embraces new approaches in seeking strength. Allah says: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows." (Al-Anfal:60).
During the Battle of the Trench, Muslims dug a trench around the Madinah, as a defensive strategy that wasn’t known for the Arabs, they had learned from the Persians. Even one of the companions learned the Jewish language within fifteen days to understand their enemies better. Muslims also invented war machines that gave them victory in critical battles. Their guiding principle was, “Wisdom is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it, he is most deserving of it.” Therefore, they seek experts wherever they could find them, even if they were non-Muslims. They excel in their work, improving their weaknesses, and constantly improving their performance.
Belief Shapes Men
Many wonder how small and resource-limited jihadi groups in Gaza can challenge the global powers of oppression in Palestine and elsewhere, despite these powers having incomparable armies in all history. Even our political systems have given in to them and become complicit, acting against their own people. This is the difference between a believer who seeks Allah's help and doesn't know the impossible, and others who lack principles or vision. We have seen those who abandoned their faith, compromised their nations, and neglected our national security. Faith has a profound impact on shaping leaders and molding men who are the essence of nation's life and renaissance. The history of nations is, without exception, a history made by exceptional men, strong in spirit and will.Top of Form
Strength in Islam
The element of strength in Islam aligns with human nature, that elevates when serving and submitting to no one but Allah, and in its resistance to the dominance of tyrants, no matter how oppressive they may be. The Muslim belief dictates that they rely solely on Allah. When they confront the oppressors, they stand firmly, enduring harm and suffering patiently, expecting Allah’s victory, and trusting His promise to the honest believers. As Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said, “There is no salvation except by returning to Allah and following His path and the message of Muhammad ibn Abdullah. This nation was once glorious with Islam, and without Islam, there is no dominance or victory. We will continue to fight even with this failure we are in until a group from this Ummah takes up the banner, adhering to Islam in doctrine and behavior, in organization, culture, and jihad. This is the path, and there is no other.”
