In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated regarding the causes of weakness in the Ummah:

The Great Qur’an provides guidance on how to resolve this issue through the most suitable and upright path. Allah explained that the solution to this is related to turning to Him truthfully, one’s degree of faith in Him, and reliance upon Him. This is because Allah is All-Strong and All-Mighty, the Overwhelming and Absolute Subduer of everything, Who is never overcome. Consequently, it is impossible to prevail over someone who is truly an ally of Allah. One glaring example of this was during the Battle of the Confederates when the Muslims were under siege by the unbelievers. Allah says:

إِذْ جَآءُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَبَلَغَتِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلظُّنُونَا۠
هُنَالِكَ ٱبْتُلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا

When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Ayaat 10-11]

Aside from the fact that the Muslims were cut off politically and economically at the time by everyone on Earth, consider the severity of this military siege and its effects on them! When you realise this, you should be aware that Allah said in Surah Al-Ahzaab the following as the solution to this enormous affair that ended this great difficulty. Allah says:

وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَٰنًا وَتَسْلِيمًا

And when the believers saw Al-Ahzaab (the confederates), they said: “This is what Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) had spoken the truth, and it only added to their faith and to their submissiveness (to Allah). [Al-Ahzab. 22]

That enormous difficulty was ended by this perfect belief in Allah, great submission to Him, and dependence and reliance on Him. And in fact, Allah made clear the benefits of this treatment. Allah mentioned the fruits of this remedy, saying:

وَرَدَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا وَكَفَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلْقِتَالَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيزًا
وَأَنزَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَٰهَرُوهُم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِن صَيَاصِيهِمْ وَقَذَفَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ وَتَأْسِرُونَ فَرِيقًا
وَأَوْرَثَكُمْ أَرْضَهُمْ وَدِيَٰرَهُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلَهُمْ وَأَرْضًا لَّمْ تَطَـُٔوهَا وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرًا

And Allah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage; they gained no advantage (booty, etc.). Allah sufficed for the believers in the fighting (by sending against the disbelievers a severe wind and troops of angels). And Allah is Ever All-Strong, All-Mighty. And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them [the Quraish disbelievers] Allah brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed (during the battle), and a group (of them) you made captives. And He caused you to inherit (as war booty) their lands, and their houses, and their riches, and a land which you had not trodden (before). And Allah is Able to do all things. [Al-Ahzaab. 25-27]

This is how Allah supported them in their fight against their adversaries. They had no idea nor aware that they were aided by the wind and the angels. Allah said:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَآءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا

O you who believe! Remember Allah’s Favour to you, when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a wind and forces that you saw not [i.e. troops of angels during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates)]. And Allah is Ever All-Seer of what you do. [1]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

والحق منصور وممتحن

“The truth is both victorious and tested (or subjected to ordeal).”

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Meaning: it is not victorious without trial; rather, it must be subjected to ordeal that makes it evident. There is no astonishment in this, for indeed it is the way of Allah- The Mighty and Majestic – so that through this Allah’s party (i.e. His allies) are distinguished from the party that wars against Allah. had not been for this, people would have been one single community (upon upright guidance), and Allah’s party would not have been distinguished from those who wage war against Him. And due to the reason that the truth is both victorious and subjected to ordeal, people become two groups. But whose is the final (praiseworthy) outcome? The final (praiseworthy) outcome is for the people of truth. Allah, The Most High, said:

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَٰدُ
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection), the Day when their excuses will be of no profit to Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode (i.e. painful torment in Hell-fire). [Ghafir 51-52]

The final (praiseworthy) outcome is for the people of truth. If it is not attained (or its occurence is not witnessed) in this world, it has a recompense in Allah’s presence. The final (praiseworthy) outcome is theirs in all cases- either in this world or in the Hereafter.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَٰدُ

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection).

Even though I say that victory is not the victory of an individual, but the victory of the path he follows. If it is that Allah has decreed for a person in this worldly life that he will die before witnessing victory- any victory that he may be attain, then indeed, he he will be victorous after that. His methodology will be victorious and established as long as it is the methodology that Allah has prescribed for His servants.

Due to this, we say that the Muslims’ victory after the death of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is a victory for the Messenger —is that not the case? Even though it (happened) after his death. What demonstrates this is that when Abu Sufyan informed Heraclius- the Emperor of the Rome – about the call to the truth which the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, adhere to, what did he say to Abu Sufyan? He said: “If what you say is true, he will reign over what is under my these two feet of mine.” But did the Messenger reign over what is under (Hiraclious) two feet (i.e. his Kingdom)?

The student said: Yes.

The Shaikh said: He (The Messenger) reigned over, but not by his personal self; rather, through his Shariah and methodology. [2]

[1] An Excerpt from ‘Adwaa Al-Bayaan Vol 3. pages 301-302

[2] https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=129382#:~:text=%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%88%D9%84%20%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%87%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87%20%3A%20%22%20%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%20%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1,%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%20%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86%20%D9%88%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%89%20%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%20%D8%9F