*By Imâm ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullâh
From “Ighâthatul-Lahfân min Masâ’id ish-Shaytân” [2/229]
Translation by islaam.com *
A lot of people think that followers of the True Religion are humiliated, subdued and always defeated, unlike those who follow other paths. So they do not have certainty in Allâh’s promise of victory for His religion and His servants. Rather, even if they don’t say it, they think that this promise is either particular to a specific group, or to a specific time, or they link it to Allâh’s will (not related to any rules that Allâh set in His creation).
This (attitude and understanding) is due to absence of certainty in the Promise of Allâh, the Most High, and due to a poor understanding of His Book.
- Allâh subhânahu has explained in His Book that He is the Helper of believers in this world and the next:
He said, the Most High, “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.” [Ghâfir 40:51]
“And whoever is an ally of Allâh and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allâh - they will be the predominant.” [al-Mâ’idah 5:56]
“Indeed, the ones who oppose Allâh and His Messenger - those will be among the most humbled. Allâh has written *, ‘I will surely overcome, I and My messengers.’ Indeed, Allâh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” [al-Mujâdilah 58:20-21]
There are many such verses in the Qur’ân.
- Allâh subhânahu has also explained in the Qur’ân that what befalls a servant from calamity, or defeat, or other than that, is because of his sins. Allâh subhânahu has explained both of these principles in His Book, so when you join them, the reality of the matter will become clear to you, problems will completely disappear, and you will be in no need of unnecessary, burdening explanations, or far-fetched interpretations.
Allâh subhânahu wa ta’âla has explained the first principle in different ways, including what has preceded (in the verses above). Likewise, He censured one who seeks help and honour from other than the believers, as in His saying:
"O you who have believed do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allâh guides not the wrongdoing people.
So you see those in whose hearts is disease * hastening into [association with] them, saying, ‘We are afraid a misfortune may strike us.’ But perhaps Allâh will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful.
And those who believe will say *, ‘Are these the ones who swore by Allâh their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?’ Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.
O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allâh will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allâh and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favour of Allâh; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allâh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
Your ally is none but Allâh and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakâh, and they bow [in worship].
And whoever is an ally of Allâh and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allâh - they will be the predominant." [al-Mâ’idah 5:51-56]
So Allâh rebuked those who seek help from other than His party and informed that His party – they will be the predominant.
In this regards, He said, “Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment. Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honour [through power]? But indeed, honour belongs to Allâh entirely *.” [an-Nisâ’ 4:138-139] * Being the source of all power and honour, Allâh grants them to whom He wills.]
“They say, ‘If we return to Al-Madînah, the more honoured [for power] will surely expel there from the more humble.’ And to Allâh belongs [all] honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” [Al-Munâfiqûn 63:8]
“Whoever desires honour [through power] - then to Allâh belong all honour. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it *.” [Fâtir 35:10] *For acceptance by Allâh, meaning that righteous deeds are confirmation and proof of what is uttered by tongue.]
That is, whoever seeks honour, let him seek it by obedience to Allâh through good speech and righteous work.
“It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they will associate others with Allâh dislike it.” [at-Taubah 9:33]
“O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? [It is that] you believe in Allâh and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allâh with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. And [you will obtain] another [favour] that you love - victory from Allâh and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers.” [Saff 61:10-13]
That is, He will give them another [favour] besides forgiveness of their sins and entrance to the Paradise – help and victory:
“O you who have believed, be supporters of Allâh, as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, ‘Who are my supporters for Allâh?’ The disciples said, ‘We are supporters of Allâh.’ And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant." [Saff 61:14]
Allâh said to Jesus, 'alayhis salâm, “'Indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify * you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allâh alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection.” Âl-'Imrân 3:55] So because the Christians follow him, they are superior to the Jews until the Day of Resurrection, and because Muslims follow him more than the Christians, they are superior to them until the Day of Resurrection.
Allâh ta’ala said to the believers, "And if these [Makkans] who disbelieve were to fight you, they would certainly turn their backs [in flight]. Then they would not find a protector or a helper.
[This is] the established way of Allâh which has occurred before. And you will never find in the way of Allâh any change." [Fath 48:22-23] This is addressed to the believers who fulfilled both outward and inward realities of faith.
“Indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous." [Hûd 11:49] And, “The [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.” [Tâ-Hâ 20:132] The intended here is the outcome in this world before the next, because He mentioned this after the story of Nûh, and his victory over his people and patience with them. So He said, “This is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient, indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.” [Hûd 11:49] That is, the outcome of help for you and those with you, as it was for Nûh - 'alayhis salâm – and those who believed with him.
Likewise His saying, “And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.” [Tâ-Hâ 20:132]****