As a result of the increasing influence of non-Islamic ideas and not implementing the Laws of Allah (swt) at a societal level, many within our Ummah have developed a confused understanding of the concept of Victory (Nasr) in Islam. Not only has this misunderstanding led to further disputes over how to achieve Victory, it has also affected attitudes towards the various calamities that have befallen the Islamic world today.

Some Muslims consider Victory as a divine gift, bestowed by Allah (swt) upon whom He (swt) wishes from amongst His servants without merit, preparation, trials and tribulations. However, this understanding is incorrect in light of the verse:

“And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah – never will He waste their deeds. He will guide them and amend their condition. And admit them to Paradise, which He has made known to them. O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.” [TMQ 47:4-7]

Victory is from Allah (swt) and it has its legal prerequisites. It is not sought by mere wishful thinking like that of the People of the Book. Allah (swt) said:

“Paradise is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a Naseer Granter of Victory.” [TMQ 4:123]

If we direct our attention to the tide of history and the struggle between civilizations, we would notice a universal principle regarding the rise and fall of nations. There has never been a state that has dominated all of human history, nor has there been a state that has continued its reign without meeting its inevitable end. The changing of circumstances is a rule from the Laws of Allah (swt) upon human society.

At times, Victory may be for the people of falsehood and, at other times, for the people of the Truth. However, the final victory is for those who hold to the Truth as long as they stay firm upon it. This is a Divine Law that neither favours some, nor excludes others, but by His (swt) permission. Whosoever falls under the scope of this Law, it is applied upon him as it is applied upon others, as understood from the verse:

“If an affliction should touch you – there has already touched the [opposing] people affliction similar to it. And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself from among you martyrs – and Allah does not like the wrongdoers.” [TMQ 3:140]

The Conditions for Victory?

The Usooli definition of the Condition (Shart) is “that whose absence necessitates the absence but whose existence does not necessitate the existence, but not by the absence of itself.” This means that although you may have enough strength for Victory, you may still not achieve it without attaining all the conditions ordained by Allah (swt) and Allah wills it. Victory is the result of its Granter, which is Allah (swt). The two conditions for Victory are:

1. The belief (Eman) that holds us to obey Allah (swt) and worship Him alone and give Him recognition, which is found in the verse:
   

   “And We have already sent messengers before you to their peoples, and they came to them with clear evidences; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes, and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.” [TMQ 30:47]
   

2. The strength (I’adaad) preparation in its general meaning, a preparation which is achievable, though not arriving at perfection in preparation. Allah (swt) said:

“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. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.” [TMQ 8:60]

Types of Victory

Victory has many types, including:

1. The Victory which Allah (swt) has promised the believers; the one we seek to deserve and the one for which we have to fulfill both conditions: Eman and strength by preparing available power. Any negligence in this matter will result in Victory not coming to fruition.
   
   One example is that of Uhud, where some Companions (ra) fell into error when the archers left their positions and violated the order of the Prophet (saw).

2. There is also a preferential Victory. Here, it is the Wisdom of Allah (swt) that requires a party to be victorious over another party. By way of example are the verses:
   

   “The Byzantines have been defeated. In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome. Within three to nine years. To Allah belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice.” [TMQ 30:2-4]
   

3. There is a Victory for the principle (believe), whereupon the human-being dies upon the principle, such that he is granted victory by Allah (swt). The example is like the people of Ukhdood, who all died, but won a Victory for the principle, because they have confirmed their Eeman in Allah (swt).

These are the types of Victory, but the Victory that Allah (swt) has promised the believers, and the one that was foretold by His Noble Messenger (saw) is of the first type i.e. the Victory that the Ummah is seeking to be deserving of and we ask Allah (swt) that it comes soon.

Relationship of Victory with Tribulation

We will now discuss the relationship of Victory with tribulation, struggle and human effort. It is an established fact from the Qur’an that there is no victory without tribulation. Yet, there are those who say: Is it necessary for us to be tested in order to attain victory? Yes, the Sunnah of Allah (swt) necessitates that there must be adversity and anguish, so that nothing of effort or energy is spared. Then victory comes after despair as Allah said:

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were afflicted by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allah?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” [TMQ 2:214]

Were it not for Allah (swt) fighting the people of falsehood by means of the people of Truth to overcome the people of falsehood and corruption, who oppress the righteous, the land would have been corrupted.

That is why we find struggle before victory, that is, the Truth strives against the falsehood such that the struggle becomes more intense and direct. It is then that Allah (swt) supports the Truth with His Victory. As He (swt) said:

“[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right – only because they say, “Our Lord is Allah.” And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely grant Victory to those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” [TMQ 22:40]

Blessed people amongst the Ummah must carry this Deen and believe in it with full (Eman), be tested within it until they are upright upon it, strive in achieving it in the hearts of others; thus, prevailing upon themselves with their steadfastness and adherence to the Deen. Only then can Victory be achieved. As He (swt) said:

‘Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.’ [TMQ 13:11]

Some Preventions in the Way of Victory

Furthermore, there are (Mawaani’a) preventions in the way of Victory. In Islamic Jurisprudence, the (Maania) prevention is “that whose existence necessitates the absence but whose absence does not necessitate the existence and not by the absence of itself.” This means that if the Ummah has any of these preventions, it will not attain victory. These include:

1. Dispute and division, Allah (swt) said:
   

   “And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” [TMQ 8:46]
   

   The dispute is the difference that creeps in between those who work in the Path of Allah, as Allah (swt) said:
   

   “And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart.” [TMQ 8:46]
   

   

2. Sin (Ma’siyah) which means disobeying the commands of Allah (swt).

   
   

3. Allegiance (Mawaalaah) to other than Allah (swt), and (Itibaa’a) adoption of a path other than His (swt) Path.

   
   

If we want Allah (swt) to support us, we must not be loyal to other than Allah (swt) by adopting none other than His (swt) Path. Allah (swt) said:

“O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.” [TMQ 3:118]

Allah’s (swt) Victory is inevitable when the believers satisfy its Conditions. However, the change begins from human beings such that each of us takes it upon ourselves to carry the call to the Deen of Allah with all sincerity.