?!! Why is victory late to come

Why is victory late to come?!!

Mohammed Lahlal

Faced with apocalyptic scenes of devastation and genocide in Gaza strip and now in Lebanon, and faced with the flagrant impotence of the so-called international community which has done nothing to stop the killing machine of the Zionist rogue state and put an end to the impunity they enjoy for their crimes, many in the Muslim community would feel enraged and frustrated at this unprecedented injustice inflicted on our brother Muslims. Some might lose faith in the future of this Ummah and the possibility of revival and restoration of power after decades of cultural alienation, political oppression, social desolation and economic backwardness. The worst of all is the psychological defeat that Muslims would permanently carry within themselves, which would subsequently cripple any effort for liberation and success. Some might ask about the victorious Muslim community as pledged in the divine Qur’an and noble Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Why does not God, the Almighty intervene to relieve Muslims of the ordeal and support them in their true battle against the infidels and enemies of Islam? And if Muslims’ victory is inevitable, why is it late to come and what are the requirements for a full victory?

Victory is a cumulative process.

Some might perceive victory as an achievement outside a context and process. They hold that since we, as Muslims, fight a true battle against oppressors, our efforts should be instantly crowned with full success and victory without further pain. This is sheer misconception of the customary laws God, the Almighty, has set for the true believers to defeat their enemies and clinch a lasting triumph. A quick review of our Prophet’s course of Jihad, shows that he and his companions had to go through many trials and had to deal with the ups and downs of their effort before God, Exalted is He, granted them ultimate success. The alternation of victory and defeat in the course of Jihad is one of God’s customary laws; the wisdom behind is to test the believers’ patience, resolve and steadfastness and at the same time unmask hypocrites and drag the enemies of Islam to their ultimate fate: loss in this life and the next. Who could ever believe that a movement of resistance in a tiny besieged enclave is able to challenge a highly developed army which is endorsed by the western countries and so far, the resistance has fared well in fending off all attempts to root them out of their land.

Other forms of victory that boost the morale of true believers might precede the ultimate triumph, such as disrupting the adversary’s plans and preventing them from achieving their goals, or winning the battle of public opinion by exposing the enemy’s true image of cruelty and barbarism and making the case of legitimate resistance against the occupation, or seeing many non-Muslims discover and embrace Islam.

Do not falter or grieve

“Do no falter or grieve, for you will have the upper hand if you are believers” (al-Imran 139). This verse was revealed at the end of Uhud battle in which the Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessing be upon him, along with his companions sustained a tactical defeat, and here God, the Almighty, consoles them by warning them of a creeping feeling of faltering and grief that might strike their heart and mindset, and comforting them that despite their losses, they have to keep their faith in God’s support and He assures them of their eventual triumph. Faltering (wahn) denotes a decay of inherent determination which can shift into weakness and loss of motivation and subsequently turns into resignation and self-defeat. In this respect, the true believers have to develop their spiritual connection with God by praying, continuously remembering God, reading the Qur’an, being true to love of their fellow believers and sincere in their efforts to support the cause of Islam.

Victory is a reward from God

Victory is first and foremost God’s Will granted to those who expend their utmost effort in preparing and developing capabilities to face the enemy of Islam. It is a reward granted whenever He wills, and nobody is entitled to question the timing as we cannot grasp His full knowledge or wisdom behind accelerating or delaying triumph. We are entrusted with exerting efforts, persevering, relying on God’s help and holding unshakable faith in success as God, the Almighty, pledges His support to the believers. Some would see nothing but the scenes of destruction and death and get overwhelmed by the atrocities committed against our Muslim fellows, this is the worldly perspective, but from the heavenly lens, the true believer trusts his God’s wisdom of choosing more and more martyrs to reward them in the Hereafter. God is the Witness, one of His majestic attributes, and on the Day of Judgement whoever can challenge His testament?

God, Exalted is He, says in the Qur’an: “Most surely We will support Our messengers and those who believe, in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth (Day of Resurrection)”. (Ghafir, 51)