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7 ingredients for victory from the Quran

7 ingredients for victory from the Quran

وَلَقَدۡ سَبَقَتۡ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِینَ

إِنَّهُمۡ لَهُمُ ٱلۡمَنصُورُونَ

وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ

And Our Word has already come to pass in favour of Our servants, the messengers

(that) they are the ones who will be victorious,

and verily it is Our forces (of chosen servants) that prevails. [As-Saffat:171-173]

In these verses of Surat As-Saffat, Allah is talking about victory. We are all witnessing what is happening in Palestine – their firmness, patience and resilience is beyond our understanding. Many non-Muslims cannot understand what is going on and are saying it is a miracle.

Let’s look at the Quran to see what are the reasons behind victory, patience and firmness, which you need in any battle – physical, spiritual or social.

The 7 ingredients

  1. Have Imaan (faith): The foundation upon which all success is built, sincere faith forms the bedrock of victory.
  2. Elicit Allah’s support through action and by taking the necessary measures: The Quran advocates not only relying on divine support but also emphasises the importance of taking proactive measures in achieving success.
  3. Be Sincere: A key ingredient, sincerity in intentions and actions paves the way for triumph in all endeavours.
  4. Obedience to God: Following the path of righteousness and obedience to divine guidance is integral to attaining victory.
  5. Ask for forgiveness and make sincere supplication: Humility and seeking forgiveness are vital aspects of the journey toward success.
  6. The remembrance of Allah Almighty: Being mindful of Allah keeps you focused and gives you perspective.
  7. Learn from the stories of those who remained steadfast and victorious before us: The Quran gives us inspiration from the accounts of those who exhibited unwavering resilience and achieved victory in the face of challenges.

1. Have imaan

Allah is talking about the first condition for victory which is imaan. Then Allah will support you with His angels. Part of the forces is that He will put fear in the enemies’ hearts, so they are terrified. We have seen this and this is only because of the support of Allah.

إِذۡ یُوحِی رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةِ أَنِّی مَعَكُمۡ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ۚ سَأُلۡقِی فِی قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعۡبَ فَٱضۡرِبُوا۟ فَوۡقَ ٱلۡأَعۡنَاقِ وَٱضۡرِبُوا۟ مِنۡهُمۡ كُلَّ

When your Lord revealed to the angels: “I am with you. So, make firm the feet of those who believe. I shall cast awe into the hearts of those who disbelieve. So, strike at the necks, and strike at every finger-joint of theirs.” [Al-Anfal, Ayah 12]

يُثَبِّتُ اللَّـهُ الَّذينَ آمَنوا بِالقَولِ الثّابِتِ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّـهُ الظّالِمينَ وَيَفعَلُ اللَّـهُ ما يَشاءُ)

Allah keeps the believers firm with the stable word in the worldly life and in the Hereafter; and Allah lets the unjust go astray; and Allah does what He wills. [‏Ibrahim, Ayah 27]

قُل نَزَّلَهُ روحُ القُدُسِ مِن رَبِّكَ بِالحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَهُدًى وَبُشرى لِلمُسلِمينَ

‏Say, “This has been brought down by RūH-ul-Qudus (the Holy Spirit – Jibra’īl ) from your Lord rightly (as due), so that it may bring firmness to the believers and become guidance and good news for the Muslims. [‏An-Nahl, Ayah 102]

2.  Be proactive

It is not about numbers. Small groups have defeated large numbers in many battles, so the condition for victory is sincerity of heart.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّـهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ). “سورة محمد،

‏O you who believe, if you will help (the religion prescribed by) Allah, He will help you, and will stabilise your footings. [‏Muhammad, Ayah 7]

3. Have sincerity

The essence is that true strength lies not just in numbers or material resources but in the sincerity of one’s faith and certainty that we will meet Allah.

قَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةࣲ قَلِیلَةٍ غَلَبَتۡ فِئَةࣰ كَثِیرَةَۢ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ

Those who believe that they will meet Allah: How many small groups have overcome large groups by the will of Allah. Allah is with those who remain patient.” [Al-Baqarah,249]

4. Be obedient to Allah

Obedience always leads to better outcomes – in our personal improvement as well as greater strength and stability.

 أَنَّهُمۡ فَعَلُوا۟ مَا یُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ لَكَانَ خَیۡرࣰا لَّهُمۡ وَأَشَدَّ تَثۡبِیتࣰا

If they had done what they were advised to do, it would have been better for them, and more effective in making (them) firm. [‏An-Nisa’, Ayah 66]

5. Seek Istighfar (repent)

The conditions of victory are repentance because sinners will not be given victory.

وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ١٤٧

They had nothing else to say except that they said: “Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our conduct, make firm our feet and help us against the disbelieving people.” [Aal-Imran, Ayah 147]

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا۟ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَاۤ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَیۡنَا صَبۡرࣰا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ  

And when they faced Jalut and his troops, they said: “Our Lord, pour out endurance on us, make firm our feet and help us against the disbelieving people.” [Al-Baqarah, Ayah 250]

6. Remember Allah

یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوۤا۟ إِذَا لَقِیتُمۡ فِئَةࣰ فَٱثۡبُتُوا۟ وَٱذۡكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِیرࣰا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

O you who believe, when you face a group (in battle), stand firm and remember Allah abundantly, so that you may be successful. [Al-Anfal, Ayah 45]

7. Learn from the stories of those who remained steadfast and became victorious

وَكُلࣰّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَیۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَاۤءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۚ وَجَاۤءَكَ فِی هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَمَوۡعِظَةࣱ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ

We narrate to you all such stories from the events of the messengers as We strengthen your heart therewith. And in these (stories) there has come to you the truth, a good counsel and a reminder to those who believe. [Hud, Ayah 120]

أَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ أَن تَدۡخُلُوا۟ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا یَأۡتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِینَ خَلَوۡا۟ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۖ مَّسَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَأۡسَاۤءُ وَٱلضَّرَّاۤءُ وَزُلۡزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ یَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصۡرُ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَاۤ إِنَّ نَصۡرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِیبࣱ

‏Do you think that you will enter Paradise while you have not yet been visited by (difficult) circumstances like those that were faced by the people who passed away before you? They were afflicted by hardship and suffering, and were so shaken down that the prophet, and those who believed with him, started saying: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” (Then, they were comforted by the Prophet who said to them) ‘Behold, the help of Allah is near.’ [‏Al-Baqarah, Ayah 214]

Allah Almighty says those who are obedient are given victory.

Allah assures victory

In summary, the elements required to achieve victory in the Quran are having sincere faith, eliciting God’s support through actions and preparation, sincerity, being obedient to Allah, seeking forgiveness and making sincere supplication and remembering Allah, even in the midst of battle. Once we have these Allah will bring victory to us no matter how weak we may in our might, equipment or numbers.

Allah Almighty has said:

إِن یَنصُرۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمۡۖ

If Allah helps you, no one can defeat you. [Al Imran 3:160]

Shaykh Haytham Tamim 10th November 2023

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.