Do not lose hope
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, Allah folded the earth for me, and I saw its east and west, and the dominion of my Ummah will reach what was folded for me.” (Muslim)
This hadith is a glimpse into the future—a part of the Unseen (ghayb). Knowledge of the Unseen belongs only to Allah, except for what He reveals to certain chosen ones, such as prophets and messengers.
This optimistic message from Allah to the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reminiscent of the vision the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw during the Battle of the Ditch (Al-Khandaq), when Madinah was under siege.
10,000 troops from Quraysh and their allies surrounded Madinah with the intent to kill the Prophet (peace be upon him) and ethnically cleanse his followers.
This was the largest army ever assembled against them, aiming to wipe them out completely.
Quraysh could no longer tolerate the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his message, and they sought to restore their tarnished reputation through war and violence.
Bani An-Nadir convinced Quraysh and other tribes to fight against the Prophet (peace be upon him) after he expelled them from Madinah for betraying their covenant with him. The Jewish community in Madinah thus instigated the battle.
Madinah was home to three Jewish tribes—Bani Nadir, Bani Qainuqa, and Bani Qurayzah—as well as two Arab tribes, Al Aws and Al Khazraj.
They mobilised their allies and marched toward Madinah. Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested digging a trench around Madinah for defence, a strategy he had observed among the Persians but was unfamiliar to the Arabs.
The trench was a monumental effort, nearly 5.5 kilometres long, 6 metres wide, and up to 3 meters deep, dug by hand over 12 to 20 days.
While digging, terrifying news spread: 10,000 troops were en route to kill them. Allah stated on the Quran:
[Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats and you assumed about Allah [various] assumptions. (33:10)
Fear consumed them, and Allah described their condition in the Quran as their hearts reaching their throats.
Amid this tense atmosphere, they encountered a stubborn rock that would not budge.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) struck the rock with an axe, proclaiming, “Allahu Akbar! I see the palaces of Shaam!”
His companions were stunned; despite the horrifying news, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering a message of hope—that they would not only survive but conquer the lands of Shaam.
Hope amid tribulations
Thauban (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated another Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
“A group from my Ummah will remain steadfast on the truth. No harm will come to them from those who oppose or betray them until the command of Allah comes.” (Muslim)
Scholars of hadith have noted the Prophet (peace be upon him) used the term ta’ifa (a small group) in one narration and ummah (a larger group) in another, suggesting that this steadfast group would start small but grow larger over time.
The companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Where are they?”
He replied:
“They are in Bait al-Maqdis and its vicinity.” (Musnad Ahmad)
Scholars have identified these people as Al-Ta’ifa Al-Mansurah—the victorious group—who cling to the truth, defend it, and carry it forward.
Some scholars believe they are the scholars of hadith, while others see them as those who uphold and protect the truth in times of trial and hardship.
The Prophet’s fear for his Ummah
When asked what he feared most for his Ummah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“I fear most for my Ummah the deluded leaders who will misguide them.” (Musnad Ahmad)
This prophecy reflects our current reality, where misleading leaders and deceptive media manipulate truth and falsehood.
They present victims as aggressors and aggressors as victims, attempting to suppress the truth and glorify oppression.
Message of resilience
In the midst of calamities today, where oppression shakes us to the core, and watching the scenes of what is happening is unbearable, the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him) remains clear: Do not lose hope. No matter how overwhelming the odds may seem, those who cling to the rope of Allah will prevail.
It is not through their strength or power, but through Allah’s assistance that victory is achieved. Allah makes the small group defeat the larger group.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned us against deluded leaders and deceptive media, urging us to cling to the truth.
The victorious group defending their honour, faith, and innocent lives will ultimately triumph, as promised by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).
Though it has been over 16 months, and we have marched and written letters to MPs, and seem to have got nowhere, do not lose hope. We rely on Allah and do whatever we legally can and trust Him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say: “O Allah I surrender to you, in You I believe, and on you I rely on you I repent”
Yes, our hearts may be in pain, but we should not lose hope. Keep making dua, doing whatever you can, and always striving to do the right thing.
The truth will prevail, as Allah’s promise is always true.
Based on the Khutbah delivered on 18th April 2025.