The companion Abdullah Ibn Abbas RA narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Five matters result when five things happen: If people break their covenant with Allah, He will send an enemy against them; If they rule by other than the Law of Allah, poverty will spread among them; If they become deceptive in trade, Allah will deprive them of crops and they will be struck with famine; And if they withhold the payment of Zakah, they will be struck with drought.” (Tabaraani). In another narration he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “If they break the covenant of Allah and His Messenger, Allah will send an external enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions; If they do not rule by the Book of Allah, nor attempt to implement everything in it, Allah will spread enmity among them.”

This is a comprehensive clarification of the conditions for victory and the causes of defeat for the Muslim nation. Breaking the covenant of Allah and His messenger, or in other words, disobeying Allah and His messenger, is one of the reasons for its defeat and being subjugated by its enemies. Likewise, ruling by other than the rulings of Allah is the reason for the poverty, disunity and conflict which is occurring among the Muslims.

Conversely, obeying Allah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is the source of victory. Allah says that which translates as: “O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you [by giving you victory].” (Muhammad: 7).

Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas RA was checking on his army during the battle of Qaadisiyyah. He passed by the tent of one group of soldiers at night and found the men inside praying Qiyaam, or voluntary night-prayer, and remarked: ‘Victory comes from such a tent’ then he passed by another tent and found the men inside sleeping and remarked: ‘Defeat comes from such a tent.’ This was despite the fact that the men who were sleeping only missed a recommended prayer and not an obligatory one; yet Sa’d considered missing this recommended act to be a reason for defeat.

Qutaybah Ibn Muslim, who was a great Muslim conqueror, was the leader of Khurasaan when it was being attacked. He passed by Muhammad Ibn Waasi’, who was one of the Taabi’een, or the generation that followed the Sahaba, while Muhammad had his finger raised towards the heavens supplicating to Allah. Thereupon Qutaybah remarked: ‘That finger is dearer to me than thirty thousand soldiers’.

How can the Muslims expect Allah to grant them victory while they are discarding prayers, refusing to pay Zakah and dealing in interest? What can they expect when alcoholic drinks and nightclubs become prevalent in their lands? What happens when evil becomes widespread?

Therefore, if we truly wish for victory, then we must change what is in ourselves as Allah says that which translates as: “…Indeed Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves …” (Ar-Ra’d: 11).