One question that may arise in our mind is why are calamities and destructions happening to Muslims? Yes, indeed the oppressors are the wrong doers. They make destruction and kill Muslims and steal their properties. On the other side, it is worth for us to look on ourselves so that we can improve our weaknesses. I would like to quote a Hadith… and I don’t intend to elaborate on it. Let us read and we judge it ourselves.

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 Zakaah, they will be struck with drought.” [At-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.”

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

Indeed, Allah gives victory to those who deserve it. And most of the times defeat comes from ourselves. One night, Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas, may Allah be pleased with him, 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.

Let us avoid destructions, disasters and humiliation. Muslims have experienced too many appalling tragedies in their own land. It was Bosnia; Afghanistan; Iraq and now (always) Palestine, and tomorrow we never know whose turn.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was once asked: “Would we be punished by disasters which befall us while we have righteous people amongst us?’ he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “Yes, if evil becomes widespread.” Allah says clearly on this issue in al Quran: “And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial, etc.) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people), and know that Allah is Severe in punishment". [Surah Al-Anfaal Ayah 25]

Therefore, if Muslims truly wish for safety from destruction and given victory, then they must change and improve what is in them as Allah says that which translates as: “For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves. But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.” [Surah Ar-Ra’d Ayah 11]