Strength in religion, determination in practicing it and patience in enduring hardships for its sake constitute an aspect of true mettle. Such is the personality of Prophets, Messengers and those who follow them willingly and sincerely until the Day of Judgment. Some of their other qualities are their strict adherence to the religion of Allah The Almighty and assertion of truth openly in the face of oppressors and tyrants. Indeed, even one person with these abilities is better than masses who fulfill the wishes and demands of the dissolute disbelievers, even if only in words.
This strength in faith yields the love and pleasure of Allah The Almighty. He even ordered His Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, to possess it, such as in the verse (which means): {O Yahya (John), take the Scripture powerfully} [Quran 19:12]; “powerfully” here means ardently, keenly and persistently.
Allah The Almighty also commanded Moosaa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, Saying (what means): {Take them with power [determination] and order your people to take the best of it.} [Quran 7:145] His instructions to the Children of Israel were similar, when He Said (what means): {Take what We have given you with power [determination].} [Quran 2:63] Mujaahid commented, “‘With power’ denotes practicing what it calls for; it also refers to obedience and due diligence.”
The Children of Israel were oppressed by Pharaoh, who claimed Lordship and Divinity. He used to slay their male newborns and let their girls live; he would also employ them in forced labor. Yet, they were not ordered to submit, accept humiliation and adjust to their suffering and painful reality; they could not change faith-related concepts and declare prohibitions as lawful or render what is allowed as impermissible, as some people call for today and others actually do in practice. Instead, the Children of Israel were ordered by the verse (which means): {Take what We have given you with power [determination].} [Quran 2:63]
Unfortunately, the reality of our lives contradicts these meanings, as if we do not heed a lesson, for the affliction, persecution and domination of enemies cannot cease, except when we have unwavering conviction and deep-rooted faith. Verily, this is the only escape from tribulations in life, as there is no refuge from Allah The Almighty except with Him and no protection from His decree except for the mercy He confers on people.
Despite that, we continue to be like an individual seeking shelter from the scorching sun in fire or like dehydrated donkeys about to pass out in the extremely hot weather even though they are carrying water on their backs. We continue to commit sins, contravene the religion of Allah The Almighty, alter the concept of allegiance [to believers] and disassociation [from disbelievers], and modify Islamic rules in our educational system, media and in both public and private spheres of life. All this is done to appease those who oppose Islam. Thus, it only increases us in weakness and them in their transgression. We behave as if we have no way out of this harsh reality and that we cannot pursue the means of real power or possess the ability to restrain our enemies from persisting in their corruption and aberration.
In fact, some of us, when afflicted with a calamity, seek help from creatures, even from these very rivals of ours, as if we were sheep asking foxes to protect us. Even the disbelievers would sincerely supplicate to Allah The Almighty for salvation when they were at sea; then, they used to throw their idols in the sea and ask for help from Him. How could such enemies of Islam guide us while Allah The Almighty has led them astray? Will they raise us to an honorable status while He has humiliated them? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Here you are loving them but they are not loving you.} [Quran 3:119]
Indeed, power cannot be sought from creatures; even the Muslims of them are still weak. Therefore, how can we seek it from our enemies even as their appearance betrays vehement hatred and their hearts conceal what is even greater?
True strength only transpires when we apply the divine revelation, work for the Hereafter and our hearts rely willingly and lovingly only on Allah The Powerful and the firm Possessor of strength, Who Says (what means):
• {Indeed, it is your Lord Who is the Powerful, the Exalted in might.} [Quran 11:66]
• {And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in might.} [Quran 22:40]
• {Allah has written, "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in might.} [Quran 58:21]
Allah The Almighty has also ordered us to prepare ourselves against our rivals and pursue the means of power, whether material or psychological, such as when He Says (what means): {And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy.} [Quran 8:60] Furthermore, the Prophet symbolically said: "Indeed, power is archery." [Muslim]
But, the greatest form of power is that of belief and conviction. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: "A strong believer is better and more lovable to Allah than a weak believer; and there is good in each. Seek what gives you benefit [in the Hereafter] and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart..." [Muslim]
The disbelievers may dominate Muslim countries and consequently some of us start to cower in fear, weakening our Ummah (nation) by this attitude and exaggerating the power of the enemy. This is, in fact, the outcome of our weak faith and the effects of Satan on us, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.} [Quran 2:175]
Our standards have been reversed so much so that we have become like lions in dealing with the righteous and like ostriches in facing the disbelieving enemies. However, we must be, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.} [Quran 48:29]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, recounted that the people who gave the pledge to the Prophet at Al-Hudaybiyah were forceful with the disbelievers, like a lion is with his prey. Indeed, this is the characteristic of true believers; they are tough and severe with those who do not believe, and merciful and good with the righteous. When they encounter those who refuse to have faith, they have a surly and angry countenance; and, they wear a smiling and cheerful face for their Muslim brothers, as stated by Ibn Katheer .
The Prophet himself, used to be patient in the face of personal harms that afflicted him. However, if the matter was related to Allah The Almighty, he would implement His directives as forcefully as He decreed. Truly, this strength is the best way to deter the disbelievers and those who flout the limits of Allah, and it also helps to achieve security.