Why are Muslims in loss and defeat?

God says in the scripture “O you who believe, if you support God, He will support you, and make your foothold firm “ (Quran 47:7).

Since the 1600s, the Muslims have been suffering setbacks, losses, and military defeats.  Examples to be mentioned ; defeat of the Ottomans in Austria and the total collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the division of Muslim land into separate countries with dictatorial regimes imposed on them,  the occupation of Palestine in 1948, the Iraq-Iran war and inner fighting of two Muslim nations, and the more recent rapid collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 and the defeat of the Iraqi Ba’athist dictatorship regime in 2003.

The example of the fall of the Taliban regime was an easy prediction, which in reality had military capabilities of a 19^th century army in comparison to a 21^st century army capabilities of the United States.  Let us not forget psychological warfare used before hand to break down the will of the Taliban fighter and have him flee at every confrontation.

Surprisingly as this may sound, but the defeat of the Taliban came as a surprise and shock to many religious Muslims!!  They could not comprehend how God, whom they believe and worship, could abandon them, and they are His people!!

For those unaware, the Taliban were strict Sunni Muslims and were Muslims by text book standards.  They provided the five obligatory prayers throughout the day, additionally, they offered the ‘extra credit prayers’ so called ‘Sunnah prayers ‘.  They fasted.  They prolonged their beards and dressed in clothes emulating the beloved Prophet Muhammed and his times, they band television and cinema, forced woman to cover up from head to toe, and banned anything else that could be a source of temptation and evil.  Some of their punishments included execution of adulterous men and women, cutting of hands of thieves according to what they interpreted as ‘Shari’a’ law.  They trained their men to be strong and defend Shari’a law to death, which they believed to be the Shari’a of God.  They even went to the extent of destroying any idols and statues that polytheists would havts would have once worshipped besides God.

YET THE TALIBAN LOST!!!!

Did God not say in the scripture “God defends those who believe.  God does not love any betrayer, rejecter” (Quran 22:38).

“And We have sent before you messengers to their people, so they came to them with clear proofs, then We took revenge on those who were criminals, and it is an obligation for Us to grant victory to the believers” (Quran 30:47), and similarly in (Quran 22:40).  Also let us remember (Quran 47:7) “O you who believe, if you support God, He will support you, and make your foothold firm “.

So there is no doubt that God will grant victory and support to those who believe and submit to Him.

YET THE TALIBAN LOST!!!!

To non-muslims it is a matter of military might and strategy. 

To Muslims there is much more at stake.  They know that God Almighty has the capability to control the outcome of all actions, if He wills.  Muslims know God commands invisible and visible armies who He sends down to support His believers in times of crises.  Muslims know that angels have been sent down in the past to support the Prophet Muhammed in defeating his enemies:

“God had granted you victory at Badr while you had been the lesser, so revere God that you may be thankful” (Quran 3:123).

They know that a small weaker force can defeat a strong larger force by Gods support:

“So when Saul set out with the soldiers, he said: "God will test you with a river, whoever drinks from it is not with me, and whoever does not taste from it except one scoop with his hand is with me." They all drank from it, except a few of them. So when he and those who believed with him crossed it, they said: "We have no power today against Goliath and his soldiers!" But the ones who understood that they would meet God said: "How many a time has a small group beaten a large group by God's leave, and God is with the patient ones!" (Quran 2:249).

Muslims know that technology, power, and armies of the world are absolutely nothing when God stands by the side of the other party!!

So what has gone wrong?  Why has God Almighty abandoned them? And with sincerity, let us ask, have Muslims broken their covenant with God??

Do they need to pray more? Fast more? Give more charity? Or, do all Muslims around the world need to grow beards and cover their women from head to toe for God to grant them victory?!?

Here is a clue:

“And the messenger said: "My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.", And it is such that We make for every prophet enemies from among the criminals. And your Lord suffices as a Guide and a Victor.”  (Quran 25:30-31).

God clearly commands us to resort to His Book for guidance and judgment, yet Muslims have mistakenly and unknowingly time and time again resorted to the judgment of their Imams, scholars, and leaders, and have created sub-religions besides Gods true path.  Gods true path is illuminated by the guidance of the Quran only.  The Quran does not just override any human judgment but it authenticates and supersedes all scriptures before it:

“And We have sent down to you the Scripture with truth, authenticating what is present of the Scripture and superseding it. So judge between them by what God Has sent down, and do not follow their desires from what has come to you of the truth. For each of you We have made laws, and a structure; and had God willed, He would have made you all one nation, but He tests you with what He has given you; so strive to do good. To God you will return all of you, and He will inform you regarding that in which you dispute.   And judge between them by what God Has sent down, and do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you away from some of what God Has sent down to you. If they turn away, then know that God wants to inflict them with some of their sins; and most of the people are corrupt.  Is it the judgment of the days of ignorance that they seek? Who is better than God as a judge for a people that comprehend?”  (Quran 5:48-50).

Although Sunnis and Shia can claim that the words of the Quran have been recited night and day.  Laws, guidance, and judgment contained within this holly scripture have been set aside and made second to man-made references, that control everyday lives of Muslims.  Sunni’s and Shi’a have concentrated more on the superficialities of memorizing and improvising the Holly Quran rather than fully implementing its laws and judgment.

Muslims have neglected God’s words in every dimension of societal structure, from government down to the individual family.  God’s Laws that guide believers in all aspects of life, such as woman’s rights, how to deal with children, commerce, environment, religion, etc, have been neglected and set aside.

One of the illogical and weak arguments that Sunni’s and Shi’a’s have used throughout centuries, is that the Holly Quran, which is God Almighty’s guidance to all humanity, lacks detail, is incomplete, and difficult to understand. 

Does the scripture (Quran) lack detail?

God responds telling us that the Quran is detailed, complete and a clarification for all things:

 “Shall I seek other than God as a judge when He has sent down to you this Book fully detailed?  Those to whom We have given the Book know it is sent down from your Lord with the truth; so do not be of those who have doubt.” (Quran 6:114).

“And the word of your Lord has been completed with the truth and justice; there is no changing His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower. “(Quran 6:115).

“And the Day We send to every nation a witness against them from themselves, and We have brought you as a witness against these. And We have sent down to you the Book as a clarification for all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings to those who have submitted.”  (Quran 16:89).

Yet, after seeing a sample of these beautiful verses, Muslims always find excuses that the Quran lacks detail, following teachings spoon fed to them from their fathers, grandfathers, and traditional Imam’s without questioning.

In Islam there is no priesthood or religious hierarchy, yet Muslims obey their Imams to the extent of glorification, following in their footsteps blindly and in every detail, without using God gifted logic given to them as a mercy from the Almighty.  God Almighty warns us from this phenomenon:

“These are the revelations of God, We recite them to you with the truth. So, in which narrative after God and His revelations do they believe?  Woe to every sinful fabricator. He hears the revelations of God being recited to him, then he persists arrogantly, as if he never heard them. Give him news of a painful retribution.  And if he learns anything from Our revelations, he takes it in mockery. For these will be a humiliating retribution.  Waiting for them is Hell. And that which they earned will not help them, nor those whom they have taken as allies besides God, and for them is a terrible retribution.  This is a guidance. And those who reject the revelations of their Lord, for them is an affliction of a painful retribution.”  (Quran 6:9-11).

Is the Quran difficult to understand or learn?

Muslims have been brain washed that they should not try to learn or comprehend the Quran only under strict guidance of their scholars.  They have been traditionally taught that the Quran is complicated and only scholars have the knowledge to comprehend it.  It is through this that traditionalist Sunni and Shia scholars have managed to pass down their misguided teachings throughout generations and influence control over the masses.

Yet God the creator of the universe and who sent this book as a guidance and mercy to humanity has told humans that:

“And We made the Reading easy to remember. Are there any who want to learn?”  (Quran 54:17).

“And if they are told: “Follow what God has sent down,” they say: “No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing!” What if their fathers did not comprehend anything and were not guided?  And the example of those who disbelieve is like one who repeats what he has heard of calls and cries; deaf, dumb, and blind, they do not comprehend.” (Quran 2:170-171).

Muslims have no problem criticizing Jews for creating, diverting and following volumes of man-made text whom they attributed to God and his messenger (Moses), and they have no problem criticizing the Christians for setting Jesus as a partner to God.  Yet when one criticizes the Muslims internally for achieving the same mistakes by creating man-made distortions , texts, and practices, he or she is hit by blunt denials and accusations of conspiring with the enemies of Islam.  Yet God Almighty has allowed this among humans as a trial for those who have weak faith in their hearts:

“And as such, We have permitted the enemies of every prophet - human and Jinn devils — to inspire each other with fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.  That is so the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter will listen to it, and they will accept it, and they will take of it what they will.”  (Quran 6:112-113).

Therefore, the only way for Muslims out of their current situation is through going back to the guidance of the Almighty, the Quran only.  This should be done through reflection, self-examination and true sincerity, in order to truly correct, and through the Quran, currently practiced misunderstandings, and implementations that have led to their broken covenant with God.  Muslims need to stop following blindly their scholars and Imams and follow the word of God only, the Quran.  For centuries Muslims had abandoned the word of God for teachings of others, this has led to God abandoning them.  Their vast numbers do not matter, since they are weak with no effect, no power and no influence.

If you are a submitter, a Muslim, do you wish to continue with your current situation, your continuous loss, or do you wish change to what God Almighty has ordered?  It is your choice.