إِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِىْ يَنْصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى اللهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
If Allah helps you, there is no one who can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, then who is there to help you after that? And in Allah alone should the believers place their trust. (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v160)
Allah Ta‘ala is the creator, sustainer and maintainer of the heavens, the earth and every creation. He has sole control and power over everything. Hence, He is the One who does with the means, without the means, and even against the means. For example, Allah Ta‘ala feeds some people through them working and earning, He feeds some people without them working and earning (e.g. Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam]), and He feeds some people despite others becoming an obstacle (e.g. feeding Nabi Ebrahim [‘alaihis salaam] while he was in the fire).
Thus, we cannot achieve anything without the assistance of Allah Ta‘ala, and if He forsakes us, then we will be destroyed. The recipe to success is for us to please Him and remain obedient to Him. If we please Him, he will support our efforts and assist us in our endeavours (see here). If we have the support of Allah Ta‘ala, then even if the entire world turns against us, we will be triumphant and victorious. Without His support, even if we have all the financial resources, military might and technological advancements, we will be weak, disgraced and downtrodden.
On one occasion, during the khilaafah of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Muslim army was facing overwhelming odds against the enemy. The Muslims were heavily outnumbered, and this caused some concern to the leader of the army, Sayyiduna ‘Amr bin ‘Aas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hence, he wrote a letter to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), seeking advice as to how he should proceed. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sent him the following reply, which is worthy of being inscribed into the heart of every believing man and woman. After greeting him with salaam, he mentioned:
“I have received your message in which you mention the massive forces which Rome has gathered. (Remember that) Allah Ta‘ala did not assist us with His Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) through us possessing abundant equipment nor through our numbers being large. We waged jihaad with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the condition that our army only had a few horses, and even the camels (were few in number and thus) were shared between us in turns…”
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then advised Sayyiduna ‘Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and the Muslim army to hold onto taqwa and piety, and ensure that they stay far from sin, as this is the recipe to success. He mentioned:
(Despite the odds,) Allah Ta‘ala would assist us and support us against the enemy. O ‘Amr! Know well that the person who is regarded as most obedient to Allah Ta‘ala is the one who has the deepest hatred in his heart for sins. Therefore, ensure that you remain obedient to Allah Ta‘ala (by refraining from all sins), and instruct your companions to remain obedient to Him as well. (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #10150)
It is similarly reported that on the occasion of Yarmook, a person exclaimed to Sayyiduna Khaalid bin Waleed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “How many are the Romans, and how few are the Muslims!” Sayyiduna Khaalid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “(No! Rather,) how few are the Romans and how many are the Muslims!” Sayyiduna Khaalid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then explained his statement saying, “An army is only ‘large (and mighty)’ if it has the assistance of Allah Ta‘ala, and an army is only ‘small (and weak)’ when it has been forsaken by Allah Ta‘ala! The number of the men in the army is irrelevant!” (Taareekh Tabari vol. 4 pg. 216)
Hence, true success, in this world and the next, can only be attained through us securing the assistance of Allah Ta‘ala, and His assistance will only be attained through us leading lives of piety and righteousness. May Allah Ta‘ala bless us all with His Divine assistance, aameen.