A Muslim is commanded to pursue available means of attaining power and to abandon weakness and ineffectiveness. The Prophet explained that "a strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in each one. Cherish that which gives you benefit, seek help from Allah and do not lose heart." [Muslim] How is it that a Muslim can become powerless or give up when he believes in the existence of cause and effect, and in the balance that is set by Allah in the universe?

Physical or spiritual weakness is a negative trait that a Muslim should avoid and get rid of. Allah, The Almighty, instead urged His slaves to actively pursue any course to achieve strength; for instance, against the enemy, 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 and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.} [Quran 8:60]

The Noble Quran denounces those who are content with subordination and lead a life of weakness and impotence, though they possess the ability to change their state. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): {Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.} [Quran 4:97]

Surely, those who are satisfied with such an inferior existence, expose themselves to humiliation, disgrace and the oppression of tyrants, as Allah, The Almighty, tells us about Pharaoh, Saying (what means): {So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allah].} [Quran 43:54]

In fact, nations whose constituents become weak, will surely be disgraced and defeated because of being spiritually defeated. However, if people exhibit a high morale, it will be more difficult to triumph over them or humiliate them.

The history of our righteous predecessors shows how they succeeded in conquering virtually the whole world, when they were strong and proud of their religion, and when they actively pursued the means of power. Nonetheless, when their successors gave in to vulnerability and impotence, their situation reversed.

We can observe this in the tale about the weak Muslim who surrendered and stayed still under the orders of the Tatar soldier who he knew was going to find a rock to kill him and sure enough, he fulfilled his threat. We also found people who would justify enslaving members of the Ummah to its enemies, by mentioning their dire circumstances or some underlying benefit.

Causes of weakness and ineffectiveness

- Loss of determination and lack of purpose

- Loving this worldly life and being inclined towards it, and hating death

- Deviant educational curriculum and corrupted mass media

This is the most vital catalyst of weakness. Thus, we find the enemies of Islam conspiring to corrupt the Ummah by interfering in its scholastic matters and invading it with depravity. They aim to tear the Muslim societies into shreds and drown them in the mire of immorality and materialism. Thus, a person will have no time to listen to guidance or revisit religion. The broad policies of the enemies are to replace mosques with nightclubs; wives with prostitutes; belief with freedom of thought, or more precisely, disbelief; and fighting power with different forms of pleasure.

In truth, whatever humiliation comes upon man because of others and affects him externally, is better and easier to cure than the humiliation that springs from within himself. And that is better than the weakness that bursts from his own heart, because that is, indeed, a severe malady, resulting in a slow death.

Therefore, a Muslim must abandon weakness and pursue means of power, seeking the Help of Allah, The Almighty, without ever losing heart.