The Refutation of Their Doubt Regarding the Criterion for the Existence of Jihad: Is It Based on Duration or Number?

The questioner : Another point they cite is that they ask, for example, what is the criterion for the issue of, say, jihad or going out? That is, if they say it is based on duration, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained for thirteen years and... and if it is based on number, the first battle was... that is, three hundred and so on, and we still have more than twenty years left, and the number could be in the thousands.

The Shaykh : We do not have years in our case; we have the preparation of the Muslim community to perform a duty, to perform a duty. We are now giving a very easy and simple example to understand the issue: do you think enjoining good alone is easier, or is jihad in the path of Allah easier? Which is easier?

The questioner : Enjoining good.

The Shaykh: Huh?

The questioner : Enjoining good.

The Shaykh : Enjoining good, and enjoining good has three levels, as is well known. , this is changing evil by hand; can the Muslims in a certain Islamic country do this? Can they carry it out?
How can they carry out jihad, people?!
So when? Now the question you raised regarding jihad is answered: when will the Muslims be able to enjoin good at the highest and first level? This question is not asked; because this relates to the condition of the Muslims in terms of the strength of their faith, their patience, their knowledge, and so on. This matter is entrusted to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). All that can be said regarding setting those limits, how many years do we need?
We say: This is a matter left to Allah, but it is obligatory for us to proceed within the limits of what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has commanded. And we do not believe that victory is deserved by the Muslims through their material and moral preparations; rather, victory is in the hand of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). When Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) gave victory to the Muslims in the Battle of Badr and abandoned them at the beginning of the affair in the Battle of Hunayn, there was only one cause in the Battle of Hunayn: their pride in their numbers, as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an.
But after that, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) bestowed His favor upon them and gave them victory; even though in the first situation where they were defeated, their number was greater than their number in the Battle of Badr in which Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) gave them victory. So it is obligatory for us to take the means and then rely upon the Lord of Lords. As for when is the victory of Allah? , so victory is from Allah, and it is not possible to set a limit or time for it absolutely.
Religious matters are not like material matters. We hear today from some major countries that they set, for example, a five-year budget to treat a certain disease or a temporary problem, and then after these years they change the program. Material matters can be organized to a great extent and subjected to the will of rulers, but spiritual matters are precise and very precise; therefore, it is wrong to raise such a question: when will the number be? We are not responsible for the number; we are responsible for the Muslims continuing to perform their duty. And when Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows from these people that they deserve the victory of Allah, He facilitates for them paths that do not come to their minds to follow; because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) gives victory to whom He wills, and Allah is the One to be sought for help.
Yes.