There they stood with the Red Sea in front of them and the Pharaoh and his ferocious army behind them. The deep sensation of doom fell upon them and their Iman was tested.

قالَ أَصحابُ موسىٰ إِنّا لَمُدرَكونَ قالَ كَلّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبّي سَيَهدينِ

“The companions of Musa cried, ‘We are doomed!’ Musa replied, ‘Never! Indeed my Lord is with me, and He will guide me!’” [Ash-Shu’ara 26:61-62]

He strikes the sea with his stick, it splits in two and they race through. The Pharaoh chases them but the sea closes on him and his army. Against all odds the believers triumphed. Iman was their light when all other lights were extinguished. It is for this victory we fast today.

So what of today? Wherever we look in the Islamic world we see doom and devastation. Do we lose hope? Or does our Iman bring us hope that the victory of Allah is near? For in the depth of darkness, when all but the strong in Iman despair, does Allah bring His victory.

وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

“Do not give up and do not be downhearted. You shall be uppermost if you are believers.” [Aal-i-Imran, 3:139]

So what is the victory of Allah we long for? It is the return of our shield, the Imam of the Muslims. «إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ» “Indeed the Imam (Khaleefah) is a shield, behind which the people fight and protect themselves.” [Muslim]

So this very day, when the Iman of Musa destroyed the Pharaoh and his army against all odds, let our Iman drive us for another victory, against all odds.

مَتىٰ نَصرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلا إِنَّ نَصرَ اللَّهِ قَريبٌ

“When is Allah’s help coming? Be assured that Allah’s Help is very near.” [Al-Baqara 2:214]

 

Abdullah Rashid