Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

The one who studies Islamic history, such as the Crusades at
the time of ora ad in'^ and saladin15, the Ottoman era at the time of
Sultan Muhammad al-F2tih and others, and the ~lrnoravids'~ at the
time of Yoosuf ibn Tashfeen, will notice that the factors leading to
revival and victory are many, including: purity of belief and clarity of
method; ruling the state in accordance with the laws of Allah; the
presence of a dedicated leadership that follows the guidance of Allah,
acts according to the natural laws of Allah with regard to educating
and leading the nations and the rise and fall of states, and is also
aware of social problems, how nations develop, the secrets of history,
and the plots of the enemies, be they Crusaders, Jews, atheists,
esoteric sects or innovators, and gives each factor its proper weight
when dealing with them. Issues having to do with revival, short and
long term, are complex and interwoven. They can only be understood
by those who understand the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the
Messenger (@) and are well versed in the positions of the Rightly
Guided Caliphs, which have been preserved from our great
predecessors. They know the features and characteristics of revival,
the means of bringing it about and the causes of its disappearance,
and they learn from Islamic history and experiences of revival. Thus
they realise that this Ummah never lost its leading position when it
was sincere to its Lord and its Prophet, and they understand that
military defeat is temporary, the effects of which soon diminish, but
that intellectual defeat is a deadly wound. They how that sound
education builds the Muslim individual, the Muslim family, the
Muslim society and the Muslim state. This education must be built on
solid foundations that are based on the Book of Alla, the Sunnah of
His Messenger (g) and the guidance of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
and those who followed in their footsteps. The genius of the early
generation in building the Islamic civilisation is that which, after the
help and protection of All&, preserved for Islam its strncture until
today.