Do not become so fixated on one exclusive method of struggle that you fail to consider other possibilities that may be more effective. And do not be so fixated on one method that you cannot rationally assess whether or not it even works. So many of us have it in our heads that jihad means armed combat, and only armed combat, and we insist on it, even if armed combat does not achieve the objectives of jihad, and even if it actually prevents achieving those objectives; indeed, even if it achieves the opposite of those objectives.
It is entirely possible for a smaller force to defeat a greater force, but this requires strategy. It requires that you not allow your enemy to dictate to you the time, place, or manner of confrontation. It requires you to tailor your tactics to target the enemies’ weaknesses instead of colliding with their strengths.
Even though Rasulullah ï·º was promised Allah’s Help at Badr, he still employed strategy; he still took the advice of Hubab ibn al-Mundhir regarding the placement of the Muslims’ camp, which was a decisive strategic choice.
I am afraid that we have misunderstood the role of Tawakkul. First you do everything you possibly can; you plan, you evaluate, you strategize; and finally you depend upon Allah for the success of these efforts. You do not forego these efforts just because you recognize that the outcome is in Allah’s Hands.
Khalid bin al-Waleed was a brilliant strategist, not only a brave man. He did not lead the Muslims into battle with the aim of creating Shuhadah, he went to battle to defeat the enemy; and he employed ingenious tactics and strategies to be able to succeed.
Today, there are so many ways to confront the aggression and oppression we suffer, but we seem to stubbornly refuse to contemplate any option other than one or another form of violence; whether conventional warfare against an army, or terrorism against the civilian population of our enemies; regardless of whether or not any of these tactics have a reasonable chance of success, and regardless of whether or not they have ever worked in recent memory.