and defeat, for all might belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. He did not say, “the Muslims,” because faith is more specific than Islam: every believer is a Muslim, but not every Muslim is a believer. Allah Most High says:

“The Bedouins say, ‘We believe.’ Say, ‘You do not believe; rather say, “We have submitted,” for faith has not yet entered your hearts.’” [al-Hujurat 49:14]

Thus, disobedience is a cause of defeat. There is no clearer evidence of this than an army that was defeated because of disobedience, despite being the finest army ever to walk the earth from the creation of Adam until the Hour: the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, whose commander was Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, at the Battle of Uhud. Allah Most High said concerning them:

“Until, when you lost courage, disputed over the matter, and disobeyed after He had shown you what you loved.” [Al ‘Imran 3:152]

That is, the defeat occurred because of this act of disobedience—one act alone—despite the fact that it involved a degree of interpretive reasoning. When they saw the polytheists fleeing and the Muslims beginning to gather the spoils of war, they thought that the matter was over. So they came down from the place in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had stationed them, until the polytheists came upon them from behind, and what happened happened.

Therefore, the army is obliged to obey him, provided that he does not command disobedience to Allah. If he commands disobedience to Allah, then there is no hearing or obedience due to him. When we say, “There is no hearing or obedience due to him,” do we mean that there is no hearing or obedience due to him whatsoever, or only with regard to the act of disobedience that he has commanded?

The answer is that the latter is what is meant.

His statement, “and patience with him,” means that one must remain patient with him and not become weak or turn away, for this breaks the hearts of the Muslims and strengthens the hearts of the