The second is abundant remembrance of Allah.
The third is obedience to Him and to His Messenger.
The fourth is unity of word and the avoidance of dispute, for quarrelling breeds failure and weakness. Discord is a soldier (1) by which those who disagree strengthen their enemy against themselves: when they stand together they are like a bundle of arrows that no one can break, but once the bundle is scattered and each arrow stands alone, they are all easily snapped.
The fifth—the pivot, backbone, and foundation of all the foregoing—is patience.
These five matters are the pillars upon which the canopy of victory is raised (2). Whenever they, or any part of them, are lost, victory is lost in the same measure; but when they are combined, each one reinforces the other and they exert a mighty influence in attaining victory. When they were fully present in the Companions, no nation on earth could resist them: they conquered the world, and both peoples (3) and lands submitted to them. When these qualities later became dispersed and enfeebled, the situation devolved to what we see now.
There is no power and no might except with Allah, the Most High, the Tremendous. Allah alone is the One from whom help is sought; in Him we place our trust. He is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs. (4) (*)