the Christians with the rulers in Egypt, during the reign of al-Mu‘izz, the vizierate of al-Fā’iz, the dispersal of the Bahriyya, and other such events.

Allah Most High says in His Book:

“Our word has already been given to Our servants, the messengers: they will surely be helped, and Our forces will certainly prevail.”

He Most High also says in His Book:

“We will surely support Our messengers and those who believe, both in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses stand forth.”

He Most High says:

“O you who believe, if you support Allah, He will support you and make your feet firm.”

It is authentically reported that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“A group of my ummah will continue to prevail upon the truth, unharmed by those who abandon them or oppose them, until the Hour comes.”

Anyone familiar with the history of peoples and their kings will see that those who most strongly supported the religion of Islam, strove hardest against its enemies, and most faithfully obeyed Allah and His Messenger enjoyed the greatest support, obedience, and respect. This has been so from the time of the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—until the present.

During the caliphate of Umar ibn Abd al-Azīz and other caliphs, the Muslims took many churches from them in lands conquered by force, after they had been allowed to retain them. No Muslim objected to this. It is therefore clear that demolishing churches in lands conquered by force is permissible, provided that doing so causes no harm to the Muslims. Those who refrained from taking action against them did so because the Muslims were few in number, or for similar reasons, just as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—refrained from expelling the Jews until they were expelled by Umar ibn al-Khattāb