Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله has said that even during the era of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, sometimes victory in battle was with the kuffaar and sometimes with the Muslims. Defeat was the consequences of the deeds of the Muslims. But the Muslims of that era understood the cause, hence they would remedy the error. Then they would attain victory. This is explained with clarity in the episodes of Uhud and Hunain.
On the other hand, we do not understand the consequences. Our focus is not on our misdeeds. We are oblivious of the gross acts of transgression and disobedience we perpetrate. Night and day, we indulge in transgression, hence the consequences of defeat and humiliation.
Hazrat Amr bin Aa’s رضي الله عنه, the Commander of the army of Sahaba رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين had laid siege to a city in Egypt. Although the siege had continued for just about a month, Ameerul Mu’mineen Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه became restless. He wrote to the Commander that the cause for the prolonged siege appeared to be deficiency in Taqwa and Tafweedh of the army. He ordered the Commander to announce that everyone should resort to Tawbah for sins and become concerned with moral reformation.
The concern of Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه was the deterioration in Īmān to which which he attributed the prolonged siege and delay in attainment of victory. Everyone obeyed the instruction of Ameerul Mu’mineen رضي الله عنه. They resorted to Istighfaar. Thereafter the city was attacked and within a day they had achieved victory.
Today, Muslims resort to a variety of plans and schemes, but they do not repent and reform themselves. It is the Sunnah of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله to grant victory to His obedient servants. Implement the prescription and witness the aid from the unseen.
(SOURCE: MALFOOZAAT OF HAZRAT MOULANA ASHRAF ALI THAANWI SAHIB رحمه الله, PART 6)