Is it correct to say that one should abandon taking measures by citing reliance upon God and submission to His decree and destiny, and what is the correct approach?

The successive crises experienced by the Muslim nation constitute a real test of its ability to overcome hardships. Unlike previous eras, from which the nation emerged through enlightened thinking and taking means, the veils of ignorance in later eras led to confusion between belief in divine decree (qadaa) and destiny (qadar) and fatalism. This prompted some to surrender to fate without taking the legitimate means.

Taking means does not contradict belief in divine decree; rather, it is part of its perfection. Allah wants certain things from us and has commanded us to do them, such as carrying the Da'wah, fighting disbelievers, and uniting. These obligations do not cease to be binding due to His foreknowledge of some outcomes.

Allah is capable of all things, but His capability does not pertain to the impossible, nor does it mean that He will grant victory to believers while they remain inactive and fail to take means. Allah's capability and the servant's characteristic are separate; confusing them leads to inaction and backwardness. One Orientalist noted that "the Muslim's nature is submission to the will of Allah, contentment with His decree and destiny, and absolute submission with all he possesses to the One, the Subduer." This obedience, in the early Islamic era, was a driving force for victory, while in later eras it led to stagnation and decline, isolating the nation from the current of global events.