To what extent is the circulating narration valid regarding the reason for the delay in victory for Muslims, in which the saying of Umar ibn al-Khattab is mentioned: "By Allah, falsehood would not stand against the truth for all this time unless it was due to a sin committed by you or a sin committed by me... We are a nation that does not achieve victory through numbers and weaponry, but rather we achieve victory through the fewness of our sins and the multitude of our enemies' sins. If sins were equal, they would defeat us with numbers and weaponry"?

Some scholars have mentioned a story whose gist is that Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, asked a delegation about the time of their encounter with the enemy and their defeat. When they answered that it was from dawn till dusk, Umar was astonished and said: "Indeed, to Allah we belong! And polytheism stood against faith from dawn till dusk!! By Allah, this could only be due to a sin after me, or one that I innovated after you. I had appointed Ya'la ibn Umayya over Yemen, seeking victory for you through his righteousness." This story does not have an isnad (chain of narration) by which its authenticity can be judged.