If we are to look at the onset of this Ummah, we see that it became victorious on the basis of Tawḥīd, sincerity to Allāh, following the messenger of Allāh ﷺ, a

The problem now is that there are some of the people who think that imitating the Kuffār is victory, and they think that returning to what the Prophet ﷺ and his companions were upon is backwardness, just like what the early ones said: {وَإِذَا رَأَوۡهُمۡ قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّ هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ لَضَاۤلُّونَ} “and when they see them, they say, those ones are misguided” [Sūratul Muttafifīn 32] It is therefore obligatory on us O my brothers that we return to read and reflect on what has passed since the onset of this Ummah so that we may uphold what they upheld, -servitude- then, we might be granted victory. And I say and repeat: It is obligatory on us to beware of the evils of our souls and the evils of the Kuffār, the Munāfiqūn and their followers, and we pray to Allāh to grant you and us victory in this religion and help us with it and help it with us and make us among his friends and his party, he is indeed generous. Peace, mercy and blessings be upon our prophet Muḥammad, his household and entire companions.” [Kutub wa rasāil Al-‘Uthaymīn (8/117)]