Victory only comes after Succeeding in the Trials !

Allah says:

"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise, before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you?"

This is why Allah says:

"…without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments…"

Meaning: illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships. Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn ‘Abbas, Abul-Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa’id Ibn Jubayr, Murrah al-Hamdani, al-Hasan, Qatadah, ad-Dahhak, ar-Rabi’, as-Suddi and Muqatil Ibn Hayyan said that, “al-Ba’sa” means poverty. Ibn Abbas said that, “ad-Darra” means ailments.

"and were so shaken, for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial."

It was reported on the authority of Khabbab (ra) who said, “We complained to the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he was reclining on a cloak of his in the shade of the Ka’bah. We said, “Will you not seek help for us? Will you not supplicate for us?” He said, “Indeed, from those who came before you, a man would be taken and a hole would be dug for him in the ground and he would be placed inside. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head and he would be sawed in half. And he would be raked with iron combs beneath his flesh and bones, but that would not turn him back from his Deen. By Allah, this matter will be completed, to the point that a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadramawt not fearing anyone other than Allah and a wolf after his sheep, but you are being hasty.” [al-Bukhari]

Allah also says:

"Alif-Laam-Meem. Do the people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars." [29:1-3]

The Companions experienced tremendous trials during the battle of al-Ahzab. Allah said:

"When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said: Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion.” [33:10-12]

When Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, “Did you fight him?” He said, “Yes.” Heraclius said, “What was the outcome of the fighting between you?” Abu Sufyan said, “Sometimes we lose and sometimes he loses.” He said, “Such is the case with Prophets, they are tested, but the final victory is theirs.”

The Statement of Allah:

"…without (such) (trials) as came to those who passed away before you…"

Meaning, their way of life.

Similarly, Allah says:

"Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these, and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them)." [43:8]

And:

"…were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, When (will come) the help of Allah.”

They pleaded (to Allah) for victory against their enemies and invoked Him for aid and deliverance from their
hardships and trials. Allah says:

"Yes. Certainly, the help of Allah is near."

And He says:

"Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief." [94:5-6]

So just as there is hardship, its equal of relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah says:

"Yes. Certainly, the Help of Allah is near."

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) - By al-Mufassir Ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi (rahimahUllah)]