Hadith: Islam is to prevail and is not to be prevailed over

عن عائذ بن عمرو المزني رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «الإسلام يَعْلُو ولا يُعْلَى».
[حسن] - [رواه الدارقطني والبيهقي]

Ā'idh ibn ‘Amr al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Islam is to prevail and is not to be prevailed over."
[Good hadith] - [Al-Bayhaqi - Narrated by Ad-Daraqutny]

Explanation

This Hadīth constitutes one of the great foundations of Islam. It states that Allah, the Almighty, has decreed that this religion is superior and that its followers will always prevail and occupy a high status so long as they adhere to it. This is a statement which, in fact, implies a command, just like the Qur'anic verse in which Allah, the Almighty, said: {So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers} [Sūrat Āl-‘Imrān: 139]. This Hadīth has a general indication, meaning that it applies under all circumstances. Scholars of Fiqh rely on it as evidence in many cases and rulings; for example, it applies in the context of Jizyah. Dhimmis (non-Muslim subjects living in the Muslim state), who pay Jizyah and live among Muslims, are not allowed to make their church bells heard or their crosses seen, or to erect buildings that are taller than those of the Muslims. Also, if either parent embraces Islam, the child becomes a Muslim, following the better of the parents' religions (which is Islam), and it is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man. Similarly, any ruling that entails supremacy of Islam must be given priority.