Life today is filled with confusion, hardship, and uncertainty. Many ask, Why are we suffering? Why are our conditions worsening? The answer is neither complex nor hidden—it has already been revealed in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Allah ﷻ states:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
This is a divine principle: when people abandon righteousness and embrace corruption, oppression, and disobedience, their blessings turn into hardship. This reality is affirmed in the Qur'an, explained in the Sunnah, and evident in the history of past nations.
Allah Does Not Change a People’s Condition Until They Change Their Actions
Ibn Jarir At-Tabari رحمه الله explains that Allah ﷻ does not strip a nation of its blessings and well-being until they change themselves—until oppression, injustice, and sin become widespread. When a society turns away from the commands of Allah, He replaces their prosperity with punishment.
A narration from the early generations strengthens this point. Ibrahim Al-Nakha’i رحمه الله mentioned that Allah ﷻ once sent revelation to a Prophet from Bani Israel:
"Say to your people: There is no household, village, or town that remains obedient to Allah and then turns away to disobedience, except that Allah replaces their good with hardship." (Tafsir Ibn abi Ḥatim: 7/2232)
The Quraysh of Makkah serve as an example. They were blessed with safety and provisions:
فَلْيَعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَيْتِ ٣ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍ ٤
"Let them worship the Lord of this House, Who has fed them against hunger and made them safe from fear." (Surah Quraysh 106:3-4)
But when they rejected Islam, their wealth and security were taken away.
Another powerful example is the people of Saba’ (Sheba):
لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ ١٥
فَأَعْرَضُوا۟ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ ٱلْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَـٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَىْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍۢ وَأَثْلٍ وَشَىْءٍ مِّن سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍ ١٦
"Indeed, there was a sign for the people of Saba’ in their dwelling place: two gardens on the right and the left. ‘Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. You have a good land and a forgiving Lord.’ But they turned away, so We sent upon them a flood from the dam, and We replaced their two gardens with bitter fruit, tamarisks, and sparse lote trees." (Surah Saba’ 34:15-16)
This destruction was a direct result of their ungratefulness. Their land was once lush and abundant, but when they turned away from Allah, they lost everything.
The Pattern of Punishment in the Qur’an
There is a clear pattern in the Qur'an: when people transgress, punishment follows.
Allah ﷻ says in the Qur'an:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِّعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٥٣
"Indeed, Allah will not change a blessing He has bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing." (Surah Al-Anfaal 7:53)
When the people of a land immerse themselves in sin, oppression, and rebellion against Allah, suffering spreads among them. When wealth is hoarded unjustly, when the weak are exploited, when haram becomes normalized, then the destruction is not selective—it affects everyone.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, soon Allah will send a punishment that affects all of them." (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2168)
This is why we see suffering across the Muslim world. Fitnah (tribulations) spread, economies collapse, societies weaken. The problem is not external forces; it is our own neglect of Allah’s commands.
Why Are We in Humiliation?
The Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith:
"If you engage in riba (usury), chase after worldly pursuits, and abandon jihad, Allah will impose humiliation upon you that He will not remove until you return to your religion." (Abu Dawood 3462)
Consider our reality:
- Interest-based economies have taken root in Muslim lands.
- Bribery and corruption are normal.
- Zina (fornication), homosexuality, and shamelessness are spreading.
- The laws of Allah are abandoned, and people follow man-made laws instead.
When the Muslims disobey Allah collectively, humiliation follows. The Prophet ﷺ warned:
"You will follow the ways of those before you, step by step, even if they enter a lizard’s hole, you will follow them." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 7320)
We imitate the disbelievers in their dress, speech, and actions. We adopt their ideologies, celebrate their festivals, and neglect the Sunnah. How can we expect honour when we copy those whom Allah has condemned?
The Role of Sincere Leadership
The Qur’an states:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
"And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and had certainty in Our signs." (Surah As-Sajdah 32:24)
Leadership with patience and certainty in Islam leads to honour. The early Muslims rose to power because they followed the Qur'an and Sunnah. They ruled with justice, adhered to Islam, and upheld the laws of Allah. Today, many of our leaders prioritize worldly gains over Islamic governance. The result? Chaos, corruption, and suffering.
How Can We Remove Our Suffering?
The way out is simple:
1. Return to the Qur'an and Sunnah
Success and honour come when we establish Islam in our personal lives, our families, and our communities. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"I am leaving you with two things. As long as you hold onto them, you will never be misguided: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." (Muwatta' Malik 1628)
2. Establish Salah and Obedience to Allah
We demand solutions, but do we even pray Fajr in congregation? How can we expect relief when we neglect the most basic command of Allah?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
وَأَلَّوِ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَـٰهُم مَّآءً غَدَقًا
"And [Allāh revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant rain [i.e., provision]." (Surah Al-Jinn 72:16)
When the Ummah performs Salah, avoids haram, and obeys Allah, blessings will return.
3. Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will send upon you a punishment, and then you will call upon Him, but He will not answer you." (Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 2169)
4. Sincere Dua and Seeking Forgiveness
In the last third of the night, Allah descends and asks:
"Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?" (Sahih Muslim 758)
Yet, how many of us wake up and beg Allah for relief? Dua is the weapon of the believer, but we have abandoned it.
5. Avoid Innovations and Follow Islam Properly
Allah warns us in the Qur'an:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allāh will not succeed. (Surah An-Nahl 16:116)
Practising Islam based on authentic teachings, not cultural innovations, leads to success.
6. Stop Loving and Imitating the Disbelievers
Allah says in the Qur'an:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا
"O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitânah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you." (Surah Aal ‘Imran 3:118)
Our downfall began when we adopted Western ideologies and abandoned Islamic values.
A Simple Truth
We suffer because we strayed from Islam.
- If we change our actions, Allah will change our condition.
- If we return to the Qur’an and Sunnah, honour will return.
- If we establish prayer, truth, and justice, we will rise again.
This is the promise of Allah, and Allah never breaks His promise.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
"Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves." (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
The choice is ours. Will we change?
Take the First Step Towards Real Change
As we've learned, the key to transforming our condition—both individually and as an Ummah—is to return wholeheartedly to our religion. But how can we do that without first understanding it?
At AMAU Academy, you have the opportunity to reconnect with Islam in a way that suits your journey. Whether you're eager to dive deep into the rich sciences of Aqeedah, Tawheed, Fiqh, Tafseer, and Hadith, or you're looking for a structured yet accessible path to learning, there’s a program designed for you.
The road to success—both in this life and the next—begins with knowledge and action. Start your journey today. Learn, grow, and walk the straight path of Allah. Because when we change ourselves, Allah will change our condition.
