﴿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 in themselves. (Surah Al-Ra’d, 13:11).
This verse is not merely a religious directive, but the declaration of a universal civilisational law: the reform of reality begins with the reform of the structure that produces it, not with the mere desire to change it.
The external reality of any society is a reflection of its internal structure. If ideas, values, behaviours and institutions remain unchanged, results will remain unchanged. But if the internal causes transform, God’s laws in creation require that results transform accordingly.
Reality is not coincidence. Where ignorance, corruption, laziness, tyranny, fear, absence of trust, and weak institutions prevail, the natural outcome will be backwardness — regardless of aspirations.
”What is in themselves”
This does not refer only to feelings or intentions. It encompasses everything that constitutes the internal structure of society:
- The system of ideas.
- Values and ethics.
- Prevailing culture.
- Ways of thinking.
- Level of knowledge.
- Individual and collective behaviours.
- Societal institutions.
- Methods of work and production.
In other words, al-anfus (souls/selves) here represents the internal system that produces reality.
﴿وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ.. وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ﴾ « And that there is not for man except that for which he strives — and that his effort will be seen. » (Al-Najm, 53:39-40).
Prayer and waiting alone will be of no benefit, without striving and effort. Change will not come if you do not work toward it.
