Allah Will Not Change The Condition Of A People Until ....

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

In His perfect justice and wisdom, Allah does not change the condition of the people from good to bad or from bad to good, from ease to hardship or from hardship to ease, unless they change what is in themselves. Allah Most High says in Surah Ar-Ra'd,

لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١

For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. [Quran, Ar-Ra'd 13:11]

Anytime something of a blessing is taken away, we have done something to have it taken away. We are currently under this COVID-19 crisis lockdown and that we are currently being deprived of many blessings that we typically were accustomed to. We need to think long and hard what has humanity done to deserve this and we need to strive at least individually to better ourselves so we save ourselves in front of Allah.

How to change? Through keeping with the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. The greatest action in our lives (after worship, the five pillars of Islam), is purifying our souls - worshipping Allah - realising the teaching of Angel Jibril alayhisallan on ihsan - spiritual excellence, i.e. To worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you. (Bukhari and Muslim). "Actions are only according to intentions, and to each only what he intended." So we must look at each action that we do, or are about to do, and make sure that it will be correct and pleasing to Allah, and to His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

What is within themselves (ourselves)?

For changing ’what is within ourselves’ we first need to know what it is we are looking for, when referring to the ’within ourselves’ or ’our souls’. These are all subtle, invisible, abstract but real things, which are all known to us intuitively. Jealousy, hatred, greed, etc. are invisibly hidden in the souls, but the effects of those traits - if not stopped - are devastating.

“Knowing the definition of these diseases, their causes and their cures, and remedies how to fix them, is personally obligatory (fard 'ayn) on every Muslim.“ [Imam al Ghazali]

We seek refuge in Allah from the punishment and wrath of Allah. May Allah purify our hearts and help us worship Him well and forgive all our sins. May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next, from the trial of COVID-19. May Allah lift COVID-19 from the world and answer the du'as of the righteous, the weak and the sick. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam