In almost every part of the world where change has occurred whether for good, like the emergence of Islam as a system that came with teachings rejecting the dire and corrupt worldly state or even misguided systems like the now-dead communism or capitalism-democracy these transformations began by REJECTING THE EXISTING STATUS QUO.That rejection started intellectually; through observation, examination and ultimately evaluating the reality from a different lens than what had been traditionally accepted.
This thought process, then stirred emotions that fueled the heat of rejection, leading to decisive actions aimed at creating a new reality. Thus, change was born.
Islam, as a complete way of life based on a rational aqeedah which refutes blind imitation (taqlid) and accepting the existing injustice without resistance against corrupt systems. To reach the peak of transformation, two key conditions must be fully embraced:
1) THE FIRST CONDITION:
To dedicate one’s wealth and soul to fighting the current status quo no matter how hard it may be, or how long it might take to change it. This is because what Allah ﷻ has obligated upon us is to act, not necessarily to witness the fruits of that action. We will be judged based on our efforts. When we look at the Noble Qur’an, we find several examples that clearly show how we must not submit to an evil, corrupt reality. Rather, we are tasked with changing it and preserving the good when it exists.
- A) The Qur’an condemns blindly following ancestors. ALlah ﷻ says:
“When it is said to them: ‘Follow what ALlah has revealed,’ they say: ‘no! We follow what we found our forefathers upon.’ Even though their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided?”
(TMQ 2:170)
This means accepting traditions, customs and misguided practices instead of the truth from ALlah ﷻ is an acceptance of the corrupt status quo: an obstacle to righteous transformation.
- B) The duty to enjoin good and forbid evil:
“Let there arise from among you a group inviting to goodness, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. And it is they who will be successful.”
(TMQ 3:104)
- C) Rejecting all man-made systems of tyranny (taghut):
“Have you not seen those who claim to believe in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They want to seek judgment from taghut (false authorities), while they were commanded to reject it. And Satan wishes to lead them far astray.”
(TMQ 4 Nisa’ 4:60)
This noble verse, clearly shows the prohibition of following judgment or leadership from false systems (taghut) instead of Allah’s Shariah.
Besides being a stern warning against accepting non-Islamic authority and legislation, it places a duty upon Muslims to reject the corrupt status quo that stems from man-made systems other than ALlah ﷻ.
2) THE SECOND CONDITION:
On the other side, what contributes to the absence of change and sustains oppression, weakness and the loss of dignity among the Ummah, is being content with the current state imposed by others. This attitude stems from two dangerous states that can afflict a Muslim:
- Fear of the tyrants (taghut).
- Being overly preoccupied with the worldly life while neglecting religious duties.
- A) The Messenger ﷺ warned us about these two conditions when he said: Narrated by Thawban (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The nations will soon summon one another to attack you, just like people call others to share their dish. A man asked:*“Will that be because we are few in number? “He ﷺ replied:
“No! You will be many, but you will be like the foam on a torrent. Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and will cast wahn into your hearts. “He was asked: “Ooh Messenger of Allah, what is wahn?”He ﷺ replied: “Love of the world and hatred of death. “This guidance from the great reformer: the Messenger ﷺ is as clear as daylight. It explains that being complacent with the current state is what plunges us into the depths of humiliation and weakness.
B)We must understand that the decline of the Ummah is not due to its small number or its adherence to Islam, but due to the loss of direction and acceptance of the taghut system.
This leads to the Ummah losing its identity, its stance, and its courage to selflessly stand for Islamic truth resulting into looking like Foam on floods. Many in number, but with no strength or direction. A crowded society with no impact. All of this stems from love of the world and fear of death fueled by accepting and surrendering to the corrupted system of taghut.Losing the will to stand for truth, and accepting the polluted status quo even if it means distrusting Allah ﷻ is what blocks real transformation and fuels our degradation.
- C) Shaytan is mentioned as the source of great misguidance for those who accept the corrupted system, even when the truth and falsehood are clearly distinct. He beautifies the worldly life to the point where, people see striving for Allah ﷻ as self-sabotage and see immorality and evil as pleasure and success:
“Shaytan threatens you with poverty and commands you to immorality…”
(TMQ 2:268)
O Noble Muslims!
You have been honored with a divine system aimed at complete transformation in all aspects of life: spiritual, social, economic, educational, political, and governance. Indeed the transformation happens by taking a firm stand against the existing corrupt reality, no matter how normalized has become. If we truly desire to restore our honor and the dignity of our Deen, then genuine & real, systemic transformation must begin by rejecting false systems. No meaningful reform neither structural nor surface-level can happen within a corrupt system. All changes of parties, coalitions or alliances under a rotten system still fall under the same corrupt reality!
It is the duty of Muslims to educate the youth of Gen Z and others who are eager for reform, that removing one leader from power and replacing them with another does not bring true tangible change. Because the root of the problem lies within the colonial, capitalist-democratic system that oppresses the people.Thus, true change comes by rejecting and removing that corrupt system; and replacing it with a new, righteous one. And there is no just system that brings equity and justice other than Islam. But embracing the colonial capitalist-democratic system while hoping for transformation is like building a skyscraper with blocks of snow!
If the Ummah continues repeating the same mistake of refusing to change and correct the corrupt current state, then without doubt, it is heading toward collapse. By accepting oppressive agreements, treaties, and foreign stances that divide or dominate us, we seal our downfall.
THE DESTINY OF REFORMERS!
Indeed, those who benefit from the corrupt status quo never favor reform nor those who call for it.
That is why Allah ﷻ gives us an example in the Qur’an of how Pharaoh and his allies became the main obstacle to transformation. Yet in the end, the reformers prevail:
“Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a group among them slaughtering their sons and keeping their women alive. Indeed, he was one of the corrupters.”
This is the height of suppressing reform. But Allah ﷻ concludes:
“And we intended to favor those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors.”
(Surah Al-Qasas 4–5)
*In another verse, ALlah ﷻ promises victory and leadership to those who reject the corrupt status quo and embrace righteousness:
“And we have already written in the Book [of Psalms], after the [previous] mention, that the land will be inherited by my righteous servants.”
(Surah Al-Anbiyaa 105)
And ALlah ﷻ shows how He gave leadership to the Ansar after the Quraysh refused to change their corrupt state:
“Those are the ones to whom we gave the Book, authority, and prophethood. But if these (Quraysh) disbelieve in it, then we have entrusted it to a people who are not disbelievers in it.”
(TMQ 6:138)
Therefore, accepting a reality filled with injustice, oppression, and tyranny leads to ruin; but rejecting it is the beginning of reform and eventual victory.
O Noble Muslims!
It is a grave sin to remain silent in the face of injustice. This attitude is what caused those before us to be cursed and angered by Allah ﷻ:
“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressors.”
“They did not prevent one another from the wrong they did. Evil indeed was what they were doing.”
“You see many of them befriending those who disbelieve. Evil indeed is what their souls have sent ahead for them that Allah became angry with them and they will abide in punishment forever.”
“And if they had believed in Allah and the Messenger and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken the disbelievers as allies. But many of them are rebellious.”
(TMQ 5: 78–81)
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ emphasized this to us by saying:
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Let not the fear of people prevent any of you from speaking the truth when he sees it or witness’s it.For speaking the truth does not bring death closer, nor does it decrease provision. So one should speak the truth or remind others of something great.”
Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad.
Silence and negligence in the face of oppression and falsehood lead to destruction and great corruption. As we are witnessing today in the condition of our brothers and sisters in Gaza. And there exists in some Muslim lands a strong army that could change that reality in a matter of hours.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told us:
Narrated by Abu ‘Abdullah Tariq bin Shihab Al-Bajali Al-Ahmasi (may Allah be pleased with him), that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ while he had placed his foot in the stirrup:
“Which Jihad is best?”
He ﷺ replied:
“A word of truth spoken in the presence of a tyrant ruler.”
Reported by An-Nasa’i with a sound chain of narration
Courage and bravery are essential traits for the Ummah’s values that enable one to speak the truth before a tyrannical authority without fear of being killed or tortured.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ﷺ:
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So glad tidings to the strangers.”
[Sahih Muslim]
O noble Muslims!
True revival often requires one to stand alone against the majority and not to seek the approval of the masses at the expense of displeasing Allah ﷻ.
Written by:
Hussein Muhammad
Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Kenya.
Muharram 28 1447
24Th July, 2025.