Indeed, Allah Won't Alter A People's (Positive) State

[Suyuti]

Analysis of the passage where Allah states: "Truly, Allah will not alter a people's (good) state as long as they do not alter their own state (of goodness) by committing sins and by being unthankful and disobedient to Allah)." [Al-Ra'd 13:11]

What does the statement "Verily, Allaah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allaah)" [al-Ra'd 13:11] convey?.

Glory to Allah.
This significant verse states that unless the people themselves change their circumstances, Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, in His perfect justice and wisdom, does not alter their state from good to bad or from bad to good, from ease to hardship or from hardship to ease. As a result, if they are in a state of righteousness and goodness and they change, Allah will change their circumstances by punishing them with calamities, hardships, drought, famine, disunity, and other punishments that are appropriate retribution. "And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves," says Allah (interpretation of the meaning) in Fusilat 41:46.

Or He might give them a break and some time to turn to the right path, but if they don't, He will take them by surprise, as He states (interpretation of the meaning): "Therefore, when they forgot (the warning) that they had been reminded of, We opened the gates of all (pleasant) things for them, until suddenly, while they were enjoying what they had been given, We took them (as punishment), and lo! They were thrown into destruction with profound regrets and sorrows." [al-An'aam 6:44], which means to despair of all goodness—we seek refuge in Allah to avoid Allah's wrath and punishment. Or, as Allah states (interpretation of the meaning), they might be granted a reprieve until the Day of Resurrection, when their punishment will be more severe:

According to Ibraaheem 14:42, "Do not think that Allah does not know what the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrongdoers) do, but He grants them rest until a day when the eyes will gaze in horror." This means that they are granted rest until after death, which will be a more severe and profound punishment.

Because of their good deeds and their repentance to Allah, may He be exalted, they may be in a state of evil and sin, but then they turn back to Him, repent of their sins, and obey Him. As a result, Allah transforms their state of misery, hardship, and poverty into one of ease, unity, and righteousness. "That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in themselves," reads another verse (an interpretation of the meaning) [al-Anfaal 8:53].

According to this verse, if they are in a state of ease, comfort, and goodness, they will either change and turn to sin, or they will be given respite, as mentioned above, or their circumstances will change because they have no power or strength except Allah. The converse is also true: if they were in a state of evil and sin, or disbelief and misdirection, and they turn from their sins and commit to obeying Allah, Allah will transform their circumstances from undesirable to favorable; He will transform their disarray into harmony and unity; He will transform their hardship into ease, prosperity, and plenty; He will transform their predicament from one of drought, starvation, and water scarcity to one of rainfall, fertile land, and other positive things. Finish the quote.