Verily, this (Verse of the Qur'ân) is an admonition, so whosoever wills, let him take a Path to his Lord (Allâh).
But you cannot will, unless Allâh wills. Verily, Allâh is Ever AllKnowing, AllWise. He will admit to His Mercy whom He wills and as for the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrongdoers) He has prepared a painful torment.
According to the aforementioned Ayahs, the issue becomes so clear with regard to Allah's saying:
Nothing shall ever happen to us
Verily, Allâh 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 Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
The first Ayah indicates that whatever pleasant or unpleasant matters befalling people are predestined. The second Ayah indicates, in return, that Allah (may He be Praised) has arranged His slave's deeds to happen in compliance with what He predestined; that their effects follow their causes. Thus, the believers when faced with a calamity have firm belief in Predestination for that would relieve themselves hearts and put themselves at ease. They believes that Allah (may He be Praised) predestined everything and that nothing shall ever happen to them except what Allah (Exalted be He) has ordained for them. Furthermore, they should bear with patience whatever hardships and distress befalling them, as well as confidently anticipating Allah's Recompense in the hope of attaining what He promised for those who retain patience. Allah (may He be Praised) says:
but give glad tidings to AsSâbirûn (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."
They are those on whom are the Salawât (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones. This does not prevent believers from taking the available means and doing what Allah (Exalted be He) obliged them to do and abandoning what He prohibited, based on the Qur'anic Ayah (verse):
And say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) "Do deeds! Allâh will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers.
Cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for Satan. (Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadith)
Doing so deserves praise and reward for the believers in this world and in the Hereafter in return for their good deeds and considering the beneficial means and turning away from whatever brings about harm. On the other hand, the individual faces dispraise, grievous punishment and all kinds of penalties in this world and in the Hereafter for sins and negligence of means and failure to be ready to face the enemy. Allah (Exalted be He) decrees that if His slaves are upright, adhere to His Din (religion), avoid His wrath and struggle for His Cause, He would make them victorious and grant them Paradise and Happiness. Allah says:
O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allâh, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.
and (as for) the believers, it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).
Verily, Allâh will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allâh is AllStrong, AllMighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqamata sSalât [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salât (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakât and they enjoin AlMa'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid AlMunkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islâm has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur'ân as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. And with Allâh rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).
So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for AlMuttaqûn (the pious)
However, if they neglect Allah's orders and follow their whims, He (may He be Praised) will change their status of power and unity and make them vulnerable to their enemies. Not only that, but they will be stricken with all kinds of punishments, such as killing; fear; loss of wealth, lives and fruits and other misfortunes as an exact punishment (for evil crimes). Allah (Exalted be He) is never unjust (to the least) to His slaves. This is the meaning of Allah's saying:
Verily, Allâh 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 Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
This means that Allah (Exalted be He) does not change the condition of people from might, lavishness, unity and other blessings, unless they themselves change their state of devotion and submissiveness to Him and adhering to His Din, considering beneficial means, being fully prepared to face the enemy and fighting in the Cause of Allah (May He be Exalted). If they did that, then Allah (Exalted be He) will change their state from that of having might and power into humiliation, from unity into dissension and
from richness and security into poverty, misery and loss of peace and insecurity as well as grievous punishments. This is the meaning of the other Ayah:
That is so because Allâh will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves.
If they repent to Allah (may He be Praised), hasten to offer good deeds and consider the legal and tangible means, prepare all they could to face their enemy and fight in the cause of Allah in its truest sense, Allah (Exalted be He) will change their state of misery and humiliation into one of might; weakness, dissension, poverty and fear into power, unity, richness and security as well as other blessings. Furthermore, as the texts from the Book and the Sunnah bear witness to what we mentioned, the historical background also provides support for that. A deep look at the past and present history of this Ummah (nation) and the changes it has experienced indicates our statement and the meaning of the two aforesaid Ayahs will be clearer. The solid evidence of that is exemplified in the early Muslim generations who acquired power and were thus victorious over their enemies, because they adhered to Allah's Shari`ah (Islamic Law), cooperated in righteousness and piety, had an honest intention in considering the beneficial means and fought the enemies. When they changed that, Allah (Exalted be He) changed their state. This lesson could be derived from the battles of Badr and Uhud which bear witness to what we mentioned. When the Muslims were true to their covenant with their Prophet (peace be upon him) in fighting the Kuffar (disbelievers) on the Battle of Badr, Allah (May He be Exalted) made them victorious over their enemies even though they were the less in number and weapons. Likewise, when the archers left their positions on the hills on the Battle of Uhud and disobeyed the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who warned them not to leave their positions, the Muslims incurred great loss and lost the battle with a total loss of seventy Muslim killed and many more wounded. However, when the Muslims felt uneasy about what happened, Allah (may He be Praised) revealed the Ayah:
(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds)." And Allâh has power over all things.
If this was the case with the Sahabah (the Prophet's Companions), who were the best generation of this Ummah
when they disobeyed the commands of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), Allah changed their state. Therefore, if the same is done by a later generation, who are less adherent to the rulings of the Shari`ah, the same consequent will definitely be the result. It should be noted, however, that they did not go beyond Allah's Predestination, as He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Qur'ân Verse 35:45).
No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (AlLauh AlMahfûz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allâh.
Thus, it becomes clear to whoever seeks the truth the meaning of Allah's saying:
Verily, Allâh 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 Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us"
Both Ayahs are clear and there is no contradiction between them, given that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) might inflict His believing servants with prosperity and adversity to test their patience and perseverance and to set an example for others, then He will admit them to Jannah (Paradise) and grant them happiness. Allah (may He be Praised) says:
And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allâh) and AsSâbirûn (the patient), and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful).
Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allâh tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are AsSâbirûn (the patient)?
There are many Ayahs to this effect.