REFORMING A SOCIETY
The Only Correct Starting Point
IN ancient times, when Jews suffered their political decline, it
produced a tendency among them to fight in order to regain their
political glory. At this critical time, according to the Bible, the
Prophet Jeremiah told them:
Say to the king and queen mother, “Humble yourselves; sit down. For
your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.” (Jeremiah 13: 18)
Through this example of the Jews, a universal principle is stated here: nations suffer decline after they have experienced rise. Nations experience political subjugation after enjoying political supremacy. This is exactly according to the law of nature. This fact was highlighted by the historian Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) in these words, “Nations have their lifespan just as people have lifespan.” The nations should recognize and acknowledge this change when it comes about. Not accepting the change at this time would mean exposing the community to further destruction.
The fact is that political power is not the monopoly of any group or community. As long as a community possesses the required capacity, political power will remain with it
The fact is that political power is not the monopoly of any group or community. The attainment of political power is linked to its essential capacity. As long as a community possesses the required capacity, political power will remain with it. When it loses this capacity, political power is taken away from it. When this happens, the community should again develop necessary capability, instead of waging fruitless war against those who have been granted political power.
The Quran states that change in the fortunes of a nation is always the result of the change in an individual: God does not change the condition of a people’s lot, unless they change what is in their hearts. (13: 11)
Whenever a community’s standards fall at the collective level, its cause must be searched at the level of the individuals who comprise it. Because the collective condition of a community or nation can change only after the condition of the people of the nation has changed. There is no other alternative. The process begins at the individual level and not at the level of the crowd. It is only demagoguery that thrives in crowds. No real work of development can take place at this level.