Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
Verse 53
Table of Contents
53. “That is because Allah does not change a blessing He has bestowed on a people unless they change what is in their own selves, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
Then, by mentioning the basic root of the subject, the, Qur'an makes this matter more clear. It implies that all of these are for that Allah does not alter whatever blessing He bestows on a people unless those people themselves alter their own conditions, and, of course Allah is aware of everything. The verse says:
“That is because Allah does not change a blessing He has bestowed on a people unless they change what is in their own selves, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
In other words, the graces and blessings of Allah (s.w.t) are infinite, common, and general, but they reach people due to their eligibilities, suitability and competencies.
When people utilize the blessings of Allah (s.w.t) as a means for reaching unto their perfection, and show gratitude for them, which is the correct usage of them, Allah makes His blessings fixed and increased.
But, when these blessings are used as a means for disobedience, injustice, mischief, and ingratitude, He may take them back or changes them into some afflictions and calamities.
Thus, alteration of the bounties and blessings always depend on our own selves, else the blessings and merits of Allah are ceaseless.
An Islamic tradition indicates that nothing can change the Divine blessings like what injustice does, since Allah hears the complaints of the oppressed.1
Footnotes
At- Tafsir-ul-Furqan ↩