What is happening in the Arab countries, and will we eradicate injustice by overthrowing rulers, and is corruption only in governments, and why do we not start by reforming ourselves, enjoining good, and forbidding evil?

What is happening in Arab countries and elsewhere, in terms of events, is by the decree and preordainment of Allah. It is not necessarily all about reform; rather, it could be a retribution against an oppressor or a victory for the oppressed. This is evidenced by the lives of oppressors, such as the story of Yahya al-Barmaki, and by Quranic verses like the Almighty's saying: "And how many a city have We destroyed while it was committing wrong?" and "And thus is the grasp of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are doing wrong. Indeed, His grasp is painful and severe."

The fall of oppressors is a manifestation of Allah's justice and mercy, and a blessing that deserves praise, as stated in His saying, the Almighty: "So the last remnant of the people who committed wrong was cut off. And praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds." This is because their destruction is a rectification for the people and an act of justice.

Corruption is not limited to governments, but in contemporary reality, governments may sponsor and enforce it, and prevent those who resist it.

Reforming ourselves and enjoining good and forbidding evil is important, but governments have been a major impediment to that. And although reforming souls paves the way for changing circumstances, as in the Almighty's saying: "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves," limiting oneself to self-reform without striving to reform the general situation may be an evasion of responsibility.

The primary reason for the weakness of the Muslim Ummah is the condition of the Muslims themselves, and the condition of their rulers is a reflection of their relationship with their Lord.