Ash-Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn Naasir As-Sa’dee said:

“From the greatest of knowledge that it (the Quran) informed us of repeatedly from the unseen, is that there is no path to righteousness, correctness, happiness and success for humanity in this world or the hereafter except by following this religion and holding fast to its direction and guidance. No one can try to doubt this for verily, in the era of the rightly guided caliphs and righteous kings, when this nation was guided by its (the Quran’s) knowledge, direction and its cultivation of the individual and community, their worldly situation was correct and good just as their religious practice was. So they became the loftiest exemplary model regarding power, might, honor, justice, mercy and all perfect qualities attainable by humanity.

Then, afterwards, when they neglected its factual and practical knowledge, they faltered and fell apart and have not ceased in decrease, weakness and humiliation until they review and retake their religion.

In contrast to that, from the most astonishing of matters, yet not strange, is that despite the rise of the other nations in these times as regards astonishing industrial production, miraculous inventions, and awesome power, they do not increase in anything but misery. This is to the extent that their civilization, although they are amazed by it, and it is submitted to by other nations, is under threat of total destruction at all times.

All of their politicians and scholars are in a state of tremendous bewilderment from resolving this danger. It will never be resolved except by following what the Quran came with and taking direction from the guidance of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), which gathers between knowledge, action, justice, mercy, wisdom, the greater good of the soul and body and rectification of the religion, the world and the hereafter.

The harm of purely material knowledge and power is greater than its benefit, and its evil is greater than its good since it is not built upon the religion of truth. Look with your own eyes, and you will see astonishing matters. If this material advancement, which the world has not witnessed the likes of, is empty of the spirit of the religion then it is really rapid descent and decline. The entire world is in a state of upsetting danger; the extent of whose harm and horrors are unknown to any but Allah.

[Fath Ar-Raheem Al Malik Al-A’llaam p.100]

Source: Perfect Solutions From the Qur’aan For Some of the World’s Greatest Problems, Abdur Rahman As-Sa’dee and Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shinqeeti, Authentic Statements Publishing, Translated by Aboo Suhailah Umar Quinn, pp.12-14.