GOMBAK – Leaders must first transform themselves by embracing Quranic values before attempting to change society, according to Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF) founder Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub.
He said many of the crises seen today, particularly in the Middle East, stemmed from leaders failing to uphold Islamic values and the teachings of the Quran.
"You must change yourself first before you change the world. What is happening in the Middle East today is the result of leaders failing to uphold Islamic values and Quranic teachings.
"If they truly upheld those principles, their countries would not end up in such a situation," he said at the World #QuranHour 2026 programme at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), here, on Wednesday.
Hussamuddin said current global events served as a reminder of the importance of patience and resilience in the face of prolonged hardship.
"God is showing us a lesson before our eyes. It is like a drama unfolding, where we see extremely cruel characters committing terrible acts such as bombing and violence without mercy.
"At the same time, God also shows us people who have endured hardship patiently for 40 years. When they eventually rise, those who once acted arrogantly find themselves without a way out. The message is clear," he said.
He said the key lesson from such developments was the need for individuals, especially leaders, to strengthen their own character and values first.
"We must improve ourselves first. Today, people compete to become leaders, while those already in power compete to remain in their positions or to bring others down.
"But what about their own values? Do they truly possess Quranic values and a Quranic mindset?" he said.
Hussamuddin said the organisation’s mission was to nurture leaders, including family leaders, who practise Quranic principles in their daily lives.
"Our struggle is to create leaders, including leaders within families, who have Quranic values. The Quran should function as the operating system of our lives.
"When people truly embody the morals taught by the Quran, many of the problems we see today would not occur," he said.
He added that corruption, abuse of power and unethical behaviour could be avoided if individuals genuinely practised Quranic teachings.
"When people work sincerely for the sake of God, they focus not only on results but also on whether their actions bring blessings.
"Today many people only care about outcomes and do not think about whether their actions are blessed or ethical," he said.
Hussamuddin said the effort to instil Quranic values in society had been a long-term mission pursued through initiatives such as the World #QuranHour campaign.
"In the past, our tagline was to bring Quranic values to the nation. Now our goal is to bring Quranic values to the entire ummah.
"The process of shaping a Quran-centred community is a long journey," he said.
He expressed hope that younger generations would continue the mission of raising awareness about the Quran and its teachings.
"Even if we are no longer here one day, we hope the younger generation will continue this effort so that programmes like this will keep reminding the ummah.
"Every year the campaign must bring new participants and welcome new people on board. That is our objective," he added.
World #QuranHour 2026, now in its 11th year, highlights Surah Al-Muzzammil as the selected chapter under the theme "Shaping the Human Self Before Changing the World."
The programme was organised by WUIF and supported by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department with IIUM as co-organiser.
The 2026 edition also marked a milestone as, for the first time, the tadabbur session and main sharing were delivered in English to allow the message of the Quran to reach and be understood by a wider international audience.