Never Lose Hope Islams Guidance on Allahs Mercy

Do Not Despair

Allah Almighty, by His wisdom and will, has placed people in different circumstances. He has made some wealthy and others poor and needy; some masters and others servants. In short, Allah Almighty keeps a person in whatever state He wills. Similarly, success or failure, comfort or hardship, benefit or loss—all are, in reality, from Allah Almighty. A person should therefore remain patient and grateful in every condition, accepting Allah Amighty’s decree and pleasure.

Some people, however, have the habit of rejoicing excessively when they receive blessings and achieve success. But as soon as illness, difficulty, calamity, or failure in business strikes, they immediately fall into distress and despair. Allah Almighty describes this human weakness, stating:

لَا یَسْــٴَـمُ الْاِنْسَانُ مِنْ دُعَآءِ الْخَیْرِ٘-وَ اِنْ مَّسَّهُ الشَّرُّ فَیَــٴُـوْسٌ قَنُوْطٌ(۴۹)

Man does not tire of seeking goodness and if evil befalls him, he becomes deeply despairing, most downhearted.[1]

The bright and elevated teachings of Islam guide its followers even during times of hardship and worry, leading them out of the darkness of depression and setting them upon the path of hope. According to these noble teachings, it is essential for a Muslim to cling firmly to hope instead of falling into despair.

He should fear the punishment of Allah Almighty due to his own shortcomings while simultaneously remaining hopeful of His mercy. Becoming completely fearless in this world or utterly despairing of Allah Almighty’s mercy are characteristics of the disbelievers. As Allah Almighty states:

اَفَاَمِنُوْا مَكْرَ اللّٰهِۚ-فَلَا یَاْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخٰسِرُوْنَ۠(۹۹)

Are they unafraid of the concealed plan of Allah? So only those who incur destruction are unafraid regarding the concealed plan of Allah.[2]

He further states:

وَ لَا تَایْــٴَـسُوْا مِنْ رَّوْحِ اللّٰهِؕ-اِنَّهٗ لَا یَایْــٴَـسُ مِنْ رَّوْحِ اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ(۸۷)

and do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah—only the disbelievers lose hope in Allah’s mercy.”[3]

Similarly, if a person commits sins due to human frailty, and those sins are so numerous that they reach the heights of the sky, they must still not lose hope in Allah Almighty’s mercy, for His mercy is vast beyond measure. Allah Almighty says:

قُلْ یٰعِبَادِیَ الَّذِیْنَ اَسْرَفُوْا عَلٰۤى اَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوْا مِنْ رَّحْمَةِ اللّٰهِؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِیْعًاؕ-اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِیْمُ(۵۳)

Say, “O My people who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of Allah’s mercy. Indeed Allah forgives all sins. Indeed He is Most-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.[4]

Although this verse specifically forbids despairing of Allah Almighty’s mercy in the context of sin, its message is universal: despair in any form is prohibited. Therefore, one must never lose hope or become despondent because of successive calamities, difficulties, and hardships in life, as this is the characteristic of the disbelievers and the misguided, and it is a major sin.[5]

Despair is also strictly prohibited in the blessed Hadith. When the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was asked about the major sins, he replied: "Associating partners with Allah, despairing of His mercy, and being fearless of His hidden plan."[6]

Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh b. MasꜤūd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: "Destruction lies in two matters: despair and self-conceit." After quoting this, Imām Muḥammad al-Ghazālī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه explains that Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh b. MasꜤūd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ combined these two matters because true success can never be attained without striving, effort, and determination. A despairing person neither strives nor seeks, while a prideful person assumes he is already blessed and has achieved his goal, so he abandons effort.[7]

Whether it is a religious or worldly problem, never lose courage. Face it firmly and do not let despair come near you, because at times, despair can drive a person not only to the loss of life but even to the loss of faith. Many people, out of hopelessness from debt, domestic conflict, or financial distress, commit suicide. Likewise, some utter words of disbelief in moments of despair. Although not every kind of hopelessness is disbelief, some forms do lead to it.

As the leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ states: "Sometimes a person loses courage and anguishes due to worldly troubles, illness, or medical bills. This kind of despair is not disbelief. However, despair becomes disbelief when one holds beliefs such as: Allah Almighty is not powerful, or that Allah Almighty does not have knowledge of one’s condition, or that Allah Almighty is miserly (withholding goodness) ."[8]

Remember, circumstances never remain the same; after hardship comes ease, and after difficulty comes relief. Instead of focusing on the cessation of outward means, turn to the Creator of all means, and attach your heart to Him. Indeed, Allah Almighty will provide a solution to your problems. Allah Almighty states:

وَ مَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰهَ یَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ مَخْرَجًاۙ(۲) وَّ یَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَحْتَسِبُؕ

And whosoever fears Allah, He will create a way out for him. And He will grant him sustenance from where he cannot even imagine.[9]

Therefore, do not lose hope, and do not let others despair either.

Unfortunately, some people have a habit of unnecessarily spreading hopelessness. If someone suffers a loss in business, instead of encouraging them, they say: "He will never succeed in business." When visiting a patient, instead of comforting them, they say: "Your illness is severe; another person with the same illness died a painful death within days." When they see a sinful, worldly person, instead of motivating him to repent, they say: "He will never be granted the ability to repent. Even if he does repent, his repentance will not be accepted," and so on.

Such people should take heed from the following Hadith. Sayyidunā Zayd b. Aslam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that in previous nations, there was a man who was strict upon his nafs due to abundant worship and caused people to despair of Allah Almighty’s mercy. When he passed away, someone saw him in a dream standing before Allah Almighty and saying: "O my Lord, what reward do I have in Your court?"

Allah Almighty replied: "The Fire."

He asked: "Where is all my worship and striving?"

Allah Almighty said: "In the world, you made My people hopeless of My mercy. Today, I will make you despair of My mercy."[10]

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to remain hopeful of His mercy and protect us from despair.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ