God is with you and will never deprive you of your (good) deeds

Never Give Up – The Power of Hope

In Islam however, no worship is complete without the presence of all three qualities: love of Allah, hope in His Mercy and fear of His Punishment. We all need a little hope from time to time because life can sometimes bring happiness as well as sorrow. Allah (SWT) who has created us knows our nature very well. A Muslim is never in despair, not even in the most difficult moments. Allah says:

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

“They arise from their beds and they supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided them.” (Surah As-Sajda 32:16)

Life is full of highs and lows. Without exception, every person has a challenge or difficulty in their life. These difficulties can sometimes feel overwhelming to the point where one sees no way out and despairs. Allah promises us that after every difficulty is a relief. We must never lose hope that our situation will improve. Allah says:

وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَيِّ الْقَيُّومِ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا 

“(All) faces shall be humbled before (Him) – the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal: hopeless indeed will be the man that carries iniquity (on his back).” (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:111)

Hope is the feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen or the feeling that events will turn out for the best. Hope is something to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. It is an ethereal quality that enables us to keep going in the direst of circumstances. We keep moving forward with optimism because hope allows us to envisage a better future or a good outcome. Allah says:

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا

“Those whom they call, seek to their Lord the means of access, which of them (is) nearest, and they hope (for) His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, (the) punishment (of) your Lord is (ever) feared.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:57)

The life of this world is filled with tests, trials, and tribulations but these must be faced with patience and hope. Hope that God will guide you to the best outcome. Hope will guide you through the darkness, but despair will only lengthen the journey. Everything turns positive for a Muslim with such a depth of soul. Whether it be trouble or difficulty, it is Allah Who bestows them on that person. Allah says:

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

“The wealth and children (are) adornment (of) the life (of) the world. But the enduring good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) hope.” (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:46)

God is merciful, what we see around us every day is only one per cent of His mercy. Every time a mother holds her child or a nurse wipes the brow of a suffering patient, or rain falls on the parched earth in a drought-stricken area… it is God’s mercy alive in the world. Waking up to pray to Allah when we are tired is a sure sign of our hope in Allah’s reward.

Here are some ways to never lose hope in Allah:

  1. Hope that Allah does not oppress anyone 
  2. Hope voluntarily perform the love of God
  3. Hope is a steadfast anchor of the soul
  4. Hope to lead us to greater happiness
  5. Hope is the inspiration of all desire
  6. Hope is the greatest virtue of love
  7. Hope is the true value of desires
  8. Hope leads to the greatest goal
  9. Hope carries a bright future
  10. Hope brings a blissful life
  11. Hope implanted in every heart
  12. Hope that Allah’s Mercy is infinite
  13. Hope preserved from self-concern 
  14. Hope is the action of the Holy Spirit
  15. Hope that Allah never wrongs anyone
  16. Hope supports when you feel deserted
  17. Hope emerging beauty an empty canvas
  18. Hope that Allah cares more than we would
  19. Hope that Allah assures all mankind to repent
  20. Hope that Allah loves you and will never wrong you

In the hustle and bustle of the twenty-first century, hope often gives way to despair. Not because we no longer have reason to hope, but because we are so preoccupied and busy with affairs of this world that we do not give hope the chance to blossom. Allah teaches the souls of those believers who have a sincere and unsullied belief in Him throughout the life of this world to be worthy of Paradise.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

  • “…So be not of the despairing.” (Quran 15:55)
  • “…After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.” (Quran 65:7)
  • “And do not kill yourselves. Surely, God is Rahīm toward you.” (Quran 4:29)
  • “God is with you and will never deprive you of your (good) deeds.” (Quran 47:35)
  • “…it may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” (Quran, 2:216)
  • “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Quran 2:155)
  • “So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.” (Quran 18:110)
  • “As for those who believe and do right actions, the All-Merciful will bestow His love on them.” (Quran, 19:96)
  • “Verily your Lord is quick in punishment and verily He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Giver of Mercy.” (Al-Quran 7:167)
  • “So, verily, with every difficulty, there is a relief: Verily with every difficulty, there is a relief.” (Quran 94:5)
  • “…Certainly, no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” (Quran 12:87)
  • “And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgment.” (Surah Ash-Shura, 82)

It is easy to forget one of the most essential things about hope and that is that God, the creator of humankind, understands that at various times in our lives, we will feel like giving into despair. The path to paradise involves trials and difficulties. But never lose hope! It is just a test. Allah says:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

“Surely there is in the person of Allah’s Messenger an excellent example for you—for every person who has hope in Allah and the hereafter and who remembers Allah, reciting His name many times.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)

One of the most beautiful things about the concept of worship in Islam is the truly unique way in which it incorporates the feeling of love, fear, and hope within the hearts of the worshippers of Allah. And to encourage us to look forward with hope, He reminds us consistently that we should never despair of His mercy, kindness, and forgiveness. Hope is faith in Allah and the hereafter. Allah says:

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

“Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure, Good Deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46)

Stress and anxiety seem to be the plagues of this new century. Depression, fatigue, and sorrow all try to strip hope away from us. He even gave his companions advice on how to dispel feelings of anxiety and despair. The true foundation of hope is the good that we do in this life. Allah says:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَيُحْيِي بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

“And among His Signs, He shows you the lightning (causing) fear and hope, and He sends down from the sky water and gives life therewith (to) the earth after its death. Indeed, in that surely (are) Signs for a people who use intellect.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:24)

When we testify that Allah is our Rabb, then we are acknowledging that He is the One who has given us so many blessings – so many that if we try to enumerate His blessings, we would be unable to do so. Hopelessness is not a new trait, it has been with humankind from the beginning; God and His Messengers have urged us to be hopeful. They have given us guidance and encouragement. May Allah make us among those who spend their lives working to please Him, and may He make us among those with bright faces, rejoicing in good news on that Day.