Hope is faith in Allah and the hereafter. The proper foundation of hope is the good we do in this life. True success comes to those who believe. Waking up to pray to Allah when we are tired is a sure sign of our hope in Allah’s reward. Hope is a positive expectation that we have about a future outcome. The believer calls on Allah in fear and hope: fear of His displeasure, and hope in His mercy and approval of us. Hope should likewise be accompanied by fear and complete reliance on God Allah says:
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذۡهَبُواْ فَتَحَسَّسُواْ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَاْيۡـَٔسُواْ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يَاْيۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ
“And never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly, no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” (Surah Yusuf 12:87)
Hope contributes positively to an individual’s outlook and his/her capability in dealing with difficult moments in life. Even so, the future is still uncertain. One might argue that hope may hurt the person more in the long run if the outcome is not like what he expected it to be. The righteous person would strengthen his wing of fear in the time of happiness, so God is always remembered, and recklessness is prevented. Allah says:
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
“Wealth and children are the only adornments of the worldly life, but enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for one’s hope.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46)
Allah promises us that every difficulty is a relief. We must never lose hope that our situation will improve. Losing hope in Allah’s mercy is likened to disbelieving in Allah. We all go through hard times in life. It’s a part of being alive and the reality we all have to deal with. The path to paradise involves trials and difficulties. But never lose hope! It is just a test!
Islam teaches its followers with regards to hope and its practice in the religion:
- Hope is an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation
- Hope should be coupled with action, and, in our tradition
- Hope approaches everything with a sense of curiosity
- Hope is a big dreamer that imagines a better world
- Hope is a positive expectation of a better future
- Hope and fear should be in complete balance
- Hope to turn our dreams into concrete goals
- Hope to cultivate a way of positive thinking
- Hope voluntarily perform the love of God
- Hope is an integral part of our Faith
- Hope originates from God through faith
- Hope is the basis of a moral life is based
- Hope supports you when you feel deserted
- Hope to obtain something through petitions
- Hope without expectation is lacking certainty
- Hope to participate in an imperishable wreath
- Hope to spend time visualizing a better future
- Hope meets all the characteristics of the virtue
- Hope to make things will turn out in their favour
- Hope is the possible, desired and difficult to obtain
God has promised us that His guidance will lead us to the best outcome. The proper foundation of hope is the good we do in this life. Waking up to pray to Allah when we are tired is a sure sign of our hope in Allah’s reward. The believer calls on Allah in fear and hope: fear of His displeasure, and hope in His mercy and approval of us. Excess hope is feared to deceive individuals and make them delusional. Allah says:
قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ
“Who can lose hope in the mercy of his Lord except those who have lost the straight path?” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:56)
Hope is that element in our lives, that we need, that energizes us, that propels us forward so that we can achieve great things. In Islam, we find that the Quran teaches us that Hope is the source of light for those who yearn to have the best in all things. The great thing is that Allah shows us how to create hope for lasting bliss both in this worldly life and eternal hereafter.
Our heart is gifted to see this light, never lose hope:
- Strengthen your wing of hope for God is All-Merciful
- Allah is the giver and gives so much to His people
- God is merciful, what we see around us every day
- Hope guides us through the darkness
- Living is dear, do not waste life
- Be grateful to Allah for whatever you have
- Always maintain a positive outlook on life
- Allah maAllahkes people recall with His blessings
- God is merciful, what we see around us every day
- In Islam, hope has a partner, and its partner is fear
Islam teaches its followers to completely rely on GodAllah created each of us as weak sinners. He knows every human will make mistakes. Some will make bigger mistakes than others. Some may even fall into major sins. But Allah does not want any of us to ever lose hope in His Mercy, no matter what sins we have committed. A Muslim is to think better of Allah. 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)
The people of God are never described as being despairing and hopeless. The aim is to encourage Muslims to not give up on life and to rekindle hope in them. Let’s do this, think about the things that you want to do in your life, the things that you want to achieve in this life and the hereafter and make that your goal. Make it your destination, and have an idea about how you’re going to get there.
Allah Almighty in the Quran to believers to not lose hope in Allah’s Mercy:
- “And My Mercy encompasses everything.” (Quran 7:156)
- “…After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.” (Quran 65:7)
- “Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.” (Quran 3:132)
- “Surely Allah is Most Gentle, Ever Compassionate to people.” (Quran 22:65)
- “God is with you and will never deprive you of your (good) deeds.” (Quran 47:35)
- “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Quran 21:107)
- “Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And do not repel the beggar.” (Quran 93: 9-10)
- “Do not lose heart nor fall into despair! You shall triumph if you are believers.” (Quran 3:139)
Allah commands us to never lose hope in His mercy and forgiveness. Even if we have committed many sins, Allah forgives all sins except that of associating partners with Him. As Muslims, we are taught to not lose hope. When a person hopes for something, this means he is expecting something desirable or good to happen. He is optimistic about his future. In difficult times, a person with hope believes there is light at the end of every tunnel. He believes happiness always awaits him. A Muslim is never in despair, not even in the most difficult moments. Allah says:
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ
“Verily, they would hasten to good deeds and supplicate to Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us.” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:90)
Allah promises us that every difficulty is a relief. We must never lose hope that our situation will improve. Losing hope in Allah’s mercy is likened to disbelieving in Allah. The true foundation of hope is the good that we do in this life. The path to paradise involves trials and difficulties. But never lose hope! It is just a test. Waking up to pray to Allah when we are tired is a sure sign of our hope in Allah’s reward. Allah forgives all sins except that of associating partners with Him.
