Hoping in Allaah’s Mercy
By Shaykh Ahmad Fareed[1]
RAJAA (HOPE) IN ALLAAH
Hope: it is the peaceful state of
the heart which awaits what is dear to it.
If the means – by which what the heart hopes for may come – are not
present, then stupidity and foolishness would be a more accurate name for such
a state. Similarly, if there is no
doubt that what is being hoped for will definitely occur, then likewise, this
state cannot be referred to as hope.
For example, it would not be correct to say: I hope that the sun rises
today. However, it would be correct to
say: I hope that it rains today.
The Scholars who have studied
matters pertaining to the heart have said: that this world is like land that is
cultivated for its fruits in the Hereafter; and that the heart is like the
earth and that eemaan (faith) is like the seeds; and that acts of
obedience are like ploughing and preparing the soil for planting, and digging
channels in order to irrigate and bring water to it.
The heart which is in love with
this world is like barren land, from which seeds cannot sprout. The Day of Judgement is like the day of
harvest – and each person reaps what he sows.
And no seed van sprout, except the seeds of eemaan, and eemaan
very seldom benefits if the heart is corrupt and has bad qualities.
BETWEEN HOPE AND DELUSION
The example of a servant’s hope
in Allaah’s mercy and forgiveness can be likened to the hope of a farmer: If
the farmer searches for fertile soil, then sows it with good and healthy seeds,
giving to the seeds what they need at the appropriate time, removing from
around them the weeds and anything else that may hinder or ruin their growth,
then he sits and waits for the favour of Allaah - the Most High – with regards
to him keeping away violent storms and other harmful elements, until the seeds
have fully ripened and grown – then this type of waiting and expectation can truly
be described as hope. However, if the
farmer sows the seeds in hard and barren soil, too high up for water to reach
it, and he does nothing to care and protect the seed from harm, and then he
sits and waits for a good harvest – then his waiting is called foolishness and
delusion!
So, the term hope only applies to
waiting for what is dear or desired, after all the means – that will assist in
realizing this desire and are within the ability of the person – have been
utilized. As for that which is not within the servant’s ability, then it is
left to the favour of Allaah – the Most High – and He is the One who can
prevent harmful matters, if He so wishes.
So if the servant sows the seeds of eemaan, and he waters them with acts
of obedience to Allaah, and cleanses his heart from harmful qualities and
traits, then waits for the favour of Allaah – the Most High – with regards of
being granted firmness upon this until death and an excellent end leading to
His forgiveness – then such a wait can truly be called hope. Allaah – the Most High – said:
Indeed those who
believe and those who migrate and who make jihaad in the path of Allaah,
they are the ones who have the hope of Allaah’s mercy. And indeed Allaah is Oft-Forgiving,
Most-Merciful.” [Soorah al-Baqarah
2:218]
The meaning of this being that
such people are truly worthy of hoping in Allaah’s mercy. And He did not intend only to particularize
them with this, since others also can hope in Allaah’s mercy. However, He particularized them as being
those who truly deserve to hope. So the
one whose hope in Allaah’s mercy guides him to obedience and deters him from
disobedience, his hope is true. And the
one whose hope invites him to being immersed in sin and disobedience, is in
delusion.
It is also necessary to know that
truly hoping in something necessitates three things.
Firstly: Yearning for what
one hopes.
Secondly: Fearing to miss
gaining it.
Thirdly: Striving to
achieve it.
If hope is not connected with any
one of these matters, then it is mere wishful thinking, since hope is one
thing, and wishful thinking something else.
And every person who is hopeful, is also fearful, and whosoever
traverses a path, makes haste when he fears that he may miss what he hopes for.
Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu ‘anhu relates that Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whosoever fears
being plundered by the enemy, sets out in the early part of the night, and
whosoever sets out early and reaches the destination. Indeed the treasures of Allaah are precious. Indeed the treasures of Allah is Paradise.”[2]
Allaah – the One free from all
defects, the Most High – said:
“Say: O My
servants who have wronged their souls due to sin. Do not despair in Allaah’s mercy, for indeed Allaah forgives all
sins. Indeed He is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” [Soorah az-Sumar 39:53].
And Allah – the Mighty and
Majestic – said:
“Indeed your lord is full of
forgiveness for mankind, inspite of their wrong-doing.” [Soorah ar-Ra’d
13:6].
‘Umar ibn al-Khataab radiallaahu ‘anhu relates that some prisoners were brought before Allaah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and amongst them was a woman who was frantically searching for someone in the crowd. When she found a baby amongst the prisoners, she took it in her arms, cradles it next to her chest and suckled it. So Allaah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Do you think this
woman would ever throw her child into the Fire?” We said: By Allaah!
Never! So he said: “Allah is more merciful to His believing
servants than that mother could ever be to her child.”[3]
Abu Hurayra radiallaahu ‘anhu relates that Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Indeed before
Allaah created the creation, He decreed for Himself: Indeed My mercy prevails
over My anger.”[4]
Anas radiallaahu ‘anhu relates that he heard Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam say:
“Allaah – the Most
High – said: O son of Aadam! As long as
you call upon Me and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done and
I shall not mind. O son of Aadam! If your sins were to reach the clouds of the
sky and you were then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Aadam! Were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth,
and were you then to meet Me without committing any shirk (i.e. calling upon
someone else, or worshipping someone else) along with Me, I would bring you
forgiveness as great as it.”[5]
Yahyaa ibn Mu’aadh said: “In my view, the worst kind of self-delusion
is to greatly sin, yet hope for forgiveness without feeling any regret; and to
hope to draw close to Allaah – the Most High – without obedience to Him and to
await the fruits of paradise, by planting the seeds for Hell-Fire and to seek
the abode of the obedient ones, by doing acts of disobedience and to expect
reward, without doing any worthy action; and to hope in Allaah – the Mighty and
Majestic – after overstepping the bounds.”
“You hope for
salvation, but do not tread its path.
A ship never sails
upon dry land.”[6][6]
[1]
Tazkiyatun-Nufoos (pp.103-107) of Shakh Ahmad Fareed.
[2]
Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee (10/227) and al-Haakim
(4/308) who both authenticated it.
[3]
Related by al-Bukhaaree (10/426) and Muslim (18/80).
[4]
Related by al-Bukhaaree (13/384) and Muslim (17/68).
[5]
Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee (no.2805) and Ahmad
(5/172). It was authenticated by
al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.126).
[6] Related by Ibn Hibbaan in Rawdatul-‘Uqalaa (p.284), from the poetry of Abul-‘Atiyya.