Never Lose Hope
Following are some Quranic verses and a hadith that reflects the Islamic view about "Hope."
…And whosoever fears Allah…He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.
Quran 65:2-3
…After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.
Quran 65:7
So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily with every difficulty there is relief. Therefore, when you are free (from your immediate task), still labor hard. And to your Lord turn (all) your attention.
Quran 94:5-7
Allah promises us that after every difficulty is relief. We must never lose hope that our situation will improve.
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Quran 39:53
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.
O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith. Quran 12:87
Losing hope in Allah’s mercy is likened to disbelieving in Allah.
Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near! Quran 2:214
The path to paradise involves trials and difficulties. But never lose hope! It is just a test!
Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah. Quran 33:21
Hope is faith in Allah and the hereafter.
…So be not of the despairing.
Quran 15:55
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.
Quran 18:46
The true foundation of hope is the good that we do in this life.
Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost: for Allah is with you, and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds.
Quran 47:35
So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith. Quran 3:139
True success comes to those who believe.
Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them.
Quran 32:16
Waking up to pray to Allah when we are tired is a sure sign of our hope in Allah’s reward.
Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds. Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.
Quran 7:55-56
The believer calls on Allah in fear and hope: fear of His displeasure, and hope in His mercy and approval of us.
Allah created mercy in one hundred parts and sent down to earth only one part. Because of this one part, there is mutual love amongst creation, so much so that an animal will lift up its hoof from its young one, fearing that it might harm it. Allah has reserved the remaining ninety-nine parts of this mercy to favor His believing servants on the Day of Judgment.
Saying of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam as recorded in Bukhari and Muslim, Book #037, Hadith #6631
This hadith is a source of great hope in that Allah has reserved 99 out of 100 parts of mercy for the Day of Judgment. Now reflect on this: only one part of this 100 is divided among all living creatures on earth, including every single human being. Whatever mercy there is on earth, 99 times of that is with Allah. We cannot even fathom how merciful God is!
Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.
Quran 18:110
Let us be hopeful about meeting our Lord with our worship of Him alone.
This is a chapter about HOPE from the book “The Basic Values of Islam” by Sheima Salam.
