✨Hope in Allah

Know that the person travels to Allah through his heart and his determination and not with his body. And taqwa (consciousness of Allah) in reality is the taqwa of the heart and not the taqwa of the limbs.

And the deeds of the heart are more mandatory than the deeds of the limbs. And the servitude of the heart is greater than the servitude of the limbs. And from among the greatest worships of the heart is the worship of Al Rajaa (hope).

Al Rajaa (hope) is hoping for the grace and mercy of Allah. And anticipating His bounty and favour. And faith and satisfaction in His bestowal and generosity. Allah said:
Al Baqarah (2) 218: Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah – those expect the mercy of Allah. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Ahmad bin Asem (أحمد بن عاصم ) was asked: what is the sign of a person having rajaa (hope) ? He responded: If he is enveloped by grace, to be inspired to be grateful longing for the complete favour from Allah upon him in this world and the hereafter.

And from this we know the difference between the fruitful rajaa (hope) and wishing and delusion. With wishing comes laziness and abandoning deeds and not taking the path of seriousness and diligence. As for rajaa (hope) it comes with deeds and acts of obedience. And exerting effort and correct reliance. Allah said:
Al Kahf 110: 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.

As for delusion, it is having false hope with deficiency in taking the required means while doing deeds to the contrary. Yahyaa bin Muath (يحيى بن معاذ) said: I define delusion as: persisting in sin while hoping for pardoning without feeling regret. And expecting closeness to Allah without performing acts of obedience.

The poet truthfully said:
You wish for salvation and have not taken its path
Indeed, the ship does not run on land

It is sufficient for hope (rajaa) as a station that it is the servitude of the Prophets. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said:
Ash-Shuaraa (26) 82: And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.

And it is one of the characteristics of scholars who are knowledgeable of Allah Almighty:
Az-Zumar (39) 9: Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

And those hoping for the mercy of Allah are those performing acts of obedience. The ones who perform what Allah has commanded and refrain from what Allah has prohibited. Allah said:
Fater (35) 29: Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a transaction [i.e., profit] that will never perish –

Hope (rajaa) is a great worship of the heart that has an effect on the Iman (faith) of the Muslim and his behaviour.

From its effects on Iman (faith) is displaying servitude and the need for what he hopes for from his Lord. And he looks forward to His Generosity. And he does not dispense from His Grace and Generosity even for a glimpse of an eye.

Also hope (raja) places the person on the doorstep of love of Allah. For as his hope (rajaa) increases and he obtains what he hopes for, he increases in love of Allah, gratitude to Allah, being pleased with Allah and Allah being pleased with him.

Moreover, hope (raja) raises him to the highest level which is the level of gratitude, which is the essence of servitude to Allah. For if he obtains what he hoped for, he is more likely to have gratitude.

And from the fruits of hope (rajaa) is that it necessitates increasing in knowing Allah, His names , their meaning and attachment to them. For indeed in practicing hope (rajaa) is attachment to His beautiful names, worshipping and supplicating through them and leaving all else. Allah said:
Al Israa (17) 57: Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.

And from the effects of hope (rajaa) on behaviour is that those practicing hope (rajaa) are the closest in following the way of the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ . Allah said:
Al Ahzab (33) 21: There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.

Also, whoever hopes in Allah also thinks well of Allah. And thinking well of Allah raises the level of person with His Lord. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet ﷺ said:
Allah says, “I am as My servant thinks I am” [agreed upon]

And from its effects is that hope (rajaa) drives a person to repent and return to Allah. And repentance is among the most beloved deeds to Allah Almighty. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
If the believer knew what is with Allah of punishment, none would hope for Paradise, and if the disbeliever knew what is with Allah of mercy, none would despair of (attaining) Paradise. [ Muslim 2755]

There is nothing between the sinner and the mercy of his Lord except that he leaves the sin and feels regret over it. And is determined that he will not return to it and that he asks for Allah’s forgiveness. By doing so, Allah’s words apply to him:
An Nisa (4) 110: And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
The believer will be brought close to his Lord until He will cover him with His screen and ask him: Did you commit such-and-such sins? He will say: Yes, my Lord. Allah will keep on asking him till he will confess all his sins and will think that he is ruined. Allah will say: “I concealed your sins in the world and I forgive them for you today.” [al-Bukhari 2441]

The poet said:
When my heart hardened and exits were closing
I made a ladder out of hoping in Your pardoning
My sin seemed enormous but Your
Pardoning my Lord was more
You continue in Your pardoning
According grace and honoring

Oh Muslims: Hope (rajaa) is not without fear of Allah Almighty. For they are like two wings of a bird. If they are balanced the bird is able to fly. But if one of them is deficient then the bird is impaired. And if they disappear, the bird is on the brink of death and falls. And there are many verses in the book of Allah Almighty in which He combined fear and hope. And between mercy and punishment. Which causes a person to be between fear and hope. Allah said:
Al Anam (6) 147: So if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], say, “Your Lord is the possessor of vast mercy; but His punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.”

And Allah said:
Al Hijr (15) 49-50: (49) [O Muḥammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful, (50) And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.

And Allah said:
Al Araf (7) 156: [Allah] said, “My punishment – I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things”

And Allah said:
Al Anam (6) 165: Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

And Allah said:
Ghafer (40) 3: The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the destination.

And Allah said:
Al Araf (7) 56: And invoke Him in fear and aspiration.

So let our hope and thinking well towards Allah Almighty be more than our dependence on our deeds and acts of obedience. For Allah’s mercy and generosity is more than we think. Rather it is beyond our perceptions. So think well towards your Lord and be hopeful.

We ask Allah Almighty to make us among those who balance hope and fear of our Lord. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

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