In this article, we will talk about hoping for Allah's mercy. The believers’ relationship with their Lord is characterized both by fear and hope, such that the former deters them from sins and disobedience, whereas the latter drives them towards good deeds.

Ibn Al-Qayyim  said:

“Hoping for the reward of Allah is one of the most supreme and honorable ranks of one who pursues the right path. Allah The Almighty praises those [who do that], when He Says (what means): {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.} [Quran 33:21] It was also narrated in a Hadeeth Qudsi, that Allah The Almighty Says: ‘O son of Adam, If you supplicate to Me, expecting My forgiveness, I will forgive you however great or many your sins may be.’ When a person has hope, it means that he or she is bound and attached to these names of his or her Lord: “The Benevolent, The Beneficent”. The more one knows Allah The Almighty, His names, attributes and the dominance of His mercy over His wrath, the more his or her hope increases [in Him]. Had it not been for hope, the servitude of the heart and organs [to Allah] would have ceased, and monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where the name of Allah is frequently mentioned, would have been demolished. If not for the spirit of hope, [our] limbs would not have performed acts of obedience, and neither would the ships of good deeds have sailed in the seas of will without its pleasant breeze.”

Similarly, the Prophet  said: “If a believer [truly] knew of the punishment of Allah, no one would expect His Paradise. Equally, were a disbeliever to know of the [actual] mercy of Allah, none would despair of His Paradise.” ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, remarked, “The most encouraging verse in the Quran is in the Chapter Az-Zumar (The Groups); Allah The Almighty Says (what means), {Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."} [Quran 39:53]”

One of those who visited Maalik ibn Anas  during the night in which he died, asked him, “O Abu ‘Abdullah, how do you find yourself?” He  answered, “I do not know what to say to you except that you will soon see [aspects] of the clemency of Allah that you have never expected.”

Glory be to Allah The Almighty! If those who turn away from Him only know how He waits for their return and how Merciful He is to them, they will long for Him enormously. Indeed, if this is His will towards such people, how will He be to those who draw near to Him? ‘Abdullah ibn Al-Mubaarak approached Sufyaan Ath-Thawri  both, on the night of [standing in] ‘Arafah, and found him kneeling [in prayer], as his eyes overflowed with tears; he asked, “Who is the worst person in this gathering [in the plains of ‘Arafah]?’ Sufyaan Ath-Thawri  replied: “Whoever thinks that Allah will not forgive their sins [i.e., of the people who are present].’”

On a similar night, Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh  observed people’s glorification [of Allah The Almighty] and their crying, so he asked those around him: “If those people went to a man and requested one-sixth of a dirham from him, would he let them return empty-handed?” When they replied in the negative, he commented: “By Allah, pardoning is easier for Allah than [that].” Therefore, I implore Allah The Almighty, seeking His forgiveness, knowing fully that He absolves and forgives; even if people’s sins are great, they are minor in comparison to His mercy.

Hence, a slave should have much hope in Him, especially when he or she is on the verge of death. Allah The Almighty Says, as narrated in a Hadeeth: “I am [to him or her] as My slave thinks of Me.” That is why, perhaps, when Waathilah ibn Al-Asqa’, may Allah be pleased with him, went to see Yazeed ibn Al-Aswad  as he lay dying, he asked him, “What is your expectation about Allah?” The latter replied: “My sins have brought me to the brink of ruin, but I hope for the mercy of Allah.” So, Waathilah, may Allah be pleased with him, [happily] exclaimed “Allah is The Greatest”, and then said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah  say: ‘Allah The Almighty Says: ‘I am as My slave thinks of Me, so let him think of Me what he wants’.’” For the same reason, when Sulaymaan At-Taymi  was dying, he instructed his son: “O Mu‘tamir, talk to me about exemptions [in Islam], so that I may meet Allah while having good expectations of Him.”

Hope prompts one to do good deeds

It is witnessed as a reality in life that many neglect good deeds and dare to commit evil and sins, claiming that they trust in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah The Almighty. Undoubtedly, this is a misunderstanding of the true meaning of hope. The words of Al-Hasan Al-Basri  are applicable to such people mentioned above; he says: “There are people whose confidence in forgiveness diverts them from doing what is moral, so much so that they die with no virtues. They proclaim: ‘we have good expectation of Allah’. Surely, they are liars, for if they had hope [in Him], they would have done good [to support their claim].”

Allah The Almighty is indeed the most Forgiving, Ever Merciful; however, I would like to draw your attention, dear reader, to the subtle meaning embedded in the verse (which means): {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.} [Quran 2:218]. Contemplate how this verse alludes to these people hoping for the mercy of Allah The Almighty alongside doing those great noble deeds.

Dear Muslim, let us, then, do good and repent from our sins and evil which we have committed. Let us repeat the words of Mahmood Al-Warraaq : “O Allah, I have much hope in Your forgiveness and You [alone] manage my affairs. I have concealed my secrets from my relatives and others; You are the only One to Whom I disclose them as I am confident that You will veil them. O Allah! Do not fail me on the Day of Resurrection when all hidden matters will be exposed. O Allah, do not reveal my secrets before people; Your protection will provide me with an argument [for my forgiveness], even though I have no basis for contention or a real excuse.”

 

The faces of the old and young – and indeed even the trees and birds around us – rejoice when they come to know about the happiness of the beloved Prophet . This is because his happiness is happiness for those who love him, and guidance for those who follow him. So, let us learn the perfect etiquette and the wonderful guidance of the Prophet  in times of delight.

The Prophet  felt delighted at hearing news that attested to something he had previously told others about. For instance, he  rejoiced when he listened to the story of Tameem Ad-Dari  with Ad-Dajjal (the Antichrist), because it was a confirmation of what he had himself told his Companions  about the Dajjal.

He  used to be glad when he saw his Companions  competing with each other in good deeds and hastening to obey Allah The Almighty and His Messenger. It is narrated that some poor people who were in a very miserable state came to the Prophet  asking him for help. So he  stood up to speak to the people and urged them to give charity to those people. Consequently, they competed with each other in this until they collected a large amount. When the Prophet  saw this, he rejoiced and his face beamed with joy as if it were a piece of gold.

The Prophet  used to feel happy when something good happened to any of his Companions, such as his delight when Allah The Almighty accepted the repentance of Ka’b ibn Malik and his two companions . Besides, he  reportedly rejoiced at meeting whoever reminded him of someone he loved, as in the story of Halah bint Khuwaylid, the sister of his wife Khadeejah  when she sought permission to enter upon him. He  remembered Khadeejah's way of seeking permission, so he was pleased with this and said: "O Allah, let it be Halah! O Allah, let it be Halah!"

Additionally, the Prophet  used to be delighted at hearing words that implied supporting and backing for the religion of Allah The Almighty. For example, he  felt extremely delighted when his Companions  said to him in the Battle of Badr, "We will not say to you like the people of Moosa (Moses ) said to him: {Go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here} [Quran 5:24], rather, we will fight at your right and your left, and in front of you and behind you."

His  happiness never made him forget to thank the favors of Allah The Almighty upon him, for whenever he received pleasing news, he  would prostrate to show his gratitude to Allah The Almighty and thankfulness for His favors.

Such was the Prophetic delight that did not overlook human needs and the psychological feelings, yet, at the same time, taught the hearts to rely on Allah The Almighty alone, and to always be in a state of servitude and worship to Him. Therefore, let us be happy and express our happiness in accordance with his manners and follow his Sunnah (Prophetic tradition).

Whenever we remember the Prophet  we cannot restrain ourselves from invoking the peace and blessings of Allah upon him, for he was the one whose face was radiant and when he felt happy, he beamed with joy like the moon. His happiness was not out of arrogance or vanity; rather, he was happy when he saw the truth prevail, and when he saw falsehood vanquished. His happiness made those around him happy, and still makes those who hear about him happy; and the happiness continues forever and ever. This Prophetic guidance teaches us how to be happy, and the things and manner for which we should express happiness.

Let us bring up this wonderful incident and contemplate the joy of the Prophet  in it. He  once entered upon his wife ‘Aa'ishah  and his face was lit up. This was when the truth was revealed to the people after they were in doubt about the lineage of Usamah ibn Zayd . This happened when Mujazziz Al-Mudliji, who was a genealogist, confirmed that Usamah was the real son of Zayd  both. ‘Aa'ishah  narrated this incident by saying, “Once the Messenger of Allah entered upon me and he was in a very happy mood, with his features glittering with joy, and [he] said: ‘O ‘Aa'ishah! Don't you know that Mujazziz Al-Mudliji entered and saw Usamah and Zayd with velvet covering on them and their heads were covered while their feet were uncovered? He said, 'These feet belong to each other.’’”

Here is another image of the happiness of the Prophet  which we need to contemplate. He  rejoiced after the truth was revealed when Allah The Almighty sent down the acquittal of his pure wife ‘Aa'ishah  from what the scandalmongers and hypocrites had accused her of.

Then he  also rejoiced when ‘Aa'ishah  chose him after the verse of giving the choice (i.e., Quran 33:28, 29) was sent down. When this verse was revealed, he  called ‘Aa'ishah  and said to her: "I am going to tell you about something and you do not have to hasten to respond until you consult your parents." "Concerning what do I need to consult my parents?" she replied, "I choose Allah and His Messenger and the Home of the Hereafter." In another narration, she  said, "O Messenger of Allah, do I have to consult my parents about you! I choose Allah, His Messenger and the Hereafter."

This was the happiness of the Prophet . It was in Allah The Almighty and by Him, and in truth and by truth. Thus, we should follow his example and rejoice as he  used to.