Having Hope in Allaah The Almighty - I

There are certain deeds that should never be neglected, whichaffect
the heart permanently. Yet,some people, due to their weakness in
faith, may be careless and may not perform them regularly.
One deed of the heart is to have constant hope in the kindness,
generosity and favours of Allaah The Almighty. One should be
optimistic and never lose hope in the bounty of Allaah The Almighty,
which He bestows on whom He wills. However, this hope should be
coupled with a reason, or means, for one to feel that it will be
realised. Thus, one should keep performing good deeds that give one
the opportunity to harbour hope in the generosity and kindness of
Allaah The Almighty, for if these means are not present, then it is
mere wishful thinking on one's part.
Hope is not for a person who is lazy and does not endeavor to remain
upon the path of those who strive and exert great efforts. Such a
person is just like someone who wants to grow plants and see them
bearing fruit, without bothering to cultivate or water the seeds. Is
this person equal to another, who digs the soil, plants the seeds and
waters them carefully and regularly? Only the latter can realistically
hope that his plants will grow fruitful. This is also the case
regarding hope for the bestowal of the mercy and bounty of Allaah The
Almighty.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {It [i.e. Paradise] is not
[obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the Peopleof the
Scripture.} [Quran, 4: 123] Moreover, it was said, "Faith is not
wishful thinking, but rather, it is what is instilled in the heart and
proven by good deeds."
Hope is necessary for those who are heading towards Allaah The
Almighty, because if a devout worshiper loses hope, then he is heading
for ruin. A sincere Muslim hopes that Allaah The Almighty will forgive
his sins and that He will enable him to rectify a fault in himself. He
hopes that Allaah The Almighty will accepts his good deeds and hopes
to draw closer to Allaah The Almighty. Thus, hope is one of the most
important means that one must possess in order to continue his journey
towards Allaah The Almighty with steadfastness, especially during the
age of trials and tribulations we now live in.
Hope is a means of steadfastness.It is the complete opposite of
despair, and to feel despair is to give up on the mercy of Allaah The
Almighty, which is a sin in itself, as Allaah The Almighty Says(what
means): {And despair not of relief from Allaah. Indeed, no one
despairs of relief from Allaah except the disbelieving people.}
[Quran, 12: 87] This was the advice of Prophet Ya'qoob tohis sons.
How does one achieve hope?
• By remembering the past favorsof Allaah The Almighty on you.
• By remembering the promise ofgreat rewards from Allaah The Almighty,
and remembering His generosity and kindness towards his slaves,
especially when his slaves do not even ask Him for them and are
unworthy of receiving them. The slave will continue receiving all
these blessings and favours as long as he remains upon the straight
path.
• By remembering the bounties of Allaah The Almighty with regards to
one's faith, body, and life in general.
• By remembering the great mercy of Allaah The Almighty andthat His
mercy precedes His wrath, and that He is the entirely Merciful, the
especially Merciful; that He is Kind and Compassionate. Thus,
acquiring hope in Allaah The Almighty can be achieved by knowing His
Names and Attributes.
Those whose hearts are alive recognize the fallacy of this world, and
realise that this life is like a field in which they plant seeds for
the Hereafter. The similitude of the heart is like thatof the earth.
Just as the earth must have seeds sown in it for it to yield fruits,
the heart requires acts of obedience to make it flourish and remain
alive. Just as the earth requires continuous attention, watering,
digging, andso on, the heart requires continuous attention; it is
enlivened by its obedience of Allaah The Almighty. Just as the earth
needs maintenance like removing harmful weeds from around the plants,
the heart needs to be purified from doubts and desires, lest they ruin
the fruits of one's acts of obedience, which have been irrigated with
the water of servitude. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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