HOPING IN ALLAH

 INTRODUCTION

إِ نَّ الْحَمْدََّ ,َِِّಈنَحْمَدُهَُّ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهَُّ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهَُّ , وَنَعُوذَُّ بَِّاللَِّ مِنَّْ شُرُورَِّ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنَّْ سَيِِّئَاتَِّ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنَّْ يَهْدِهَِّ

ل౫َُّ فَلََّ مُضِ لَّ لَهَُّ , وَمَنَّْ يُضْلِلَّْ فَلََّ هَادِيََّ لَهَُّ , وَأَشْهَدَُّ أَنَّْ لََّ إِلَهََّ إِ لَّ ل౫َُّ وَحْدَهَُّ لََّ شَرِيكََّ لَهَُّ وَأَ نَّ مُحَ مدًا عََّبْدُهَُّ

وَرَسُولُهَُّ

All praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His

forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides,

none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there

is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad (SAW) is His slave and

messenger.

DEFINITION

In simple terms, we can say that, Hope in Allah is the anticipation of His mercy, forgiveness,

and reward. It is a firm belief that, regardless of our circumstances, Allah’s mercy

encompasses all things. Hope prevents despair and motivates us to continue seeking

Allah’s pleasure.

InshaaAllah, we will focus our presentation on 2 key areas:

1. Hoping in Allah as a sinner

2. Hoping in Allah as someone in a dare situation (job seeker, marital problems, black

magic)

HOPING IN ALLAH AS A SINNER

There are seven major sins that can send you to hell fire as narrated by the prophet peace and

blessings be upon him in Sahihayn (both Bukhari and Muslim) in which the prophet said: “Avoid

the seven sins that doom a person to Hell.” When the companions ask him what sins, he replied:

1. Shirk - associating others with Allah

2. Witchcraft - worshipping the jinns and seeking help from these jinns to misguide people

3. Killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill, except in cases dictated by Islamic law

4. Consuming orphans’ wealth

5. Consuming riba

6. fleeing from the battlefield and

7. Slandering chaste, innocent women – accusing obedient women of fornication/adultery

These are major sins that can send you to hell fire. None the less, if you found yourself

doing something bad not listed in what we just mention, it does not mean you are exempted

from sinners. You are a sinner and need to repent before death takes you by suprise.

Sometimes we are engulf in sins to the extend we deem ourselves doom for life in the

sense that, maybe, you have been fornicating for almost your entire life, or involved in Shirk

your entire life and think that Allah can no longer forgive you even if you repent.

No. There’s hope and Allah needs you to return to him. There’s still hope to repent and

there’s still hope your repentance might be accepted.

Allah says in the Qur’an in surah (Az-Zumar, 39:53):

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

"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.'“

So, this is an assurance from Allah that upon all that you did, the people you killed for ritual

money, the men you have affairs with when you were married, the women you have affairs

with when you were married, the interest that your were feeding on, the orphans wealth you

were dwelling in, if you seek forgiveness from Allah, I will forgive you.

That’s the hope this verse in Az-zumar is giving us. And if you are guilty of any of those sins,

there’s hope your repentance will be accepted.

But how do you know your repentance is accepted? It’s when you repent and never goes to

that sin. Never.

The situation where your repentance is like disco lighting (on and off) were you keep going

to those sins upon repenting, is obviously not an accepted one from Allah.

HOPING AND FEAR

As we hope to be favored by Allah, you need to have intense fear of Allah in case you slip

off among the favored which we are not praying for.

Islam teaches us to balance hope and fear. Hope without fear may lead to complacency,

while fear without hope can lead to despair. A believer must maintain a balance between

these two emotions to stay on the straight path.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"If the believer knew what is with Allah of punishment, none would hope for His Paradise.

And if the disbeliever knew what is with Allah of mercy, none would despair of His

Paradise." (Sahih Muslim)

This hadith emphasizes the importance of balancing hope and fear in our hearts.

Hadīth explanation: The believer who is promised Paradise, if he had true knowledge of the

punishment and torture that Allah has prepared for the people of disbelief and falsehood, he

would not have any hope of entering Paradise; rather, his only hope would be to be saved

from Hellfire, given what it contains of severe torture that human bodies cannot bear.

Contrary to that, if the disbeliever had true knowledge of the mercy of Allah, the Most

Merciful and Most Generous, he would not despair of Allah's mercy; rather he would hope to

enter Paradise because of what he knows about Allah's vast and extensive mercy and

forgiveness.

HOPING AS SOMEONE IN A DIRE SITUATION

Hoping in Allah as someone in a dare situation like a job seeker. I’m using job seeker here

as an example because it’s a major issue affecting majority of all the youth of our country

and even beyond.

In the pursuit of livelihood, many face challenges and uncertainties. It is during these times

that hope in Allah’s mercy and provision becomes a source of strength and guidance.

The Concept of Rizq (Provision) in Islam

In Islam, rizq (provision) is understood as what Allah has decreed for each individual in

terms of sustenance and livelihood. Believing that Allah is the ultimate Provider helps us

remain hopeful and patient during job searches.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

Allah says in the Qur’an (Surah Hud, 11:6)

"And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its

place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.“

This verse assures us that Allah is fully aware of our needs and has already decreed our provision.

it’s crucial to maintain trust in Allah’s plan. What may seem like a delay or setback could be

a part of Allah’s greater wisdom and mercy.

You can’t know everything and you can’t always be right.

When everything seem to be falling apart. You are not getting that job. You are not getting

married or you are married but it seem to be with the wrong person. You are severely

suffering from a sickness that no laboratory can actually say this is the cause.

Do your part by applying for that job. Do your part by seeking medical treatment and leave

the outcome onto the hands of Allah and have 100% hope and believe, that it will work out.

If you are a job seeker. Regularly make du’a, asking Allah for guidance, assistance, and

provision. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to seek Allah’s help in all

matters.

HOW TO KEEP HOPES ALIVE

Make du'a: Allahumma inni as’aluka rizqan tayyiban wa ‘ilman nafi’an wa ‘amalan

mutaqabbalan” (O Allah, I ask You for good provision, beneficial knowledge, and accepted

deeds).

Maintain Sincerity and Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah): Sincerely trust that Allah will provide

and rely on Him completely. Take the necessary steps and put in the effort, but leave the

results to Allah.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If you were to rely upon Allah with the

reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds: they go out hungry in the

morning and return with full bellies in the evening.” (Tirmidhi)

 Utilizing Halal Means: Seek employment through lawful means and avoid anything that is

haram (forbidden).

Seek treatment through lawful means and avoid anything haram.

Trust that Allah will bless your efforts when you adhere to His commandments.

Be patient and remain grateful for the blessings you have. Gratitude increases blessings,

and patience during trials is greatly rewarded by Allah.

Allah says: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed,

My punishment is severe.” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My

punishment is severe.” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

STORY OF MUSA

Let take the Story of Prophet Musa into perspective.

When Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) fled from Egypt and reached Madyan, he had

nothing. Despite his dire situation, he remained hopeful and relied on Allah. His trust was

rewarded when he found shelter and employment with Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon

him), who later became his father-in-law.

Musa runs out hopeless and desperate but with full believe and hope, that Allah will see him

through and indeed, help came via Shu’aib who later became his father-in-law.

STORY OF HAJAR

Again, we can look at the story of Hajar.

Wife of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), demonstrated immense hope in Allah when

she was left in the barren desert of Makkah with her infant son, Ismail (peace be upon him).

Her trust and hope in Allah’s provision led to the miraculous spring of Zamzam water.

She obeyed her husband and also have firm trust and hope in Allah that help will come and

it surely came all because she was patience. Else she could have run away from that

location searching for where ever could be accommodating but she did not.

This give the moral story to be patient irrespective of the situation and hope in Allah while

doing the needful you could do within your capacity.

STEPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR HOPE IN ALLAH

Practical Steps to Strengthen Hope in Allah:

1. Constant Remembrance of Allah: Engage in regular remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) to

strengthen your heart and reinforce your hope in His mercy and power.

2. Reading and Reflecting on the Qur’an: The Qur’an is a source of guidance and comfort.

Reflect on the verses that highlight Allah’s mercy and promises of greater rewards.

3. Making Du’a (Supplication): Continuously ask Allah for His mercy, guidance, and forgiveness.

Du’a is a direct line of communication with Allah and a means to express our hopes and needs.

4. Seeking Knowledge: Let increase our knowledge of Islam to better understand Allah’s

attributes and His mercy. This knowledge will reinforce our hope and trust in Allah.

5. Surrounding Yourself with Positive Company: Keep company with those who remind you of

Allah and encourage you to maintain hope and trust in Allah.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, hope in Allah is a vital aspect of a believer’s life. It is through hope that we

navigate the trials and tribulations of this world, seeking Allah’s pleasure and mercy. Let us

strive to maintain a balance between hope and fear, constantly seeking Allah’s forgiveness

and aiming to live righteously.

May Allah grant all job seekers the best of opportunities, ease their difficulties, and bless

them with provision from His endless bounty.

May he grant all sick persons shifaa. May he pardon those who return to him with kelmatu-

shahadah and may he fill our hearts with hope, grant us His mercy, and make us among

those who are always hopeful in His promise. and may He bless us all. Ameen.

JazakumAllahu Khairan.