The Qur'an states that hopefulness is an
important characteristic of believers and, at the same, an indication
of their faith. People place their hope in Allah according to their
degree of faith and will cherish a deep longing to obtain His mercy
and infinite bounties because He has promised believers the most
beautiful things in this world and in the hereafter. People will hope
to secure these according to their degree of trust in Allah, their
closeness to Him, and their submission and sincerity.
Knowing that everything happens according
to His will, believers do not fall into despair or become hopeless or
pessimistic. And, because believers know that Allah will accept their
prayers, they do not doubt, even for a second, that a seemingly
terrible event is simply a part of their test and that eventually it
will work out for the best.
Everything that happens comes about through
Allah's command of "Be." At every second, every object and
scene that appears before us is created through Allah's will. Nothing
is left to its own devices because everything is created for the
destiny that Allah has determined for it.
Believers who are aware of this do not lose
hope in Allah's mercy or help, even when facing the most negative
situations or the most distressing events. Those who are patient in
hardship, do not lose hope, and never compromise Allah's laws have
been given glad tidings in both this world and the hereafter.
The Qur'an portrays believers as being in a
constant spiritual state of hopefulness toward Allah. Sincere
believers will know and appreciate our Lord as the Qur'an describes
Him and, as a result, will realize the mercy and favors that He has
bestowed upon them.
They know that He is the believers' friend
and helper, that He is infinitely merciful and compassionate toward
them, that He has sent glad tidings to His righteous servants of a
great reward both in this world and the next, and that He never breaks
His word. They see that He wills only what is best and good for them,
that He opens the door of mercy and guidance for them, and that He
provides endless opportunities to gain rewards.
And so believers who know this are in a
constant state of hopefulness about Allah, hoping for the best and the
good from Him in both this world and the next. Several Qur'anic verses
mention how Allah gives believers a good reward and offers them glad
tidings of grace, favor, and mercy as follows:
[As
for those who believe and do right actions, We will erase their
bad actions and recompense them for the best of what they did.]
(Al-`Ankabut 29:7)
[He
responds to those who believe and do right actions, and gives them
increase from His favor. But the unbelievers will have a harsh
punishment.] (Ash-Shura
42:26)
[Satan
promises you poverty and commands you to avarice. Allah promises
you forgiveness and abundance. Allah is All-Encompassing,
All-Knowing.] (Al-Baqara 2:268)
The believers' prayers and wishes are full
of hope. As one verse says, [They
call upon their Lord in fear and ardent hope]
(As-Sajdah 32:16). Since prayer itself is both a form of worship and
an indication of a hopeful attitude toward Allah, believers pray in
the hope that Allah will answer their prayers.