O you who have believed, avoid much (negative) assumption, Indeed some assumptions are sin ( Al-Hujarat, 49: 12)
Possessing an optimistic assumption about Allah is one the finest act of worship (Sunan Tirmidhi)
It is one of the foundations of faith that one should harbor a very beautiful attitude towards his creator. Harboring an optimistic view about Allah is one the finest act of worship says Sunan Tirmidhi quoting the Prophet (peace be upon him). One should never adopt a pessimistic view about Allah says the Qur’an: O you who have believed, avoid much (negative) assumption, Indeed some assumptions are sin ( Al-Hujarat, 49: 12)
Tawaqqal ( Trusting Allah) is an Optimistic Assumption
Your Lord has decreed mercy on Himself (Al-An’am 6, 54) states the Quran. One should always hope the best from Allah because, the bounties, the mercy and the Blessings of Allah always overpowers his Anger. Sahih Hadith says that, Thousands of years before creating the Universe, Allah has prescribed that, “Indeed my Mercy will prevail over my anger.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
The Mercy of Allah is Vast
“Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, of which He sent down one between the jinn, mankind, the animals and the insects, by means of which they are compassionate and merciful to one another, and by means of which wild animals are kind to their offspring. And Allah has kept back ninety-nine parts of mercy with which to be merciful to His slaves of the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim, al-Tawbah, 6908)
Consider this: Allah gives health, wealth and happiness to human beings but many of them disobey Him, show ungratefulness and worship false gods, yet Allah shows His Mercy towards them by sending rain, cereals and fruits along with other good things.
An example of the Mercy of Allah
On the day of Judgement, two people in Hell fire would be screaming and shouting a lot out of pain. The complaint about their noise will reach Allah. He will summon them and ask them the reasons of their loud screams and shouts. Both will reply that it is very unbearable in the fire of Hell. Allah will tell them that this was the punishment for their sins in worldly life. Then He will again command them to go back to the Hell and continue receiving their punishment. One of them will rush towards Hell, whereas the other will stand still quietly. Allah will ask both of them the reasons for their actions. The first one will say, “ O my Lord! Throughout my life I disobeyed you and learnt a lesson that this has resulted in my punishment so today right in your presence I felt ashamed to disobey you so I rushed to Hellfire.” The other will say, “O my Lord! I have recall that once you bring out someone from Hellfire, you will not put him back into it.” Being pleased by both the answers Allah will forgive and command both of them to go to Jannah as friends and stay there forever. One was told that he will go to Paradise for obeying Allah and the other was told to go to Paradise for being hopeful of Allah’s Mercy.”
In case of adversity, when your business is running in loss and your health is in ruins, recite, “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon” Then try your best for a solution while hoping of Allah’s Mercy. Our hearts should be firm about achieving Allah’s Mercy. Tawaqqul upon Allah is to try your best and hope to be a recipient of Allah’s Help and his Mercy because you have put your hopes, trust and your dependence upon One whose treasure never runs dry.
The Hands of Allah are full of wealth and He spends day and night upon His creations (Sahihul Ain)
"And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures." (al-Hijr 15:21)
Once Muhammed Ibn Khuzaima ( noted scholar of Hadith) was traveling to do some research on Hadith. They were four of them and all of them were named Muhammed. On the way they found that the entire food stuff was over and there was nothing left to eat. It was night and they were so weakened due to hunger that they had to lie down somewhere and rest. Mohammed ibn Jareer at-Tabari, (noted scholar of Tafseer and History) was one of them. None of them was in the position to walk up to the market. So that requested Mohammed ibn Khuzaima to go and knock any door for help and get them some help. Ibn Khuzaima was worried and could not decide whose house can he knock at that hour of night as he was a stranger in the town.
He knocked the Door of his Lord instead, because He never sleeps nor dozes
Ibn Khuzaima remembered the verse, “ Neither sleep nor slumber overtakes Him.” There was only One who would not be sleeping at this hour so let me plead to him and knock His door. So he prayed two rakah. Thus the One who is always awake, woke up the one who was sleeping.
The ruler of the city saw a dream in which someone was telling him, “ Four students of hadith are lying hungry and restless in your city and your are sleeping!” The ruler woke up and took his men along in search of the four students. He saw three of them sleeping while one of them was in sujood pleading for rizq from his Lord.
In the darkness of night, a student of Hadith knocking the door of his Lord. The ruler patted on the shoulders of Ibn Khuzaima and inquired about the sleeping men. He asked their names and all of them were Muhammed. He inquired the details and concluded that these were the men he was looking for as per the instruction in his dream. The ruler provided him with food and money and gave his introductory letter asking him to approach him without any hesitation whenever he needs. Ibn Khuzaima asked him, What if you are sleeping when we need a help?” The ruler replied, “ Then wake me up without hesitation.” The guests said, “The way I did not disturb anyone but approached the Lord who never sleeps, similarly we will approach Him every time we are in need. If He wants to provide he will wake you up hundred times and send you to us.”
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, :Inni dhahiban ila Rabbi sayhadin.. "Indeed, I will go to (where I am ordered by) my Lord; He will guide me. (as- Saffat: 37, 99)
It is the sunnah of each and every Prophet, that no matter how hard and difficult time they passed through but they looked up to Allah with a very optimistic hope. These are the ideals for us. When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown in fire, Jibrael (peace be upon him) offered to pick that fire and burnt the whole city, Ibrahim responded with, “Hasbiyallahu wa’ne’mal wakeel.” He rejected the help offered by Angel Jibrael and prefered to put his hopes on the one for whose sake he was being thrown in the fire. Allah commanded the fire,, “ O Fire, be cold and safe for Ibrahim.” It is duty of fire to burn but it did not only saved Ibrahim from being burnt but became a place of safety for him. Then he left the city of his father leavining behind his relatives and all saying, Inni dhahiban ila Rabbi sayhadin.. "Indeed, I will go to (where I am ordered by) my Lord; He will guide me. (as- Saffat: 37, 99)
Then Allah guided in such a way that he is known as Abul Anbiya, ‘The father of (many) Prophets.’
Today we see many Muslims, out of ignorance, putting their trusts on amulets those which are themselves depended upon a thread to hang on a neck!
When Musa (peace be upon him) fled from Egypt, he had very little or no provision and traveled a very long and hard distance. He sat under a dry tree and made a supplication to his Lord, “ My Lord! I am in need of whatever good you send me.” Musa (peace be upon him) did not nag and pleaded before people but he put his trust on Allah alone. Allah got him settled on the same day. Without any CV or any letter of reference he got married to a girl and got arrangement to stay for the next ten years.
In the next situation he was pursued by Pharaoh and his huge army and Musa (peace be upon him) stood on the bank of sea with no other option to escape. The army came so close that both the parties could see each other. It was then, the Bani israel cried out, “Musa! There is no escape now!” He responded firmly, “Absolutely no, My Lord is with me.” Pharaoh may have reached close to him but Allah’s help was closer than that. Musa (peace be upon him) did not put his trust on the stick but direct on Allah. We all know what happened then.
What is your view about the two companions whose third is Allah?
It was the night of Hijrah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had migrated along with his companion Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) secretly and were chased by the Quraish. Both the men hid in a cave. So close were the enemies that Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) could even hear their talks. He seemed worried of being caught. He said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), “The enemies are so close that if one of them looks down at his own feet he can spot us hiding in the cave.” It was then revealed, “Allah sent down tranquility upon them along with such powerful angels which were not visible to any human.”
Both the men had left their homes as per the command of Allah so it was obvious that Allah would help them. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “ O Abu Bakr, what is your view about the two companions whose third is Allah?” Both of them escaped from the eyes of their enemies and reached Madinah safely.
Allah should always be your first and the only option
“When my worshippers ask about Me, tell them Indeed, I am close to them and responding to the call of every caller.” (al-Baqarah, 2: 186)
No matter how difficult is your situation, put your hopes in Allah. If you are sick that remember that He is Shafi, the Healer, If you are running short of provision then He is the Razzaq, the Provider of sustenance. If you fear your enemies then He is your wakil, the Protector.
If you have committed sins as huge as mountains yet He is the Oft -Forgiver and Most Merciful. “Tell my worshippers who have committed a lot of sins, do not despair the Mercy of Allah. Indeed He forgives all the sins. Indeed He is oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful.” (Az-Zumar 39:53)
Once the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O people do not underestimate the Mercy of Allah. Seek pardon from Him, weep over your sins, apologise to Him, by Allah you may get tired pleading for forgiveness but He will never get tired of forgiving you.”
He also said, “ Whenever anyone of you supplicates to Allah, he should supplicate with a firm hope of his supplications being accepted by Allah.”
Allah is enough for those who put their trust in Him
Saeed ibn Zubair, a well known Tabeyeen used to pray, “O Allah I supplicate to you to make me one who puts his entire trust upon you and who keep a very optimistic view about you.” To harbor a pessimistic view about Allah is a big sin according to Qur’an.
Allah said, “I am always as my worshipper assumes about me” (Hadithul Qudsi)
Therefore supplicate before Allah as much as you can for your goodness, blessings, pardon and Jannatul Firdaus.