Maintaining hope in God's mercy is possible through repentance, prayer, and righteous deeds.
Maintaining hope in God's mercy is a fundamental principle of faith in Islam. The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes God's infinite mercy and encourages believers not to despair of His mercy. In Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), Allah says, 'Say, O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.' This verse reminds us that no sin can keep us away from God's mercy if we sincerely return to Him. Hope in God’s mercy should be part of our everyday lives. One way to maintain this hope is through true repentance and seeking divine forgiveness. In Surah Al-Imran (3:135), Allah states, 'And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves by transgression, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins.' This act shows that we should never despair of God’s mercy, but rather seek ways to draw closer to Him and regain His mercy. To uphold hope in God’s mercy, faith in His power and wisdom is also essential. Allah has declared in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), 'Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.' This means that Allah is always with us and will support us through difficult times. By reflecting on the verses of the Quran and performing righteous deeds, we can keep the hope for God's mercy alive in our hearts. Additionally, prayer and supplication are effective tools for strengthening this hope. When we ask and call upon God, we feel a sense of closeness and security in His mercy.
Say, 'O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.'
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves by transgression, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah? And they do not persist in what they have done while they know.
Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or made a mistake. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.
One day, Zakaria was distressed and searching for ways to maintain his hope in God's mercy. He remembered the words of Allah in the Quran that say, 'Never despair of God's mercy.' Zakaria decided to pray and seek forgiveness from God. Days passed as he remembered Allah, and with his awareness of His mercy, his hope for life grew stronger. Over time, he realized his troubles were diminishing, and his inner peace was increasing.