Is Baseless Hope a Form of Deception?

In the teachings of the Holy Quran, the concept of hope holds a very high position, but this hope must always be constructive and based on reality, not a baseless and deceptive wish. The Quran encourages believers to have rajāʾ (hope) in Allah's bounty and mercy, but simultaneously issues warnings about ghurūr (delusion or deception) which can result from vain and unfounded hopes. In other words, true hope in Islam is a motivation for action, effort, and self-improvement, while baseless hope can lead to illusion, weakness, and even sin. The Quran distinguishes between constructive hope (rajāʾ) and delusion or false desire (ghurūr or tamannī). Constructive hope originates from the knowledge of the Lord, faith in His power and wisdom, and striving on the path to His pleasure. An individual with such hope, despite facing difficulties and hardships, does not cease their efforts, knowing that Allah's help and mercy will be extended to those who strive and are patient. This hope motivates humans towards good deeds, repentance from sins, and self-rectification. Verses such as: "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'" (Az-Zumar, 39:53) invite humanity not to despair of Allah's mercy, but this invitation is coupled with repentance and return, not persistence in sin and baseless expectation of forgiveness. In contrast, 'baseless hope' or 'ghurūr' (delusion) is a form of deception wherein an individual expects success or forgiveness without fulfilling their duties, without effort, without repenting from sins, and without observing divine laws. This type of hope is often fueled by Satan or the 'nafs al-ammarah' (the commanding self that incites evil). Satan, through false promises and prolonged desires, distracts humans from considering their actions and their consequences. The Quran refers to this deception in several verses. For instance, in Surah Luqman (31:33), it states: "So let not the worldly life delude you, and let not the Deceiver delude you concerning Allah." This verse clearly warns that neither the allure of worldly life nor Satan's empty promises should divert individuals from the path of truth and lead them to vain and baseless hopes regarding Allah's mercy; a hope that exists without action, without repentance, and without a change in behavior. Deception stemming from baseless hope can manifest in various aspects of life: from an individual who, without academic effort, hopes to succeed in an exam, to someone who, without adhering to religious precepts and people's rights, considers themselves an inhabitant of Paradise. This deception leads to lethargy and inaction, hindering one's growth and elevation. The Holy Quran strongly opposes such an approach and repeatedly emphasizes that rewards and outcomes are contingent upon deeds and intentions. "It is not [dependent] upon your wishful thinking nor the wishful thinking of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does evil will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah any protector or helper" (An-Nisa, 4:123) states that salvation is not achieved through your wishes or the wishes of the People of the Scripture; rather, whoever does evil will be recompensed for it. This verse explicitly shows that mere hope and wishes alone, without action and the reward of deeds, will not lead to any favorable outcome. Furthermore, the Noble Quran emphasizes the principle that Allah never wastes the reward of those who do good, nor does He overlook the punishment of evildoers, unless sincere repentance takes place. This balance between promise and warning, mercy and punishment, indicates that hope for divine forgiveness must always be accompanied by genuine remorse, making amends, and a firm resolve not to repeat the sin. Baseless hope is, in essence, a form of self-deception that allows an individual to live in a circle of illusion and shirk their responsibilities. This not only yields no benefit for their worldly life or the hereafter but also places them on a dangerous path of heedlessness and unawareness. Therefore, from the Quranic perspective, hope must always be based on righteous deeds, piety, and true reliance on God. Only then will hope be a constructive and guiding force, and not a deception that leads humanity to ruin.