Overcoming Despair Through Allah’s Forgiveness

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said in a hadith narrated by At-Tabarani, that among the greatest sins after shirk (ascribing a partner to Allah) is: 

Feeling despaired of Allah’s mercy.

[Hadith Narrated by Imam At-Tabarani]

 Therefore, we should never have the slightest thought of giving up hope and feeling despair of Allah’s mercy. If we do, then that is exactly what Shaitan wants us to feel. 

You may question why this sin is considered significant. It’s because when you claim that Allah SWT cannot forgive you, you elevate your ego and diminish the greatness of Allah SWT. Such presumption amounts to challenging Allah SWT with baseless assumptions.

Our sins are nothing compared to Allah’s attribute; All Merciful. The word ‘Ar-Rahman’ is an important reminder for us that we shouldn’t have any doubt in His mercy. If we do, it would mean that we would assume that we will never be forgiven, and that is a major sin. 

Know that the despair that you’re feeling is not from Allah SWT. In fact, it is from Shaitan who aims to make us feel hopeless and useless with Allah’s mercy. Having constant positive assumptions towards Allah is important because at the end of the day, Allah wants his servants to turn back to Him.

If we look in the Qur’an, we will see that the majority of Allah’s name and attributes revolves around Allah’s merciful nature. Allah SWT is the Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) and the Ar-Rahim (All-Merciful). He is the Al-Ghaffar (Absolute Forgiver) and Al-Ghafur (The Ever-Forgiving). He is the Al-Mannan (The Giver of Benefits) and Al-Karim (The Generous). This is our Allah SWT. How could we possibly give up hope in Allah’s Maghfirah (forgiveness) and Rahmah (mercy)? 

Allah SWT says in the Qur’an:

O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning],

(Az-Zumar 39:53)

 Allah SWT is speaking to us directly in the first-person approach. Allah SWT is not addressing the righteous nor the prophets or the pious ones. Allah SWT is addressing the sinful, those who have done so many sins and transgressed. 

Do not ever give up hope in Allah. Allah will forgive all your sins.

(Az-Zumar 39:53)

Our beloved Prophet also said in a hadith qudsi in which Allah said: 

O My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you.

[Hadith Narrated by Imam Muslim]

In another hadith, Allah SWT said:

O son of Adam! I shall go on forgiving you so long as you pray to Me and hope for My forgiveness in spite of what you have done, and I do not care.

[Hadith Narrated by Imam Al-Nawawi]

SubhanAllah. This hadith shows that Allah does not focus on the number of sins one has committed. Instead, Allah is calling you to have faith, turn back to Him and repent.