Hope versus Stupidity

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When Allah created the creation, He decreed something for Himself, and a clear record is with Him confirming that, ‘Truly, My mercy prevails over My wrath.’” [Bukhari; Kitab Bad al-Wahiy]

The one whose hope in Allah’s forgiveness guides him to obedience of Allah and deters him from rebelling against Him has true hope; whereas the hope which leads a person on to idleness and being immersed in wrong actions is only stupidity in disguise.

Yahya ibn Muadh said, “In my opinion, the worst kind of self-delusion is for someone to sin excessively and then to hope for forgiveness without feeling any remorse; or it is to expect to draw near to Allah, the Exalted, without obeying or worshipping Him; or it is to hope for the fruits of the Garden after having only planted the seeds for the Fire; or it is to seek the abode of the obedient through committing wrong actions; or it is to expect a reward after having done nothing worthwhile; or it is to place hope in Allah, Glorious and Mighty is He, after having exceeded all the limits.”

The poet Abu’l Atahiyyah said, “Do you hope for forgiveness when you have not trodden its paths? A ship does not sail on dry land.