In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent and The Most Merciful

Often in our minds arise the feelings of despondency, hopelessness and depression for the mercy Of Allah SWT. We call ourselves Muslims but be it the matter of our own repentance, forgiveness or other common issues we are looking for surety. We like to undertake a project or task only when we are sure about the outcome. Then where does faith on Allah SWT stands. Seeing and believing is logical acceptance but not seeing and still believing is faith when logic which is far more deep and strong then the logic. Where logic puts limitations, faith strongly holds your hand and let you cross the endeavor.

I came across two very excellent examples where my limited understanding and perceptions got a very beautiful riposte when we look towards Allah SWT for mercy and then due to any reason get uncertain and hopeless for not being given forgiveness or a chance.

Imam Muslim reported the story of how `Amr ibn Al-`Aas came to Islam: “When Allah put the love of Islam into my heart, I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘Stretch forth your hand so that I may give pledge of allegiance to you. He stretched forth his hand but I pulled my own hand back. He asked, ‘What is the matter, O `Amr?' I said, ‘There is a condition.’ He asked, ‘What is the condition?’ I said: ‘That I be forgiven.’ He said: ‘Do you not know, O `Amr, that Islam wipes out whatever came before, Hijrah (migration for the sake of Allah) wipes out whatever came before, and Hajj wipes out whatever came before?’”

Imam Muslim reported from Ibn `Abbas that some people among the disbelievers killed a great deal and they committed adultery a great deal. Then they came to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “What you say and advocate is good, if only you could tell us that there is any expiation for what we have done.” 

Then Allah revealed the words: 

[And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse – and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.] (Al-Furqan 25: 68); 

[Say: ‘O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah.] (Az-Zumar 39: 53)