Dangers of Despair in Islam You Must Know

Despair is indeed one of a conditions that could be experienced by anyone in this world. But know that despair really depends on ourselves.

In other words, we can actually remove despair within ourselves. The key is simple, that is by always trying and praying to The Almighty God, Allah SWT, whether as difficult or complicated as any problem we are facing in our everyday life. Read also : law of answering salaam in social media

Why is that? Since most people who experience despair must be caused by two main things below:

• When he is overwhelmed by calamities in the matter of world affairs, such as sickness, failure in work, and other trials that are nothing but a test from Allah SWT in our life.
• When he falls into the sins of destruction. This means that he is accustomed to doing immoral-vice that is beyond the limit, causing the assumption that his sin will be difficult to be forgiven by Allah SWT. Yet as we know that Allah is the Lord of the Merciful. As much or as heavy as any of our sins, as long as we will try to repent with true repentance (taubat nashuha), Allah will surely forgive those sins.

Those are the two main things that often experienced by most people that later dragging them into experience despair.

Even though if we know that the actual despair is prohibited in the teachings of Islam. This is because the attitude of despair would be dangerous if left constantly growing in a person. Read also : law of treated with haram money in Islam

As the word of Allah in the surah of Al Hijr verse 56 and Az Zumar verse 53, which means:

“He said, “And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?” (QS. Al-Hijr : 56)

“Say, “O My servants who have transgressed againts 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.” (QS. Az-Zumar : 53)

From these two verses we can understand that Allah SWT forbids us to despair, where truthfully the despair is mere for the astrays. So, as Muslims we should not despair since we are not among those who are lost while still claiming Islam and believe in Allah SWT and His Messenger Muhammad SAW.

Here are three dangers of despair in Islam in the world, especially despair for the grace of Allah SWT, quoted from some of His words and hadith of Rasulullah, among others:

1. Forgot againts the goodness of Allah SWT

The first danger of despair is to make us forget the goodness that God (Allah SWT) has given us. This is as implied by the meaning of one of the words of Allah in Al-Qur’an, which means:

“And when We let the people taste mercy, they rejoice therein, but if evil afflicts them for what their hands have put forth, immediately they despair.” (QS. Ar-Rum : 36)

From the above verse we can take an ibarah (lesson) that an attitude of despair makes us forget the goodness ever given by God, Allah SWT to us when we’re happy (joy).

And when we are struck by disaster, we become forgetful of the goodness because it is covered by despair. In Islam, the term forgetting kindness or favor is usually referred to as “kufr of favors”. Read also : law of apologize before ramadan arrives

[AdSense-B]

2. Loss of the world and hereafter

The second danger of despair is that it will make us be a losers, both in the world and in the hereafter. This matter is stated in one of the words of Allah in Al-Qur’an, which means:

“And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it, but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face (to the other direction). He has lost (this) world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.” (QS. Al-Haj : 11)

From the above verse it is clearly said that the person who befall of disaster and look back, then he will lose of the world and the hereafter.

Which, the loss is a real loss. As we can say that the person who is struck by disaster and turning back means to indicate that he is a desperate person since he is more forgetful to his God, Allah SWT. Read also : last ten nights of the month Ramadan

3. Same degrees with Kafir

The third danger of despair is to make us have the same degree as kafir (the unbeliever of disbeliever people). This is as stated in one of the words of Allah in Al-Qur’an, which means: [AdSense-C]

“O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.” (QS. Yusuf : 87)

The verse is the story of the Prophet Yaqub a.s who inquired to his children while trying (try). From that verse we can take ibarah (lesson) that when we try to all things, then do not despair for the grace of Allah SWT.

Since despair only belongs to kafir, so if we fall into despair, then we are comparable to the unbelievers. Indeed as a Muslims we won’t be compared to those unbelievers who did not get any shafa’ah. Read also : how to cure madness in Islam

Thus the three fundamental dangers if we despair in the world, especially despair of Allah SWT grace, God Almighty the Most Merciful again the Most Merciful. So the conclusion is:

“If we indeed confess Islam and believe in Allah SWT and His Messenger, Muhammad SAW, then we should not despair. Since despair is forbidden in the teachings of Islam. Even though we are sinners, there is no sin that Allah SWT does not forgive as long as we are truly repentant (taubat nashuha). Undoubtedly Allah will forgive our sins because Allah is the Almighty Lord of the Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

Read also : how to have a pure heart in Islam