اللہ کے ساتھ گمان

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that Allah says: "I deal with My servant according to his expectation of Me, and when he remembers Me I am with him. So if he remembers Me within himself, I too remember him within Myself; and if he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in a gathering better than his (that is, among the angels). And if the servant draws near to Me by a hand-span, I draw near to him by an arm's length; and if he advances towards Me by an arm's length, I advance towards him by two arms' length; and if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running."

In the Qur'an and the ahadith, great virtues are mentioned for holding good hope in Allah's mercy. To hope, along with fear of Allah, for goodness for oneself through His mercy is a most magnificent act — but its meaning is that a person keeps striving, to the best of his ability, to live his life according to the commands of Allah, and that, if mistakes and shortcomings occur despite this, he remains hopeful of Allah's mercy concerning them.

This blessed hadith speaks of Allah's open-handedness and bounty, His forgiveness and kindness, and His appreciation — that for a little He gives very much. Allah's being is most Merciful and Generous; indeed He keeps seeking excuses to show mercy and grace to His creation — the shortfall is only ever from our side.

The Poet of the East said it beautifully:

We are ever inclined to grace, yet there is no one who asks;
Whom should we show the way, when there is no traveller bound for the goal.