Hopelessness is the greatest enemy of a man in pursuit of an ideal or a wish. Rest assured that by saying "What’s the use of it? We can't, so why even try?” the job will not be accomplished. So in Islam, hopelessness is a negative ingredient and sometimes regarded as a major sin. For example "hopelessness in the mercy of Allah", is losing hope to receive the beneficence, blessing and special attention of God. Losing hope in God’s mercy is a major sin. No one is allowed to lose hope in God’s mercy, even if many obstacles are perceived in receiving His mercy. But why hopelessness? Sometimes hopelessness is not a major sin, but a major obstacle. During the fight against the monarchy before the victory of the revolution, we used to tell some people: "You believe in Islamic Government, and Islamic system, and accept that Islam wants us to establish an Islamic society. So why don't you act? Our responsibility is not summarized in individual deeds, such as praying, fasting, keeping clean and so on!" They would say: "What for? It's useless. Can't you see the enemy's power is overwhelming?" Today, when we talk of the "enemy", we mean the vast network of global arrogant powers. Nothing less. Less than that is not even worth it! But in those days, when we talked of the "enemy" we did not mean the vast network of global arrogant powers. We meant the security police of the monarchy. At most, we meant the monarchy itself. Nothing more.
August 17, 1992
Quran prohibits hopelessness
Regarding the duality of hope and despair, we should not be hopeless: “And never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s soothing mercy, except those who have no faith” [The Holy Quran, 12: 87]. This is an ayah from Sura Yusuf. This is related to worldly affairs. “And never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy” is not related to spiritual affairs. It is about finding Yusuf: “Oh my sons, go and inquire about Yusuf and his brother and never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy.” “And never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy” is about finding Yusuf. This is a worldly affair. So, “And never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy” is a general rule about worldly affairs. Of course, the same is true of spiritual affairs as well, but this ayah is about worldly affairs: “And never give up hope.”
Why should individuals be hopeless? We are not hopeless and we hope we can bring these arrogant powers to their knees and subjugate them. We can do so, hopefully. If we endeavor hard, show determination, have the desire to do so and rely on God, it will be possible.
Believers in the return of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) never lose hope
Sometimes, when humans see the big waves of darkness and oppression, they become disappointed. The remembrance of the Imam of the Age (a.s.) shows that the sun will rise and the day will come. Of course, darkness exists. There are certain oppressive individuals and creators of darkness in the world. They have been there for several centuries, but the end of this dark and black night there is definitely the rising of the sun.
This is what belief in the Imam of the Age (a.s.) teaches us. This is the definite promise of God: "Greetings be upon you who raised the flag of knowledge, you supporter of people, you bringer of God's mercy and you harbinger of a promise that is not a lie" [Ihtijaj, Vol.2, page 493]. This is the inviolable promise of God.
In the beginning of the dua, it has been mentioned: "Greetings be upon you bringer of God's promise, one which is guaranteed to be true." A promise that has been guaranteed by God is the reappearance of that great Imam (a.s.). So, this is the second point. Those who believe in the reappearance and existence of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake) never become disappointed and hopeless because they know that this sun will definitely rise and that it will wipe away these dark and black spots.
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