Always have good thoughts about Allaah جل وعلى

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In a Hadeeth Qudsee Allaah تعالى said:

أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي

{I am to my slave as he thinks of Me} [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7405, 7505) and Saheeh Muslim (6471, 6495, 6498, 6610)]

Jaabir bin `Abdullaah رضي الله عنه reported: I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying three days before his death: “Let none of you die except thinking positively of Allaah.” [Saheeh Muslim (6875)]

Abu Musa رضي الله عنه reported Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “He who loves to meet Allaah, Allaah too loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allaah, Allaah abhors to meet him.” [Saheehain]

It is from the ways of the Jews to think bad about Allaah:

﴿وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللَّـهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ﴾

{The Jews say: “Allaah’s Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend of His Bounty)”} [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 64]

It is a sign of hypocrisy and Kufr to have bad thoughts about Allaah:

﴿إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّـهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾

{Certainly no one despairs of Allaah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.} [Surah Yusuf (12): 87]

Whereas in Islaam, we are taught to always have a positive attitude and good thoughts about Allaah.

1. When a person makes Du`aa, he should be firm and resolute that Allaah تعالى has heard his prayers and that He تعالى alone is capable of answering his needs. For example in Du`aa al-Istikhaarah the person is taught to acknowledge that Allaah تعالى has perfect knowledge and absolute power, and that He تعالى is capable of doing all things that befits His Majesty. In the Qur’aan Allaah تعالى mentioned that He listens to the call of those who invoke Him and He responds to their needs.

So after all these, how can we have bad thoughts about Allaah تعالى that He will not respond to our invocations?

2. When a person sins and then turns to Allaah and repents, Allaah تعالى is more pleased to accept his repentance than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which was lost in the desert. We are taught in the Qur’aan to not to despair of the Mercy of Allaah. We are taught that Allaah تعالى is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

So after all these, how can we have bad thoughts about Allaah تعالى and despair of His Mercy?

3. When a person tries to be near to Allaah by doing righteous deeds with sincerity, then he should be assured that Allaah تعالى will accept it, irrespective of how small it might be as mentioned in Surah al-Zalzalah.

4. A person should have firm faith that Allaah تعالى will fulfill the promises that He تعالى made.

5. Having good thoughts about Allaah تعالى at the advent of the trials, that He تعالى is the Only One who is capable of removing them. Calling someone other than Allaah is Kufr and a sign of having bad thoughts about Allaah.

6. Having good thoughts about Allaah تعالى at the time of death as already preceded in the above mentioned Ahaadeeth.

So, it is obligatory for a Believer, Male and Female, to have good thoughts about Allaah and turning to Him in repentance and hoping for ONLY good from HIM.

Sufyaan al-Thawree رخمه الله asked Hammaad bin Salamah: “O Abu Salamah! Do you think that Allaah will forgive the likes of me?” Hammaad said: “By Allaah! If I were given a choice to select between the Judgment of Allaah towards me and between my parents judging me, I would select that Allaah judges me; because Allaah is more merciful towards me than my parents.” [Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa (7/108)]