The benefits of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Man is never weary of calling for good, but when evil touches him, he is despondent and despairing.”
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Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said: [Fussilat 41:49] Among the benefits of this noble verse is that man is stingy, and that he is eager for good, yet stingy in giving what is asked of him.
And among its benefits is that man always loves good, as He said: This is by the nature of man, that he loves good, which is what suits his self and his desire.
And among its benefits is that the man who has no faith, when evil touches him, becomes despondent and despairing of the mercy of Allah.
And among its benefits is the condemnation of those who are despondent and despairing of the mercy of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because Allah the Exalted presented this in the manner of condemnation.
And among the benefits of the verse is that it is not befitting for a person to give precedence to the side of despair and despondency, just as it is not befitting for him to give precedence to the side of mercy. For if he gives precedence to the side of hope and mercy, he falls into the category of those who do not feel safe from the stratagem of Allah. And if he gives precedence to the side of despair and despondency, he falls into the category of those who are despondent and despairing. Is it befitting for a person to give precedence to hope or to give precedence to fear? Those who walk the path to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) have differed on this. Some said: It is befitting to give precedence to the side of fear so that one may be wary of sins and avoid them, because if one gives precedence to the side of fear, one fears and is wary of sins. Some said: One should give precedence to the side of hope, because Allah the Exalted is in accordance with the good opinion of His servant of Him. And if one gives precedence to hope, one stays away from despair and despondency. Some said: It is befitting not to give precedence to one over the other, but to make one’s fear and hope equal. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It should be that his fear and his hope are equal; whichever one prevails, its owner is ruined.” Some said: It is befitting for a person to be between fear and hope like a bird between its two wings; if one lowers, it falls. Some scholars said: It is befitting to give precedence to the side of hope when performing an act of obedience, hoping for acceptance and reward, and to give precedence to the side of fear when intending to commit a sin, so that one does not disobey Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Some scholars say: One should give precedence to the side of hope when ill, so that if one dies, one meets Allah with a good opinion of Him. And in a state of health, one should give precedence to the side of fear, because the state of health leads a person to arrogance and insolence, so let the side of fear prevail. All these opinions, which amount to six or seven, in reality look at the state of the servant. Therefore, we see in this matter that a person looks at his own state. If he has done a good deed and toiled in what pleases Allah, let him give precedence to the side of hope. Every time he performs an act of obedience, let him give precedence to the side of hope that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has overlooked his shortcomings, that Allah the Exalted has accepted it, and that He will reward him. And if he sees arrogance and pride in himself, let him give precedence to the side of fear so that he may proceed to Allah the Exalted in a good manner.
Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing.
لا يسأم الإنسان من دعاء الخير وإن مسَّه الشر فيئُوس قنوطAnd among its benefits is that man always loves good, as He said:
Man is never weary of calling for good
لا يسأم - من دعاء الخيرAnd among its benefits is that the man who has no faith, when evil touches him, becomes despondent and despairing of the mercy of Allah.
And among its benefits is the condemnation of those who are despondent and despairing of the mercy of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because Allah the Exalted presented this in the manner of condemnation.
And among the benefits of the verse is that it is not befitting for a person to give precedence to the side of despair and despondency, just as it is not befitting for him to give precedence to the side of mercy. For if he gives precedence to the side of hope and mercy, he falls into the category of those who do not feel safe from the stratagem of Allah. And if he gives precedence to the side of despair and despondency, he falls into the category of those who are despondent and despairing. Is it befitting for a person to give precedence to hope or to give precedence to fear? Those who walk the path to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) have differed on this. Some said: It is befitting to give precedence to the side of fear so that one may be wary of sins and avoid them, because if one gives precedence to the side of fear, one fears and is wary of sins. Some said: One should give precedence to the side of hope, because Allah the Exalted is in accordance with the good opinion of His servant of Him. And if one gives precedence to hope, one stays away from despair and despondency. Some said: It is befitting not to give precedence to one over the other, but to make one’s fear and hope equal. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It should be that his fear and his hope are equal; whichever one prevails, its owner is ruined.” Some said: It is befitting for a person to be between fear and hope like a bird between its two wings; if one lowers, it falls. Some scholars said: It is befitting to give precedence to the side of hope when performing an act of obedience, hoping for acceptance and reward, and to give precedence to the side of fear when intending to commit a sin, so that one does not disobey Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Some scholars say: One should give precedence to the side of hope when ill, so that if one dies, one meets Allah with a good opinion of Him. And in a state of health, one should give precedence to the side of fear, because the state of health leads a person to arrogance and insolence, so let the side of fear prevail. All these opinions, which amount to six or seven, in reality look at the state of the servant. Therefore, we see in this matter that a person looks at his own state. If he has done a good deed and toiled in what pleases Allah, let him give precedence to the side of hope. Every time he performs an act of obedience, let him give precedence to the side of hope that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has overlooked his shortcomings, that Allah the Exalted has accepted it, and that He will reward him. And if he sees arrogance and pride in himself, let him give precedence to the side of fear so that he may proceed to Allah the Exalted in a good manner.