How Do Good Thoughts About Allah Affect the Heart’s Purity and Tranquility?

Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Question

What is the effect of having good thoughts about Allah on the purity and tranquility of the heart?

Answer

In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his Family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

Good Thoughts About Allah

Having good thoughts about Allah is one of the acts of the heart that earns divine reward. Allah (Most High) says:

“And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble— those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and to Him they will return.” [Quran, 2:45–46]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:

“Let none of you die except while having good thoughts about Allah.” [Muslim]

Hope and Fear in Balance

Good thoughts about Allah lead to hope in His:

• Bounty
• Promise
• Reward
• Forgiveness
• Paradise

It is narrated that Wathila Ibn al-Asqa‘ (Allah be pleased with him) visited a sick person and asked, “Tell me, how do you feel about Allah?” The man replied, “My sins have overwhelmed me, and I fear ruin, but I still hope for the mercy of my Lord.” Wathila exclaimed:

“Allahu Akbar!” (Allah is the Greatest), and those present echoed his words. He continued:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say:

‘Allah says: I am as My servant thinks of Me, so let him think of Me as he wills.’” [Ibn Hibban; Ahmad]

In another incident, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) visited a young man on his deathbed and asked:

“How do you feel?”

The young man replied:

“I hope for Allah’s mercy, but I fear my sins.”

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) responded:

“These two qualities (hope and fear) do not combine in the heart of a believer in this situation except that Allah grants him what he hopes for and protects him from what he fears.” [Tirmidhi; Ibn Maja]

Impact on the Heart

These reports demonstrate that while believers fear the consequences of their actions, they should simultaneously hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

This balance instills tranquility in the heart, especially during critical times such as facing death or enduring severe hardships.

Warning Against Complacency

This hope should not lead to complacency or overconfidence, which may result in neglecting repentance or indulging in sins. Instead, one must repent sincerely and strive to avoid disobedience.

The saying, “The decree of Allah has broken the hearts of the knowing,” reflects the delicate balance of hope and fear that a believer should maintain.

We ask Allah for a good end, sincere repentance, and the ability to maintain good thoughts about Him. May He not hold us accountable for our sins but instead forgive them for us. O Allah, grant us Your mercy and forgiveness. Amin.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib is a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen. He was born in Shibam, Hadhramaut, in 1976. He received his degree in Shari‘a from Al-Ahqaf University, a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Beirut, and a PhD in Usul al-Din from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

He studied under great scholars such as Shaykh al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Shaykh Fadl Ba‘ fadl, Habib Salim al-Shatiri, Habib Ali Mashhur bin Hafeez, and others. He has served as the Director of Publications at Dar al-Fiqh, the former Deputy Director of Cultural Relations at Al-Ahqaf University, a former Assistant for Employee Affairs at Atiyah Iron Company, a researcher at the Sunna Center affiliated with the Dallah al-Baraka Foundation, and a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch.

Currently, he is a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch, teaches traditionally through the Ijaza system at Dar al-Fuqaha in Turkey, supervises the Arabic department at Nur al-Huda International Institute (SeekersGuidance), and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Manuscript House in Istanbul.

His works include “The Efforts of Hadhramaut Jurists in Serving the Shafi‘i School,” “Contributions of Hadhramaut Scholars in Spreading Islam and its Sciences in India,” “Hada’iq al-Na‘im in Shafi‘i Fiqh,” in addition to verifying several books in Fiqh, history, the art of biographies, and Asanid (chains of narration).