Does Despair Put One Out of the Fold of Islam?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

“Despair is kufr,” Is this a hadith? If it is, then does despairing put us out of the fold of Islam? Kindly note that despairing here, I mean by that, the despair that gets to our heart. We lose hope. We lose hope that Allah will do well for us.

For example, he took my most precious things from me, and I shouted at Him, not aloud, not even verbally, saying with my mouth with no voice, shouted and said: “You got peace now!” “You take the things which are most beloved to me.” I believe He will take the most beloved things from me and get very angry. I said to Him that You are not good, I don’t know which help You talk about. I believe all this, and I say a lot like this to Him in my mind and heart. Does all this make me a kafir?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Do not despair; these statements will not make you a disbeliever. It is just an emotional reaction. Your mind is playing with you, along with the satanic whisperings.

Your acknowledgment and seeking guidance is a change for the better and sign of faith (iman). Allah Most High wants you to turn to Him, and these are the reasons for our tests, so we return to Him and recognize Him.

There are people, situations, and things that come into our lives or we might want and desire, but the plan of Allah Most High is different through His wisdom. As He mentions in the Quran, “Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” [Quran, 2:216]

Poverty May Lead to Disbelief

Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Poverty almost leads to disbelief.” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat; Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al-Iman]

Poverty can lead one to commit disbelief or utter statements that can lead to disbelief or jealousy toward others. But we should not lose hope, as Allah, who is in control, reminds us and guides us. He mentions, ‘And never despair. Allah Most High calls us: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:5; ‘Ayni, ‘Umdat al-Qari; Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir]

Turn Whispering Thoughts into Praising Allah

Sha’bi reported: Shuraih, (Allah be pleased with him) said, Verily, if I am afflicted with a calamity, then I praise Allah four times. I praise him that it was not worse than it was. I praise him when he provides me patience to bear it. I praise him when he guides me to supplicate appropriately and hoping for reward, and I praise him for not making it a calamity in my religion. [Dhahabi, Siyar A’lam Al-Nubula]

Make the Following Dua

Make the following dua to remove doubts, give you ease and a way forward out of the past.

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reports the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) once made the following du’a:

اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْفَقْرِ

“O Allah I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty.” Someone enquired: “Are these two equal?” The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) replied: “Yes.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]

Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) replied: “Yes.” Abu Said al-Khudri reported, The Prophet, (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.” [Ahmad]

Wisdom Behind Everything

Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) replied: ‘Yes.’Abu Said al-Khudri reported the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.” [Ahmad]

One has to continue doing what he is commanded to do, persevere with effort and continued dua, praise Allah Most High, and be grateful to Him. It is just that Allah most High wants to reward you in this way with patience, perseverance, and a test from Him.

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I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani