Quran / Themes / Hope and anxiety
الرجاء
Hope and anxiety
Feeling anxious or low is not a sign of weak faith. The Prophets felt grief and fear too. The Quran speaks directly to people who feel overwhelmed, and it never tells them to give up hope. If you are struggling, these ayat are a comfort, and talking to someone you trust or a professional is part of looking after yourself.
قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٥٣
39:53 Say (on My behalf), “O servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Surely, Allah will forgive all sins. Surely, He is the One who is the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful.
کہہ دے اے بندو میرے جنہوں نے کہ زیادتی کہ ہے اپنی جان پر آس مت توڑو اللہ کی مہربانی سے بیشک اللہ بخشتا ہے سب گناہ وہ جو ہے وہی ہے گناہ معاف کرنے والا مہربان 39:53
39:53 Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Even people who have wronged themselves are told never to despair of God's mercy, because God forgives all sins.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٢٨
13:28 the ones who believe and their hearts are peaceful with the remembrance of Allah. Listen, the hearts find peace only in the remembrance of Allah.”
وہ لوگ جو ایمان لائے اور چین پاتے ہیں انکے دل اللہ کی یاد سے سنتا ہے اللہ کی یاد ہی سے چین پاتے ہیں دل 13:28
13:28 Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!
Hearts find rest in the remembrance of God.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ٢٨٦
2:286 Allah does not obligate anyone beyond his capacity. For him is what he has earned, and on him what he has incurred.“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable, if we forget or make a mistake, and, Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden as You have placed on those before us, and, Our Lord, do not make us bear a burden for which we have no strength. And pardon us, and grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord. So then help us against the disbelieving people.”
اللہ تکلیف نہیں دیتا کسی کو مگر جس قدر اس کی گنجائش ہے اس کو ملتا ہے جو اس نے کمایا اور اسی پر پڑتا ہے جو اس نے کیا اے رب ہمارے نہ پکڑ ہم کو اگر ہم بھولیں یا چوکیں اے رب ہمارے اور نہ رکھ ہم پر بوجھ بھاری جیسا رکھا تھا ہم سے اگلے لوگوں پر اے رب ہمارے اور نہ اٹھوا ہم سے وہ بوجھ کہ جس کی ہم کو طاقت نہیں اور درگذر کر ہم سے اور بخش ہم کو اور رحم کر ہم پر تو ہی ہمارا رب ہے مدد کر ہماری کافروں پر 2:286
2:286 Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.
No soul is given more than it can bear. The ayah ends with a prayer you can make your own.
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا ٢
65:2 So, when they (the divorced women) have (almost) reached their term, then either retain them with fairness, or part with them with fairness. And make two just men from among you witnesses (of your either decision). And (O witnesses,) keep your testimony upright for the sake of Allah. That is what anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to do. Whoever fears Allah, He brings forth a way out for him,
پھر جب پہنچیں اپنے وعدہ کو تو رکھ لو اُنکو دستور کے موافق یا چھوڑ دو اُنکو دستور کے موافق اور گواہ کر لو دو معتبر اپنے میں کے اور سیدھی ادا کرو گواہی اللہ کے واسطے یہ بات جو ہے اس سے سمجھ جائے گا جو کوئی یقین رکھتا ہو گا اللہ پر اور پچھلے دن پر اور جو کوئی ڈرتا ہے اللہ سے وہ کر دے اُس کا گذارہ 65:2
65:2 Then, when they have reached their term, take them back in kindness or part from them in kindness, and call to witness two just men among you, and keep your testimony upright for Allah. Whoso believeth in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to act thus. And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him,
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا ٣
65:3 and provides him (with what he needs) from where he does not even imagine. And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah is to accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for every thing.
اور روزی دے اُسکو جہاں سے اُسکو خیال بھی نہ ہو اور جو کوئی بھروسہ رکھے اللہ پر تو وہ اُسکو کافی ہے تحقیق اللہ پورا کر لیتا ہے اپنا کام اللہ نےرکھا ہے ہر چیز کا اندازہ 65:3
65:3 And will provide for him from (a quarter) whence he hath no expectation. And whosoever putteth his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Lo! Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah hath set a measure for all things.
Revealed about divorce, one of life's hardest moments: whoever is mindful of God, He makes a way out for them and provides from where they never expected.
يَٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ ٨٧
12:87 O my sons, go and search for Yūsuf and his brother, and do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah. In fact, only the infidels lose hope in Allah’s mercy.”
اے بیٹو جاؤ اور تلاش کرو یوسف کی اور اسکے بھائی کی اور ناامید مت ہو اللہ کے فیض سے بیشک نا امید نہیں ہوتے اللہ کے فیض سے مگر وہی لوگ جو کافر ہیں 12:87
12:87 Go, O my sons, and ascertain concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of the Spirit of Allah. Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk.
Prophet Yaqub, grieving for his lost son, tells his sons not to lose hope in God's relief.
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ٣
93:3 your Lord (O Prophet,) has neither forsaken you, nor has become displeased.
نہ رخصت کر دیا تجھ کو تیرے رب نے اور نہ بیزار ہوا 93:3
93:3 Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee,
وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ٤
93:4 Surely the Hereafter is much better for you than the present life.
اور البتہ پچھلی بہتر ہے تجھ کو پہلی سے 93:4
93:4 And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former,
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ ٥
93:5 And of course, your Lord will give you so much that you will be pleased.
اور آگے دے گا تجھ کو تیرا رب پھر تو راضی ہو گا 93:5
93:5 And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.
Revealed to the Prophet ﷺ at a difficult time: your Lord has not abandoned you, and what comes later will be better.
Explanations are our own summaries, not translations. Use the tafsir links on each ayah for classical commentary.
Related questions
If God is good, why is there so much suffering?
Islam teaches that this life is a test, not the final destination. Suffering is real and painful, but it isn't meaningless. God promises that no one is burdened beyond what they can bear, that ease comes with hardship, and that perfect justice will come in the next life. Islam doesn't ask you to pretend pain isn't there; it gives you a way to carry it.