A human who is a believer, righteous, and virtuous servant and is going to seek Allah’s path during his lifetime should have good idea about Allah’s Mercy, Blessings, and Forgiveness. In other words, while he is in fear of the Hereafter and Allah’s chastisement, he should be hopeful of His Benevolent treatment at death time, in the purgatory, and especially in the Last Day, and His Forgiveness of the sins. Everyone should be hopeful that Allah would accept his efforts, bringing him to the Paradise among His friends.
The infallible Imams (a.s) have considered having a good idea about Allah as a result of one’s positive effort, in their traditions: Imam `Al¢ (a.s) stated:
حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ أنْ تُخْلِصَ العَمَلَ وَتَرْجُوَ مِنْ اللهِ أنْ يَعْفُوَ عَنِ الزَّلَلِ.
Having good idea about Allah is attempting sincerely for Allah and hoping for Allah’s forgiveness of your sins.[1]
Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) said:
حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِاللهِ أنْ لاَ تَرْجُو إلاّ اللهَ وَلاَ تَخَافَ إلاّ ذَنْبَكَ.
Having good idea about Allah is to hope in no one but Allah, and to fear nothing but your sins.[2]
The Messenger of Allah (s.a) said about goodwill:
وَاللهِ الَّذِي لاَ إلَهَ إلاّ هُوَ، لاَ يَحْسُنُ ظَنُّ عَبْدٍ مُؤمِنٍ بِاللهِ إلاّ كَانَ اللهُ عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِهِ المُؤْمِنِ، لأنَّ اللهَ كَرِيمٌ بِيَدِهِ الخَيْرَاتُ، يَسْتَحْيي أنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدُهُ المُؤمِنُ قَدْ أحْسَنَ بِهِ الظَّنَّ وَالرَّجَاءَ ثُمَّ يُخْلِفُ ظَنَّهُ وَرَجَاءَهُ، فَأحْسِنُوا بِاللهِ الظَّنَّ وَارْغَبُوا إلَيْهِ.
I swear by God who has no partners that there are no believers who have a good opinion about God and receive anything less than they expect from Him. This is so since God is Benevolent and has authority over all that is good, and is ashamed of one of his servants having a good opinion about Him and He acting otherwise. Therefore have a good opinion about God and be inclined to Him.[3]
لاَ يَمُوتَنَّ أحَدُكُمْ إلاّ وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ الظَّنَّ بِاللهِ، فَإنَّ حُسْنَ الظَّنِّ بِاللهِ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ.
Do not die and depart from this world until you have formed a good opinion about God, since this is the price for Heaven.[4]
حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِاللهِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ اللهِ.
Forming good opinion about Allah is a kind of worshipping Him.[5]
Refrence: a commentary on Kumayl Supplication by Professor Hossein Ansarian
[1] Ghurar al-°ikam: 83, tradition 1327; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 7/ 3402, Al-Zan, tradition 11590.
[2] Al-K¡f¢: 2/72, Bab Husn Al-Zan, tradition 4; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 7/ 3402, Al-Zan, tradition 11589.
[3] Al-K¡f¢: 2/71, Bab Husn Al-Zan, tradition 2; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 7/ 3400, Al-Zan, tradition 11581.
[4] Amali Tusi: 379, tradition 814; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 7/ 3400, Al-Zan, tradition 11582.
[5] M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 7/3400, Al-Zan, tradition 11584.
source : a commentary on Kumayl Supplication by Professor Hossein Ansarian
