Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
What is the significance of having a good opinion of Allah in a Muslim’s life?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Good Opinion of Allah
Having a good opinion of Allah (Most High) is an essential aspect of faith that a believer must embody to perfect their belief. It is a religious obligation that requires expecting the best from Allah.
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Allah (Most High) says: ‘I am as My servant expects Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than theirs. If he comes near to Me by a span, I come near to him by a cubit; if he comes near to Me by a cubit, I come near to him by a fathom; and if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The meaning of having a good opinion of Allah (Most High) is to believe that He will have mercy on one and forgive them. Scholars have said that during good health, one should be in a state of both fear and hope equally, although some said fear should be slightly greater. However, when the signs of death are near, hope should be predominant, or even exclusive, since the purpose of fear is to prevent sin and increase good deeds, which becomes difficult or impossible at the time of death. Therefore, it is recommended to have a good opinion of Allah, which entails reliance upon Him and submission to His will.” [Nawawi, Muslim]
There are specific situations in which having a good opinion of Allah is particularly emphasized, including:
At the Time of Death
Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah al-Ansari said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), three days before his death, say:
‘None of you should die except while having a good opinion of Allah (Most High).’” [Muslim]
During Times of Hardship and Distress
The three Companions who lagged behind in the Battle of Tabuk were only relieved from their hardship and distress after having a good opinion of their Lord and repenting, whereupon Allah accepted their repentance. Allah (Most High) says:
“And (Allah has also turned in mercy to) the three who had remained behind, (whose guilt distressed them) until the earth, despite its vastness, seemed to close in on them, and their souls were torn in anguish. They knew there was no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them in mercy so that they might repent. Surely Allah (alone) is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.” [Quran, 9:118]
During Financial Hardship
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Whoever is afflicted by poverty and turns to people for relief, his need will not be satisfied. But whoever turns to Allah for relief, Allah will soon provide him with provision, either sooner or later.” [Hakim; Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi; Ahmad]
While Supplicating (Making Dua)
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Call upon Allah while being certain of a response, and know that Allah does not answer the supplication of a heart that is heedless and distracted.” [Hakim; Tirmidhi]
When Repenting
Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, relating from his Lord (Most High):
“A servant committed a sin and said, ‘O Allah, forgive my sin.’ Allah (Most High) said: ‘My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.’ Then he sinned again and said, ‘O my Lord, forgive my sin.’ Allah (Most High) said: ‘My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.’ Then he sinned again and said, ‘O my Lord, forgive my sin.’ Allah (Most High) said: ‘My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them. Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
O Allah, fill our hearts with good thoughts of You so that we meet You while You are pleased with us by Your grace and mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
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