Between Presumption and Despair:

Likewise, this too is part of the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah: it is the middle course between feeling safe from Allah’s devising and despairing of His mercy. They hope for Allah’s mercy, yet they never feel secure from His devising, punishment, or trials; nor do they ever lose hope in His mercy. Thus they unite fear with hope—the very path trodden by the prophets. The Most High says, “Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and call upon Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us” (Al-Anbiyāʾ: 90). Such were the prophets: their fear of Allah did not drive them to despair of His mercy. He also says, “None despairs of the relief of Allah except the disbelieving people” (Yūsuf: 87), and, “Who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?” (Al-Ḥijr: 56). Conversely, their hope in Allah never led them to feel secure from His devising, for the Almighty says, “Do they then feel secure from Allah’s devising? None feels secure from Allah’s devising except the losers” (Al-Aʿrāf: 99).

Thus Abraham, the father of the prophets, prayed, “Keep me and my children away from worshipping idols” (Ibrāhīm: 35). Abraham did not feel safe concerning himself; he feared temptation, for he was human.

Therefore no one should feel secure about himself and say, “I am a righteous man.” Rather, he should fear for his own soul while never despairing of Allah’s mercy, for the Exalted says, “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Surely Allah forgives sins…’”