Quran by topic

Quran verses about hope

Hope in the Quran, raja' in Arabic, is trust that God's mercy and help have not run out. It is asked for in the same passages that warn, and it is set against despair rather than against caution.

The passages below are a short selection. Each is given in Arabic with an English translation and its place in the Quran. Some speak from inside a story; others are direct promises to the reader.

Despair not of the Spirit of Allah

يَٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

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.

Yusuf 12:87

Surah Yusuf (Joseph) · Meccan · ayah 87 of 111

Despair not of the mercy of Allah

۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

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.

Az-Zumar 39:53

Surah Az-Zumar (The Groups) · Meccan · ayah 53 of 75

A way out from where you do not expect

فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا

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,

At-Talaaq 65:2

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا

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.

At-Talaaq 65:3

Surah At-Talaaq (Divorce) · Medinan · ayahs 2–3 of 12

I am near

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright.

Al-Baqara 2:186

Surah Al-Baqara (The Cow) · Medinan · ayah 186 of 286

Pray to Me and I will answer

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

And your Lord hath said: Pray unto Me and I will hear your prayer. Lo! those who scorn My service, they will enter hell, disgraced.

Ghafir 40:60

Surah Ghafir (The Forgiver) · Meccan · ayah 60 of 85

God is sufficient for us

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَٰنًۭا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ

Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!

Aal-i-Imraan 3:173

Surah Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan) · Medinan · ayah 173 of 200

Those who hope for the mercy of God

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Lo! those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape the persecution) and strive in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Al-Baqara 2:218

Surah Al-Baqara (The Cow) · Medinan · ayah 218 of 286

Context

Three of these passages are Meccan — Yusuf, az-Zumar and Ghafir — and four are Medinan, from at-Talaaq, al-Baqarah and Aal-i-Imraan.

Surah 3:173 is reported to have been revealed when, after Uhud, the believers were warned that Quraysh had gathered against them again. They answered with the words in the verse: God is sufficient for us. The report is recorded in the hadith collections.

Surah 65:2–3 belongs to at-Talaaq, a Medinan surah that sets out the rules of divorce. The promise of a way out and of provision from an unexpected quarter sits inside those practical rules, not apart from them.

Surah 2:186 answers a question the believers put to the Prophet about God's nearness. The answer does not describe a distant God but says: I am near. No further occasion is reported for the other passages.

Questions for reflection

What are you currently treating as closed, and what would it mean to hold it as still open?
Surah 2:186 says God is near and answers the one who calls. Where has that felt true, and where has it not?
The promise in at-Talaaq is given in the middle of legal detail about divorce. What does it mean that hope is offered inside ordinary, difficult procedure?
The believers at Uhud answered a threat with trust. What is the difference between that and pretending the danger is not there?