NEVER GIVE UP ON ALLAH'S GRACE AND MERCY -- By: Shabrun Jamil (Islamic Counselor at Religious Affair Ministry of Tangerang District)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu'alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamiin
Wal 'Aaqibatu Lil Muttaqiin
Wa Laa 'Udwaana Illaa 'Aladdzaalimiin
Wasshalaatu Wassalaamu 'Alaa Asyrafil Anbiyaa-i Wal Mursaliin
Sayyidinaa Wa Nabiyyinaa Muhammadin
Wa 'Alaa Aalihii Wa Shahbihii Ajma'iin.

Ammaa Ba'du.

Wa law laa fadhlullaahi 'alaikum wa rahmatuhuu fiddunyaa wal aakhirati lamassakum fii maa afadhtum fiihi 'adzaabun 'adziim.(Qur'an Surah An-Nur verse 14)
"And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the hereafter, you would have been touched for that (lie) in which you were involved by a great punishment."

'An Abdillaah ibni 'Abbaasin radhiyallaahu 'anhumaa 'an Rasulillaahi shallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam fii maa yarwiihi 'an Rabbihii Tabaaraka Wa Ta'aalaa Qaala: Innallaaha katabal hasanaati wassayyi-aati tsumma bayyana dzaalika, faman hamma bihasanatin wa lam ya'malhaa katabahallaahu 'indahuu hasanatan kaamilatan, wa in hamma bihaa fa 'amilahaa katabahallaahu 'indahuu 'asyra hasanaatin ilaa sab'imi-ati dhi'fiin ilaa adh'aafin katsiirah. Wa in bi sayyi-atin fa lam ya'malhaa katabahallaahu 'indahuu hasanatan kaamilatan, wa in hamma bihaa fa'amilahaa katabahallaahu sayyi-atan waahidatan (rawaahul bukhaary wa muslim).
"On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from what he has related from his Lord: Verily Allah Ta'ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds and then explained it (by saying): Whoever intended perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did not perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it, and then perform it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed."

Some of us might think that Islam teaches that paradise can be earned by one own's deeds. Actually, it is only Allah's Grace and His Mercy which allows us to enter paradise. Allah is The Forgiver, and to claim that man can grant forgiveness is to take away from Allah's Names and Attributes.

No one will attain eternal Salvation due to his own level of faith or deeds, but rather, it is only achieved through Allah's Grace. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would only enter paradise due to Allah's Grace.

Grace and Mercy are such elusive words in Qur'an. We might understand Grace as Loving, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Compassion. From an understanding of Grace and Mercy we have opportunity to know Allah better.

We have to keep all our hope to Allah, The Glorified, and never have hope in anyone other than Him, for indeed no one has hoped in other than Allah, The Exalted, but that he has been dissappointed. The greatest affliction is the severence of hope. Hope in the Mercy of Allah brings more success.

SUBHAANAKALLAAHUMMA WA BI HAMDIKA ASYHADU ALLAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTA ASTAGHFIRUKA WA ATUUBU ILAIKA.