Ibn Daud - A Handbook of Spiritual Medicine

CHAPTER 9
األمَل [Amal] False Hope
Extended false hope (tatwīl al-amal) is a peculiar phenomenon. For
many people it is an ever-present part of their psyche, a kind of
everyday assurance that death for them is a long way away. At the
same time however, in a heartbeat, it can act on an individual like a
quick-acting poison to inspire immoral behaviour, or – at the very
least – an inclination toward material possessions over and above
any spiritual concerns. It is a mental environment that leads people
to live their lives as if a long life is guaranteed. This delusion can
generate hard-heartedness and inaction due to the heedlessness of
the Hereafter.
Another kind of hope (umniyya) is having hope but neglecting the
means to achieve what one hopes for, which is often referred to as
an ‘empty wish’. One hopes to become healthier, for example, but
remains idle and is altogether careless about diet.
FALSE HOPE
The cause of (extended) false hope may be due to:
o A heedlessness of the reality of death
o A lack of certainty (disbelief) in the Hereafter
o A negative understanding of the reality of Allāh and His
authority and presence
o Ignorance of the fact that the entire affair (of this life) is Allāh’s
alone: that everything belongs to Allāh
An enduring characteristic of the teachings of every Prophet and
thus every revealed religion, is the idea that entry into Paradise is a
matter of Allāh’s mercy. The reward of this eternal abode comes
by combining faith with sincere deeds that confirm one’s profession
of faith. It is a misguided extension of false hope, however, that will
exclude many from Paradise: many a soul that vouches for Islām will
find itself cast into Hell on the Day of Judgement.
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