The Quran emphasizes Allah’s infinite mercy (Rahma) and instills hope in believers, even in hardship, sin, or despair. Allah describes Himself as Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful) and Ar-Raheem (The Especially Merciful), and His mercy encompasses all things. Despair contradicts faith, as Allah forgives all sins for those who repent sincerely. Below are key verses with Arabic text, transliteration, and English translation (based on Sahih International and similar reliable sources), followed by explanations.
1. The Most Famous Verse on Hope in Mercy (Surah Az-Zumar 39:53)
Arabic:
قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Transliteration:
Qul yā ʿibādiya alladhīna asrafū ʿalā anfusihim lā taqnaṭū min raḥmati Allāhi inna Allāha yaghfiru adh-dhunūba jamīʿan innahu huwa al-ghafūru ar-raḥīm.
Translation:
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
This verse directly addresses sinners, urging them not to lose hope. No matter the gravity of sins (except shirk if unrepented), sincere repentance opens the door to full forgiveness. Scholars call it one of the most hope-inspiring verses, a remedy against despair.
2. Do Not Despair of Allah’s Mercy (Surah Yusuf 12:87)
Arabic:
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
Transliteration:
Yā baniyya idhhabū fataḥassasū min Yūsufa wa akhīhi wa lā tay’asū min rawḥi Allāhi innahu lā yay’asu min rawḥi Allāhi illā al-qawmu al-kāfirūn.
Translation:
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.
Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob) advises his sons amid grief over losing Joseph. “Rawh” here means mercy and relief. Despairing of Allah’s mercy is a trait of disbelievers; believers remain hopeful.
3. Allah Has Prescribed Mercy Upon Himself (Surah Al-An’am 6:54)
Arabic:
وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Transliteration:
Wa idhā jā’aka alladhīna yu’minūna biāyātinā faqul salāmun ʿalaykum kataba rabbukum ʿalā nafsihi ar-raḥmata annahu man ʿamila minkum sū’an bijahālatin thumma tāba min baʿdihi wa aṣlaḥa fa annahu ghafūrun raḥīm.
Translation:
And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, “Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that whoever among you does evil in ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself – indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Allah obligates mercy upon Himself. Sins from ignorance, followed by repentance and reform, earn forgiveness. This highlights mercy as a divine commitment.
4. Hope for Captives and the Oppressed (Surah Al-Anfal 8:70)
Arabic:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِىٓ أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ إِن يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Transliteration:
Yā ayyuhā an-nabiyyu qul liman fī aydīkum mina al-asrā in yaʿlami Allāhu fī qulūbikum khayran yu’tikum khayran mimmā ukhidha minkum wa yaghfir lakum wa Allāhu ghafūrun raḥīm.
Translation:
O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, “If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Revealed after Badr, this offers hope to prisoners of war. If goodness exists in their hearts (leading to faith), Allah replaces losses with better rewards and forgiveness.
5. With Hardship Comes Ease (Surah Ash-Sharh 94:5-6)
Arabic:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا
Transliteration:
Fa inna maʿa al-ʿusri yusrā
Inna maʿa al-ʿusri yusrā
Translation:
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Repeated for emphasis, this promises relief after difficulty, fostering hope in trials.
6. Allah’s Mercy Encompasses All Things (Surah Al-A’raf 7:156)
Arabic:
وَٱكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Transliteration:
…wa raḥmatī wasiʿat kulla shay’in fasaktubuhā lilladhīna yattaqūna wa yu’tūna az-zakāta wa alladhīna hum biāyātinā yu’minūn.
Translation:
…And My mercy encompasses all things. So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses.
Allah’s mercy embraces everything, reserved especially for the righteous.
7. Relief and Mercy in Remembrance (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28)
Arabic:
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Transliteration:
Alladhīna āmanū wa taṭma’inna qulūbuhum bidhikri Allāhi alā bidhikri Allāhi taṭma’innu al-qulūb.
Translation:
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.
Remembrance of Allah brings peace, hope, and a sense of His mercy.
Additional Verses on Mercy and Hope
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:218 — Believers who strive hope for Allah’s mercy.
- Surah Al-Furqan 25:70 — Repentance turns bad deeds into good, showing mercy.
- Surah Ad-Duhaa 93:5 — “And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.” – Promise of better future.
These verses remind us that Allah’s mercy surpasses His wrath. He invites repentance and promises forgiveness, ease after hardship, and eternal reward. In difficulty, turn to Him with hope—He responds to sincere callers (Surah Ghafir 40:60). True believers balance fear of Allah with profound hope in His Rahma.
