Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If the believer knew the punishment God has prepared, no one would hope for His paradise; and if the infidel knew the extent of His mercy, no one would despair of attaining His paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Believer's Perspective on Divine Punishment
The first portion of this hadith reveals that if believers truly comprehended the magnitude and severity of Allah's punishment prepared for the disobedient, none would feel secure in their current state or presume automatic entry into Paradise. This serves as a powerful reminder against spiritual complacency (ghaflah) and encourages constant self-reformation.
The Infidel's Perspective on Divine Mercy
The second portion demonstrates the vastness of Allah's mercy, which encompasses all things. If disbelievers truly understood its boundless nature, none would despair of receiving it, regardless of their previous state. This encourages hope and prevents despair from Allah's compassion.
Balanced Spiritual State
This tradition teaches the middle path between fear (khawf) and hope (raja'). The believer should maintain a balance - fearing Allah's punishment enough to avoid disobedience, while hoping in His mercy enough to remain optimistic about forgiveness and Paradise.
Divine Wisdom in Partial Knowledge
Allah in His wisdom has concealed the full reality of both punishment and mercy to preserve the proper functioning of human choice and spiritual development. Complete knowledge would disrupt the test of this worldly life and eliminate the need for faith (iman) and righteous action (amal salih).