July 12, International Day of Hope- A Time to Renew Our Trust in Divine Mercy and a Better Future for Humanity

The International Day of Hope marked every year on July 12, reminds us of the enduring human spirit to persevere through hardships and build a better world. Established to inspire resilience and solidarity, this day comes at a time when many people and nations across the globe are enduring the trials of war, poverty, oppression, and social injustice. Moreover, humanity as a whole faces global challenges such as environmental crises, nuclear threats, and widespread inequalities.

In the face of these hardships, Islam—rooted in the Quranic message—calls on us not to fall into despair. The Quran teaches us that hope is an essential part of faith and warns that despair is a deception of Satan, who seeks to weaken the human heart and cut it off from divine mercy.

God says in the Holy Quran: “Do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins” (39:53).

These sins can include not only personal wrongdoings but also collective mistakes and poor decisions, such as entrusting public responsibilities to unqualified individuals or making flawed leadership choices. This verse gives us the comforting assurance that God’s mercy encompasses both personal and societal failings. He offers humanity the opportunity to correct its course and repair the damage done. Therefore, there is no place for despair. Rather, we are called to reflect sincerely on our mistakes, learn from them, and strive not to repeat them.

And God promises: “The outcome belongs to the God-conscious” (7:128).

The leaders of Islam emphasized this spirit of hope and responsibility:

Imam Ali (p) said: “The greatest affliction is the loss of hope”(Ghurar al-Hikam, Hadith 2860).

And Imam al-Sadiq (p) said: “One of the gravest sins before God is to despair of His mercy and to lose hope in His compassion” (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl, vol. 12, p. 333).

He also said: “Have hope in God in a way that does not embolden you to commit sins and fear Him in a way that does not cause you to despair of His mercy” (Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 70, p. 384).

These timeless teachings offer humanity a clear message: despite the hardships of today, the future holds promise. The Quran and the words of the Prophet and Imams assure us that the earth will ultimately be inherited by the righteous and that justice will prevail over oppression, mercy over cruelty, and peace over conflict.

At I.M.A.M., we believe that hope is not passive waiting, but active striving. In this spirit, we are called to work collectively to address the crises facing our world, to alleviate suffering, and to pursue solutions that promote justice, peace, and human dignity.

The promise of a better tomorrow is not a distant dream but a guiding light for our actions today. With faith, resilience, and compassion, we journey toward a world where goodness triumphs over evil and where humanity fulfills its divine trust as caretakers of the earth.

On this International Day of Hope, let us renew our commitment to building that future, inspired by the Quranic assurance of God’s mercy and the enduring victory of truth and justice.