Jumah Nugget: Why You Should Be More Optimistic and Think Good in all Situations

Why You Should Be More Optimistic and Think Good in all Situations

…And do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for no one loses hope in Allah’s mercy except those who disbelieve— Qur’an 12 [Yusuf]:87

Fear, pessimism, and anxiety have become norms in modern societies and are seen as the order of the day. This is increasingly rising across the globe as people no longer believe that the world will improve by the day. Media propaganda and recent disasters also contribute to this scourge. Amidst all these, how do we remain positive without losing our faith and sanity? We learn optimism beautifully well from our beloved Messenger.

The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was a great optimist. He lost his father while in the womb and his mother’s demise occurred when he was barely six years old. His uncle Abu Talib who raised him and was a source of strength for him died the same year as his beloved wife Khadijah. This was described in the book of history as his year of sorrow, yet he never lost hope in Allah to fulfill his mission. This is where fate intertwines with faith. A concept that every Muslim needs to learn, master, and implement.

On the Battlefield

In the battle of the confederates, the Prophet and the early Muslims showed great optimism and there are a lot of lessons to learn from this. Even Allah revealed a whole chapter — Suratul Ahzab in relation to this event. The pagan Arabs formed an alliance with an army of ten thousand men to besiege the city of Madinah. Allah described to us how terrible the situation was for the Muslims:

O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when armies came to [attack] you and We sent upon them a wind and armies [of angels] you did not see. And ever is Allāh, of what you do, Seeing. ˹Remember˺ when they came at you from east and west, when your eyes grew wild in horror and your hearts jumped into your throats, and you entertained conflicting thoughts about Allah. Then and there the believers were put to the test, and were violently shaken. — Qur’an 33[Al-Ahzab]:9–11

In this chaotic state, the prophet peace be upon him and the believers responded with great optimism. This was the battle in which the Muslims had to dig a trench to protect the city of Madinah. While the digging was ongoing, the Muslims came across a boulder in the trench which they were unable to break. The prophet stepped forward with an axe and descended into the trench. Allah’s Apostle was strong, physically fit, and healthy — this is a key lesson for us as Muslims. He always showed signs of bravery, courage, and leadership in all situations. This was a very tough period for the Muslims as even the Prophet was tying a rock to his stomach owing to severe hunger. The siege made it difficult for any provision to come in or out of Madinah. Now imagine a great prediction of optimism that occurred despite the uncertainty they faced.

Predicting Greatness Through Uncertainty

On getting into the trench, Allah’s Apostle said bismillah — in the name of Allah — struck the rock with one blow and a third of it crumbled. Then he said Allahu Akbar — Allah is the Greatest — Allah has just given me the keys to Ash-Shaam and by Allah, I can see the Red Palaces from where I stand right here. Bear in mind that Ash-Shaam was the greater Syria area and it was the greatest empire of civilization at that time. They weren’t Arabs nor were they Muslims but he gave the believers this glad tidings of a great conquest coming soon.

And for the second time, Allah’s Apostle said bismillah — in the name of Allah — struck the rock with another blow, and a part of it broke down. Then he said, by Allah, I have just been given the keys to Persia and I can see the cities and the Grand White Palace from where I stand. He picks up his axe a third time and hits the boulder into crumbled pieces. Then he said, by Allah, I have just been given the keys to Yemen and I can see the doors to Sanaa — the capital city of Yemen — from where I stand. This occurrence was one of the numerous miracles that happened during the Battle of the Trench.

Interestingly, all of these predictions were not witnessed by the Messenger of Allah. It was the companions and the earlier generation of Muslims who fulfilled these prophesies. That’s real optimism at its peak! As a leader, you don’t need to see the fruits of your labor. What you need to do is to lay the groundwork and think positively of Allah. That’s the belief of the optimist.

Thauban reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Allah drew the ends of the world near one another for my sake. And I have seen its eastern and western ends. And the dominion of my Ummah would reach those ends which have been drawn near me… — Muslim

What is your expectation of Allah?

Many of us do not know who Allah is and we put little effort in trying to connect with our Creator. This is why we oftentimes have ill representation and awful expectations of Him. Know that Allah is Able to do all things and All power and Might belong to him.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah the Almighty said: I am as My servant thinks I am… — Bukhari

A man named Anwar Wagdi once in an interview comparing wealth and illness made a statement that cost him his life. He said: ‘Oh Allah, give me a hundred thousand Egyptian currency and I don’t care if my body gets cancer in return’. Guess what happened? When he reached that mark, he was afflicted with polycystic kidney cancer which ultimately led to his death in Stockholm. This is a pessimist view of Allah’s capabilities. You don’t have to seek a negative means to a positive end because Allah is capable of doing all things.

As for the optimist, he is confident that Allah accepts dua’ and that He is Mighty and Sufficient for the believers. The story of Imam Bukhari’s mother comes to mind at this time. Did you know that Imam Bukhari was blind in his early days? His mother was a pious worshipper and a righteous woman. She cried out for help to Allah the Almighty, for the restoration of her child’s eyesight. One night, she saw the Prophet Ibrahim alayhis-salam in a dream and was told, “Allah has restored the sight of your son because of your intense and beautiful invocations.” In the morning, Imam Bukhari got up from his bed, and glimmers of light reached out into his eyes. That was an indication that his eyesight was fully restored. This is how optimists think.

How do we Foster Optimism?

Surround yourself with optimistic people: Identify the optimists around you and adopt their patterns or lifestyles. And the best optimist to emulate is our beloved Messenger peace be upon him. The companions emulated his lifestyle and this led them to victories back to back

Avoid the pessimists and their ways: Also, identify those who are pessimistic in their way of thoughts and actions. Then avert them as they could be contagious. Cut down on the hours spent on social media and negative news outlets. This information can affect you negatively.

Isolate events: You don’t have to run to conclusions based on happenings in your life. Treat issues differently as they come, find the root cause, and see how you can resolve it. Don’t see it as an interconnected issue and don’t generalize. Remember, Allah’s Apostle told us: ‘The one who says the people are ruined is the most ruined of them all’.

Express Gratitude: Be a person who is thankful in all situations. Be grateful to Allah for all His blessings. Research has shown that gratitude increases wellness, bounty, and happiness which leads to contentment and a more positive outlook on life.

Forgiveness and Repentance: Know that Allah is forgiving and merciful, therefore forgive yourself and repent back to Him. This belief fosters optimism because it offers you the opportunity to start anew, regardless of your past actions.

Patience: Optimism is not being naive, it’s understanding that life will have its share of difficulties and trials. This is where patience comes to the rescue knowing that Allah’s wisdom surpasses human understanding. More often than not, trials lead to personal growth and spiritual development.

Tawakul: Finally, as an optimist, you must put your trust in Allah while taking appropriate actions. Believe that Allah has a plan for you, and everything happens ultimately for the best. Supplicate to Allah, seeking guidance, and help through difficult moments. This can provide comfort and hope during challenging times.

It’s important to note that while optimism is encouraged in Islam, it doesn’t mean ignoring or downplaying real-life problems or challenges. As Muslims, we are encouraged to address issues proactively while maintaining a positive attitude based on our faith in Allah’s wisdom and mercy.

PS: Success comes only by the will of Allah! If you find this piece beneficial, it’s by Allah’s Grace. It’s no scholarly work and we accept our mistakes. Suggestions are welcomed in making this effort better as well.