Islam encourages positive thinking, being optimistic, thinking well of others and seeing the good in things. It encourages us to find strengths and advantages rather than faults & weaknesses. To avoid gossip & backbiting or accusing someone of bad or evil motives and to avoid suspicion of plots & conspiracies. We are encouraged instead to think the best, be hopeful and upbeat as the hadith of the Prophet states: "The state of the Muslim is always good no matter what befalls him." We should look for what might work rather than what might go wrong, the constructive and helpful rather than the gloomy and pessimistic.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَبْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَحِيمٌ
O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion a great deal: for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And do not spy on each other nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh
of his dead brother? No, you would hate it…so be mindful of God: For God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (49:12)
The Prophet said: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of all speech. Do not seek out the faults of others, do not spy on each other, do not envy one another, nor plot against each other, nor hate each other."
Suspicion & negative thinking leads to alienation, animosity, resentment and damage to relationships. The Qur'an says:
وَمَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا (28) سورة النجم
"They have no real knowledge about it. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth."
There is nothing more restful & pleasing for the heart than positive thinking. It protects one from anxious thoughts that disturb the mind and exhaust the body.
The Prophet said: "He who believes in God and the last day then let him either speak good or keep silent."
The Prophet said: "Do you know what backbiting is? They said God & his prophet know best. He said: "It is to mention something that your brother would not want you to." They said: "Even if it was true?" He said: "Backbiting is when it's true. If it is not true, then it is slander."
A positive attitude can take many forms. Sometimes it can just be your body language or facial expressions. The Prophet said: “Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.” The prophet then listed many different ways one can perform a daily deed of charity ending with: " Even your smile for your brother is charity.”
Humans react almost instantly to a smile. It takes just 30 milliseconds for your brain to recognise and respond to a smiling. This reaction is unconscious and innate. So, when you smile at someone, he or she really can't help but smile back at you.
Gratitude is part of a positive outlook on life is. There are three ways we can express gratitude. 1. With the tongue. 2. With the heart. 3. With our actions.
The prophet said: “He who does not thank people, does not thank God.” Showing gratitude to others makes them know you appreciate them. You may think it, but if you don't express it they won't know and may even think that you don't like what they have done or think it is not good enough. In this way gratitude increases love, friendship and goodness amongst a family, community or people, bringing them together and creating a positive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and noticed.
But gratitude is more than saying "Thank you" it is about going beyond words and should affect our outlook and actions. When we truly understand & appreciate what we have & use it to the best of our ability, then we expressing gratitude.
Gratitude is not for God since God doesn't need anything from us. The Qur'an says:
قَالَ هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ
“This is by the Grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for (the good of) his own self, and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his own self). Certainly! My Lord is Free of all wants, Bountiful” (27:40)
Having a sense of gratitude & a positive attitude that appreciates what we have rather than constantly complaining about what we don't have is healthy for us. It creates within us a sense of well-being & happiness. It relieves pressure and anxiety and helps us cope with hardship. Gratitude helps us to slow down and to enjoy what we have rather than missing the here and now as we rush after something else.
The Prophet said: “If the son of Adam has one valley, he will wish that he had a second, and if he had two valleys, he would wish that he had a third.”
Gratitude is about curbing a fretful state of always wanting more, it is about taming our Nafs to realise that if we can’t find happiness in the blessings we have today, we won’t be happy with what we have tomorrow.
In fact Gratitude is at the heart of what it means to be a believer. The Quran says:
إنا هديناه السبيل إما شاكرا وإما كفورا
"Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful."
Kafur is an emphatic form of the word Kafir. In this case Kufr is better understood as ingratitude rather than disbelief. It's about a mentality and approach to life in general rather than about believing or not believing. This is highlighted by the fact that of course gratitude can be present in individuals of all religions and none - just as it can be absent in individuals of all faith and none.
It should be mentioned also that being positive & grateful doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to do better and aim higher - quite the contrary - we must always do the best we can and aim as high as we can, but having a positive attitude & a sense of gratitude is about having the right mentality, the right attitude to help us achieve the best. It is about a sense of contentment & fulfilment that makes you stronger and more able to face new challenges with greater confidence and resolution.
The Qur'an says:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
"If you are grateful, I will give you more." (14:7)
Being positive and grateful trains our minds to focus on effective and fruitful responses to life. When we let our minds look for problems, we will find plenty of them, but if we look for possibilities and solutions, we will find those too. Being positive & grateful are essential tools that enable us to deal with life's difficulties and motivate us to do better.
It is interesting to note that one of God's names is: "The most Grateful/Appreciative" (الشكور) .God himself is the most grateful and appreciative. God appreciates everything good we do, no matter how small. Gratitude is an aspect of both the creation and it's creator. It is essential for attracting happiness, prosperity, peace and success.
Positive thoughts and actions are contagious and spread like sunshine. If we think the best then that is reflected in our reality. Most importantly this is also the case when it comes to God himself!
The Prophet said:
"God said: I am as my servant thinks of me."
& he said:
"None of you believes unless you think the best of God."
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