A Heartfelt Plea
Search for Positivity
Head of the Central Executive Committee of Dawat-e-Islami, Mawlana Muhammad Imran Attari
Focusing on the positive is a sign of a healthy mind and a good nature. Optimism brings peace of mind and contentment and reduces stress and anxiety. This, in turn, drives a person to be thankful to Allah Almighty.
The people of Allah would remain optimistic
It was a fundamental part of their lives to focus on the positive aspects of everything around them. Someone said to Sayyidunā Sahl al-Tustarī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه, “Thieves broke into my house and stole my belongings.” He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه replied, “Be thankful to Allah Almighty! What would you do if the Devil entered your heart and corrupted your faith?” Similarly, a pious man رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was walking along the road when a tray of ashes fell upon his head. In response, the pious man performed a prostration of gratitude in the court of Allah Almighty. When he asked the reason for doing so, he responded, “I was waiting for the fire to consume me, but it is a blessing that ashes were put in its place.”[1]
Therefore, we must have a positive outlook on life if we want a good life in this world and the next.
Search for the good within yourself. Before anything else, think about yourself. For example, there are issues affecting your body. Note them down. For example, you have written down 10. Now focus on the parts of your body that are not experiencing problems. Perhaps there are 100 parts of your body in a sound condition. So, there are 10 parts that are affected and 100 that are not. This is an opportunity for showing gratitude.
Likewise, ponder over your current state. For example, you work a normal halal job but you do not deem your salary to match your abilities. Just think, if your salary is low, it is not a major problem. Be thankful to Allah Almighty that you are earning in a halal manner, and you are not acquiring it through deceit or other haram means. Your boss is fair, and he does not swear at you, or call you into work early and make you finish late. Even if you have to work outside of your contracted hours, he includes it in your overtime and remunerates you for it.
If you focus on the positive things regarding yourself like this, you will find many things to be thankful for. When you are grateful to Allah Almighty, He will increase His blessings upon you اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه. Allah Almighty states:
لَىِٕن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَاَزِیۡدَنَّکُمۡ
'If you are grateful, I will henceforth give you more;”[2]
Look for the positives in your country
I look at the positives of my country, Pakistan. Although I acknowledge the issues facing my country, I can still appreciate the good points which are far greater. There is an abundance of beauty and goodness in my country; there is freedom of religion, countless masjids and madrasahs, thousands of worshippers, and no shortage of generous people to help the needy. There is no restriction in mentioning the name of Allah Almighty and His Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. By the grace of Allah, the work of Islam is being carried out very well in Pakistan, and the level of freedom that one has to serve Islam here is seldom found anywhere else.
Look for the positives in your children
Our children can upset us when they misbehave or refuse to follow instructions. Yet, be grateful to Allah for they are healthy, and do not commit major crimes or cause harm to others. If your adult children are disobedient, be content that is their only shortcoming and that they do not abuse drugs or alcohol and do not gamble. They do not swear at you nor oppress you or expel you from home. In this manner, if parents and children, husbands and wives, and workers and employers search for the positives in each other, not only will they feel peace, but they will also be become grateful.
A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law should look for the positives in each other
If the daughter-in-law is not doing the housework correctly, the mother-in-law should not consider it a major issue. She should be thankful to Allah Almighty that her daughter-in-law is not vulgar in speech, does not argue and fight, and does not disclose private matters to others. Likewise, if the daughter-in-law searches for the positives in her mother-in-law, اِthe atmosphere of the house will become pleasant and many doors of sin will be closed.
Show patience and forbearance
During the night, we wait for the day, and during the day, we expect the night. Likewise, when we fall ill, we await our recovery. There are some deadly and dangerous diseases that do not go away quickly. Similarly, there are some illnesses that have hidden symptoms, and if these remain, the illness cannot be treated. Likewise, habits and natures do not change in a few days; it takes time to alter them. Be patient, as indeed, Allah Almighty is with the patient. If He wills, everything will be fine. Hand over your affairs to Allah Almighty, for He is the changer of hearts. He is the one who transforms hearts whenever He wills; and He is the One who changes the conditions of people whenever He wills.
Regardless of what happens, look for the positive aspects. Give it a try. You will unlock unprecedented happiness. I urge all believers to be compassionate and draw closer to the people of their home and those who work with them. If the tree is very tall, it does not give shade, and if it is short but not dense, its shade does not provide any benefit. However, if it is dense and close to the ground, it can be of great help. Therefore, along with implementing this positive approach, treat others with good manners, compassion, forbearance, and patience. May Allah shower His mercy upon us and grant us a positive mindset to search for the good in things.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی ا لـلّٰـهُ علیه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم
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