Islam satisfies the spiritual need

The Power of Positive Thinking

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers. Or you can grow weeds.”

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. 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. Allah 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.” (Surah An-Naml 27:40)

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. 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. Allah says:

وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا

“Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.” (Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 27)

When we do wrong, let us feel guilty, but let us also flee to God. Have a good opinion of God. If you are sincere, He will forgive you. He is that forgiving. And He is that great. When anyone says or does something that annoys or grieves one, he should try to find excuses for him and recall the status of the righteous who used to think well of their fellows and make excuses for them. He is that magnanimous. Allah says:

وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“And spend in (the) way (of) Allah and (do) not throw (ourselves) [with your hands] into [the] destruction. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195)

Our thoughts have a powerful ability to determine our feelings and emotional states and ultimately affect how we behave, for better or worse. Islam teaches us to direct the act of reflection, or deep thought, towards the signs of Allah, the names and attributes of Allah, to his blessings and wonders, to hope in the Hereafter, and to optimism. By controlling our thought processes in a positive manner, we can increase the effectiveness of our prayers and worship as well as relieve ourselves from the anger, depression, and anxieties that worldly thoughts induce. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

“O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful people.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:119)

Thinking positive can work miracles. You may have been told to “guard your thoughts”, but felt the advice to be pointless. After all, your thoughts are private. A Muslim only say the truth. He never tells lie through his words and delivers fake news to others. It’s an absolute quality that every Muslim should have. You magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all of the positive ones.

Here are some facts about positivity:

  1. Positive thoughts broaden your sense of what’s possible
  2. Positive  thinking could make you better at your job
  3. Positive thoughts change the structure of the brain
  4. Positivity leads to better cardiovascular health
  5. Positivity keep your eye on the bigger picture
  6. Positivity focus on solutions, not problems
  7. Positive allow your thoughts for justice
  8. Positivity puts the breaks on negativity
  9. Positive sentiments lived longer lives
  10. Positivity purifies the heart and soul
  11. Positivity improves your social life
  12. Positivity improves your skillset
  13. Positivity obeys a tipping point
  14. Positivity helps you live longer
  15. Positivity leads to better health
  16. Positivity transforms your future
  17. Positivity can make you more skilled
  18. Positivity lowers your blood pressure
  19. Positivity promises to make a way out
  20. Positive thinking boosts your immunity
  21. Positivity changes how your mind works
  22. Positivity Can be Learned and Cultivated
  23. Positivity makes you more adaptive to learning
  24. Positivity creativity, inspiration, gratitude and pride
  25. Positivity makes you more receptive to new information

Patience means not doing things in a rush. But patience also means keeping going strong no matter what obstacle comes in between. Allah shows His affection to His servants in various ways: through wealth, sickness, and unfortunate things. Allah is teaching them to be patient since He is with those who are patient. Allah says: 

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And surely We will test you with something of [the] fear and [the] hunger and loss of [the] wealth and [the] lives and [the] fruits, but give good news (to) the patient ones.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155)

It’s no secret that living rightly on Earth is pretty hard. But it’s a trial to have a better life in the Hereafter. We have to be honest in life, not only with our words but also by attitude regarding properties that do not belong to us. There are many ways to purify oneself. Pay respect to others, especially your parents, elders, and other relatives. Respecting them can be done in many ways, such as talking to them tenderly, treating them with kindness, and mentioning their names in our dua. 

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

  • “Allah loves those who are patient.” (Quran 3:145)
  • “If you are grateful, I will give you more.” (Quran 14:7)
  • “Will not allow being lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.” (Al-Kahf 18: 30)
  • “Do good to others, surely Allah loves those who do good to others.”(Quran 2:195)
  • “Do not ascribe purity to yourselves. Allah knows best who is righteous.” (Quran 53:32)
  • “O you who believe! keep your duty to Allah and speak straight true words.” (Quran 33:70)
  • “O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful people.” (Quran 9:119)
  • “So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.” (Quran 53:32)
  • “The servants of the Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility.” (Quran 25:63)
  • “He indeed is successful who purifies himself (in mind and body), and remembers the name of his Lord, then prays.” (Quran 87:14-15)
  • “But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon yourselves – a greeting from Allah.” (Quran 24:61)
  • “Allah commands you to uphold justice and to do good to others and to give to the relatives.” (Quran 16:90)
  • “Woe to those who pray but are unmindful of their prayers, who do good to be seen.” (Quran 107:4-6)

Positive thinking should lead to an optimistic outlook and good expectations of Allah and his mercy. These good expectations are the inner secret that makes our prayers and worship most effective and fulfilling. The purpose of human creation is to do good. Surely doing good and kindness is one of the many positive attitudes in Islam. Positivity acts like a magnet that invites more positive things to come in. Allah says:

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

“Do not swallow up your property among yourselves by false means, nor offer it as a bribe to the officials so that you may swallow up other people’s property unlawfully while you know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188)

Thinking well of others requires extensive training and striving against one’s self, particularly because the devil is inseparable from a man like the blood that runs through his body. Being positive & grateful are essential tools that enable us to deal with life’s difficulties and motivate us to do better. Thinking well of others is one of the greatest means to block this way before the devil. We ask Allah The Almighty to Grant us sound hearts and Help us to think well of our brothers and sisters.