Optimism
It is the view of life that keeps a person looking at the world as positive, or keeps his personal condition positive. Optimism is the philosophical counterpart to pessimism. Optimists generally believe that people and events are already good. And that most cases eventually turn out for the best.
Optimism is a tendency to look at the best side of events or conditions, and to anticipate the best results.
There is a famous riddle that depicts optimism versus pessimism through questions. The riddle considers that someone has a glass of water, filled to half its size or capacity, while the question is which half do you see? Half full or half empty?Conventional wisdom expects optimists will respond, “Half-full,” and pessimists will respond “half-empty” (assuming that “complete” is good, and bad is “empty”).
Optimism in Islam :
Optimism is a prophetic Sunnah, and a positive character for a healthy soul. It leaves its impact on a person’s actions and attitudes. Optimism also gives man safety and high ambition, cultivates hope in his soul, and motivates him to work hard. Optimism is only a sincere expression of a good and positive vision of life.
On the other hand, there is a strong relationship between pessimism and many manifestations of mental illness and weakness, which makes its owner wait for the worst to happen, and anticipate evil and failure.That is why the Prophet(PBUH), hated pessimism, and loved good omen that has to do with work and hope.
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: There is no infection* and no evil omen, and I like a good omen. Good omen means a good word.* The majority of scholars interpret this to mean that these things in and of themselves do not transmit or cause harm through supernatural or hidden means but that Allah is ultimately in control and any fearful superstition around these is false.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3916
Optimism and pessimism :
‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:“Paying attention to the bad omen (tayyara) is association (shirk). It has nothing to do with us. Allah will remove it by reliance on Him.”
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 909
Al-Nawawi said:
“Tayyara is shirk, i.e., believing that it benefits or harms, if they act according to it, believing in its effect, then it is shirk because they made an impact to it in action and creation.”
Optimism is a light in the darkness, and a way out of crises and afflictions. Optimism is also a psychological behavior that the Prophet(PBUH) urged by his words and actions, and it is coupled with belief in God Almighty, and knowledge of His Most Beautiful Names and Supreme Attributes, because the believer senses God’s company.
Allah says in the Quran :
﴿إِلّا تَنصُروهُ فَقَد نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذ أَخرَجَهُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا ثانِيَ اثنَينِ إِذ هُما فِي الغارِ إِذ يَقولُ لِصاحِبِهِ لا تَحزَن إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنا فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكينَتَهُ عَلَيهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنودٍ لَم تَرَوها وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفلى وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ العُليا وَاللَّهُ عَزيزٌ حَكيمٌ﴾ [التوبة: ٤٠]
(40) If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] – Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two,[476] when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us.” And Allāh sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word[477] of those who disbelieved the lowest,[478] while the word of Allāh[479] – that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
[476]- The second was his companion, Abū Bakr.
[477]- i.e., their claims and slogans.
[478]- i.e., degraded and dishonored.
[479]- “Lā ilāha ill-Allāh” (“There is no deity except Allāh”).
Positive quotes about optimism:
-Hope may fade but it is not lost.
-Do not burden your day with the worries of your tomorrow, as the worries of your tomorrow may not come and you will deprive yourself of the joy of your day.
-It is not the pride that you do not fall, but the pride that you get up every time you fall.
-There is always someone worse off than you, so smile.
-Some people don’t even dare to be kings in their dreams. That’s a big mistake.
-Hope for the best and you shall find it.
-The difference between the Islamic view and the pessimistic view is that Islam views life as it should be, while pessimism views life as it is.
-An optimist is a reckless person who feeds his chicken silver until it lays gold for him, and a pessimist is a worried person who throws a golden egg because he believes that there is a time bomb inside.
-An optimist is one who looks into your eyes and a pessimist is one who looks at your feet.
