Good morning to our respected followers.
Despair is more formative; This is a state of mind that convinces a person:
⁉ It's all over,.
⁉ That nothing can change,.
⁉ And that there is no way forward.
From an Islamic perspective, such despair can become a form of negative thinking about Allah's beautiful attributes (His mercy, wisdom, power and ability to change our circumstances).
Allah does not ask us to deny the pain or pretend that the difficulty does not exist.
Islam is a religion of balance: we may grieve, struggle and feel exhausted, but we are never allowed to believe that Allah has abandoned us.
Allah says:
"Do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins."
(Quran 39:53).
Despair often grows from two directions:
(1) Within us, through:.
Weakened belief, fear, impatience or repeated imagining of the worst;.
(2) and around us, through:
Painful experiences, repeated failures, difficult circumstances and voices of people who see nothing but defeat.
But the Koran teaches us another way.
Look at Prophet Musa as he stood facing the sea with Pharaoh's army behind him.
It seems that the circumstances left no way out, yet he stated with certainty:
"not! Indeed, my Lord is with me; He will guide me."
(Quran 26:62).
And remember the prophet Jonah, who found himself in layers of darkness.
He did not let his despair become his destiny.
He turned back to Allah, and Allah answered him.
Therefore, when despair surrounds you, return to the Qur'an.
Change the voices you allow your heart to hear.
Stay away from those who constantly magnify defeat and extinguish hope.
Surround yourself with people who remind you of Allah, responsibility, patience and possibility.
And for those who sincerely await Imam al-Mahdi, hope is not passive optimism.