Keep Hope Alive

We are undoubtedly entering into significantly more difficult and challenging times, and many are beginning to feel and experience tremendous hardships simply seeking to survive in an ever more rapidly changing world, and while all metrics of human health and happiness continue to plummet. In such times more than any other, it is necessary to hold fast to faith and to keep hope alive.

Meaning Makes the Difference

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl, who was one of the few to survive some of the most incomprehensibly difficult conditions and circumstances of the Nazi concentration camps, points out that it was not they who were physically the strongest who survived, but rather they who were inwardly resilient who made it out alive of what could only be described as hell on earth.

Frankl goes on to point out that the key to such inner strength comes down to hope and to whatever positivity one can cling to, even while in some of the most non-conducive circumstances imaginable.

The Way of Faith

Such an idea is not new, and in fact was beautifully exemplified by the prophets and messengers of God, all of whom had to face and overcome tremendous hardships, difficulties and challenges by holding fast to faith, thereby proving that hope, faith and belief are greater than fear, darkness and negativity.

We see profound and beautiful hope and faithfulness most notably in the prime example of the last and final of God’s great messengers to humanity, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who for 23 years endured profound hardships and difficulties, yet never lost hope, and ultimately succeeded beyond what could have been imagined, going on to change the world forever through the pure power of faith and belief.

It is important to remember that the name Iblis, which was given to Satan after his fall from grace due to disobedience and resistance to the will of Allah Almighty, originates from the root word in Arabic which means “he who is without hope.” In other words, when tested, he lost hope in the light, love, benevolence and grace of the will of God, and so he fell and failed.

Hope Equals Faith

Hope is in reality an aspect of faith and belief, or what in Arabic is referred to as iman. In seeking to rob us of faith, Satan seeks to rob us of hope by leading us downwards into despair and despondency, and ultimately into unbelief, as he himself succumbed to loss of purpose precisely in this way.

» Hope = Faith

Yet Allah Almighty admonishes us in the Holy Qur’an that we must not follow Satan, [24:21], and that we must as believers believe [4:136]. As believers, we must remember that hope is in reality faith, and that by holding onto hope, we keep faith alive in our hearts.

Attitude Determines Altitude

When navigating the hardships and difficulties of life and living, it is our attitude—which is our chosen response to hardships and difficulties—that determines whether we rise or fall, whether we ascend or descend, and ultimately whether we succeed or fail. It is also our attitude that then helps determine whether we live or die, both physically and metaphorically.

In other words, your attitude determines your altitude. By maintaining a positive and hopeful attitude and frame, we rise through our challenges rather than be destroyed and diminished by them.

» Attitude = Altitude

All things serve divine purpose, and hardships and difficulties by divine will and wisdom manifest to test us. This means that challenges exist in the world to improve, increase and awaken us, for it is through challenge that we grow.

Yet we only advance through trials and tribulations by growing through them with the light, support and power of faith, and by keeping hope alive in our hearts, for Allah Almighty says, “Do not despair of the mercy of God,” [39:53].

Keep Hope Alive

One of the most important things we can do keep hope alive in our hearts, and to grow through the challenges, hardships and difficulties of life, is to continually affirm the truth. This is one of the principles that are described in detail within the Islamic Meditation Program, and a conscious practice that is in fact recommended throughout the Holy Qur’an, in which Allah Almighty often instructs us to “Say” that which is true, and so to remind ourselves continuously of His favor, grace and support.

Thus is faith progressively made real, and thus does belief become rooted in the heart. By continually reminding ourselves of truth, we progressively rewire our very brains to believe and to remain positive rather than succumbing to hopeless, despair and negativity.

By consciously choosing to protect and preserve light in the heart through hope, faith, belief and positivity, we also increasingly attract positive circumstances, conditions, results and experiences (see Mastering the Law of Attraction).

To your divine and eternal success.