Positive thought is the mindset in which everything is viewed, perceived or evaluated on a positive note. Positive thought denotes having good intentions, undertaking positive thinking and being able to perceive the beautiful in all. Positive thought is ultimately one’s approach to life and events. It is about seeing and appreciating the good. The Qur’an discusses the concept of positive thought in various ways; in some cases, it commands it, while in other cases it encourages it. There are also occasions when the Qur’an prohibits negative thought. “We Should think well of Others,” Positive thought “is first meant to be held towards Almighty Allah and the Universe, including all its contents and events, and human beings.” Having a positive thought about Almighty Allah is of paramount importance in Islam as it lays the foundation to the type of relationship one has with Almighty Allah; if one has a positive thought of Almighty, then the relationship is trusting and positive, whereas if one has an ill thought of Almighty, then the relationship is fragmented, resentful and filled with displeasure. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stated “Anyone from among you must not die without having Husnul Zann of Almighty Allah. The people who had Su-i ẓann (ill opinion) perished.” Thus, a positive thought about Almighty Allah is considered important for this life as well as the hereafter. Having positive thoughts about Almighty Allah is so important that it can determine the fate of a person according to a Hadith where Allah declares, “I am as my servant thinks I am.” Abdullah bin Mas’ud, a companion of the Prophet (SAW), states the best thing that a believer could have been granted is positive thoughts about Allah, for “no servant of Allah expects good of Him except that Allah gives him what he expected, since all good is in His Hand.”
There is a strong emphasis in Islamic literature on having positive thoughts about others and to give people the benefit of the doubt. Negative thoughts are also strongly associated with backbiting, because backbiting is considered the unspoken form of negative thoughts. There is a strong correlation between thinking positively and seeing positively: Such a person lets good things blossom within himself, living in the Paradise he has formed in his soul.
Hence, having positive thoughts about Allah is portrayed to be criteria for one’s life to be filled with positivity and goodness. That is, whatever one expects of Almighty Allah, Allah will deliver it. Just as important as having positive thoughts about Allah, is it to have positive thoughts about events. There is the general understanding that “what comes to a person in his or her life may help a person move closer to Almighty Allah when the response is right.” Thus, it is not about the act or the event, but it is about how one perceives them and then responds, which is important. The Quranic verse often quoted in this context is, “It may be that you dislike something, though it is good for you. And it may be that you love something, though it is bad for you. And Allah knows, and you do not know.” As this verse highlights, it is not that simple to determine what is good and what is bad. The verse encourages the individual to think about the possible good in a situation as well as the possible bad. This ensures a deeper and more complete evaluation of matters so one does not make quick judgments which stem from reactive and immediate emotions. This emphasizes the importance of having a sound and positive perspective. The opposite of positive thought is negative thought. Almighty Allah speaks strongly against having negative thoughts about others in the Quran; “O you who have believed, avoid much (negative) assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other…” There is a strong emphasis in Islamic literature on having positive thoughts about others and to give people the benefit of the doubt. Negative thoughts are also strongly associated with backbiting, because backbiting is considered the unspoken form of negative thoughts. There is a strong correlation between thinking positively and seeing positively: Such a person lets good things blossom within himself, living in the Paradise he has formed in his soul.
