Do you truly believe that hope can be created? Yes, indeed it can be crafted and even planted within souls, provided there exists an experienced, skilled hand capable of nurturing it to its finest form. Such hope captures the hearts of the aspiring, commands the attention of the diligent, and, despite themselves, draws the eyes of the heedless. Before long, it becomes a deeply held conviction that clings tightly, as one would cling to all that is precious and dear. People strive to achieve it, regardless of obstacles, sparing no effort or sacrifice, all with unwavering optimism, satisfaction, happiness, and acceptance.
Those Who Master the Art of Creating Hope
Great leaders who have left clear marks on the destinies of their peoples are those who excelled in the art of creating hope. This is often referred to in political studies as a "national project," which unites the fragmented individuals of a nation and their energies. These leaders, with their exceptional talents, harness the capabilities, energies, and determination of their people around this hope. They water its tree with their noble blood, tireless effort, and abundant sweat until it becomes a tangible reality under which all find security, happiness, and reassurance.
Likewise, distinguished educators are those who excel in instilling hope in their students, nurturing it within them so that it becomes a strong motivator driving their behavior toward greatness. This effort and care ultimately bear fruit, achieving goals that bring joy to both the educator and the learner.
Our noble Prophet was a pioneer in the art of creating and instilling hope. It was no coincidence that he planted hope in the hearts of his companions even as they endured the severe torment of the disbelievers, so intense that it seemed unbearable. At such a moment, when Khabbab ibn al-Aratt approached the Prophet, who was reclining in the shade of the Kaaba, pleading for him to invoke Allah to lift the cup of suffering poured out by the disbelievers, the Prophet gave two profound lessons. These lessons should be held dear by all callers to Allah in every era: the lesson of steadfastness in the face of trials and hardships and the lesson of hope in the anticipated future victory. Ultimately, only truth will prevail, and nothing beneficial to humanity will perish, while all that is worthless fades away.
Our Perpetual Need for Hope
We need hope to live and find joy in life. When the radiant light of hope dims in our eyes, the meaning of life fades from our hearts, turning into boundless misery and distress. Hope is both the guardian and the creator of our happiness. It is an eternal flame that must never be extinguished.
Hope is also a cure—yes, a cure for many ailments of the soul, including physical diseases that baffle doctors. These illnesses cannot be treated without a strong sense of hope in the patient, enabling them to overcome their ailment and experience health and wellness. Many cases deemed hopeless by physicians have seen recovery through the sheer willpower and hope of the patient, fueled by a burning desire for life. These noble and profound feelings often serve as the mysterious antidote to healing, leaving doctors puzzled.
For this reason, the Quran associates the absence of hope with disbelief, as Allah says: “And despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.” (Yusuf: 87) A disbeliever— and only a disbeliever—loses hope when their desires are thwarted time and again. They fail to see beyond worldly causes, allowing grief to consume them, sometimes to the extent of insanity or death by their own hand.
On the other hand, a believer is always optimistic, focusing on the full rather than the empty part of the cup. They acknowledge the virtue of others, smiling at life, believing that tomorrow will bring better things, and that brighter hopes will dispel today’s hardships.
Our Enemies Seek to Kill Hope
Today, our enemies are doing everything in their power to extinguish hope in our hearts. They strive to convince us that it is impossible for our nations to regain their strength and rightful place under the sun. Through chaos, wars, and tragedies, they instill in us feelings of futility and despair, creating a deceptive belief that power lies solely in the hands of the West or America to wield as they please. They dismiss our hopes of victory for our religion and our nation as mere illusions, even when backed by Prophetic promises or insightful readings of history and experience.
However, if hope is deeply rooted in our hearts, stemming from our faith in the truth we carry, the light we follow, and the numerous glad tidings from the authentic teachings of our Prophet, it becomes a rock against which all attempts to plant doubt, despair, and weakness in our hearts shatter.
Hope lights the path to victory, shielding us from falling. Indeed, many who falter on the path of striving for Allah and working for His cause do so because their wellspring of hope has dried up. They fail to keep the blessed tree of hope alive within them—a tree that bears fruit of steadfastness, certainty, and optimism, producing the conviction that the coming days will be better than the dark past and the painful present. Relief follows patience, ease accompanies hardship, and there is always light at the end of the tunnel, calling us to continue the journey toward the rewards of effort, patience, and perseverance, where the arches of triumph and the laurels of glory await.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Read this Article in Arabic
