Speaking on Al-Kawthar program “Problems and Solutions”, Sami Khadra said optimism is the positive thinking about God, adding that optimism stems from believing that Allah is the dominant and that “To Allah belongs the Command before and after”.

He also said that optimism is the sincerity of monotheism as God is the protector and the provider.

Referring to the words of Allah: “To Allah belongs the Command before and after”, the cleric said people have to worship Allah and trust in Him.

Addressing the kinds of pessimists, Khadra noted that some people could be optimistic or pessimistic when they observe specific signs.

The cleric added that other people could be natural born pessimists affected by the conditions around them such as the political and social conditions, as well as the environment around them that make them more cautious.

He also noted that being pessimistic could be attributed to the family or old experiences and failures, while other pessimists could have obsession with failure.

Khadra stressed that optimism leads to success and progress, adding “Hope for Good, and you will find it”.

He also called for trusting in God, quoting the Quranic verses “And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, ‘Indeed, we are to be overtaken!’” “[Moses] said, ‘No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.’”

The cleric also quoted a part of another Quranic verse that says “If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us", stressing that people should not forget that Allah is present everywhere.

He, however, warned that overoptimism could be counterproductive, if it was not based on logic, stressing that realism and logic are required.

Answering a question about how to train ourselves to be optimistic, the cleric said people have to always remember that the command belongs to Allah and that He is over all things competent, noting that all Muslims theoretically believe in that, but the pessimists need to practically apply that to their life.

He quoted a verse in the Holy Quran that says “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.”

Khadra also quoted a hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying “Whatever Allah willed to be shall be, and whatever Allah did not will to be shall not be.”

He also referred to the Quranic verse, “Surely, those who say: ‘Our Lord is God,’ and then go straight, the angels will descend upon them: ‘Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the news of the Garden which you were promised.”

“We are your allies in this life and in the Hereafter,” he cited a part from the following verse as saying, stressing that such verses encourage people to be optimistic.

Referring to a Quranic verse in which God promised the prophets that “It is incumbent on Us to help the believers”, Khadra asserted that God’s promises will be surely fulfilled.

Pessimism is not in the interest of pessimists while optimism will have a positive effect on the optimist’s live and future, he concluded.