Assalamwalekum,
What is hope when it comes to being a muslim. Islam says that a muslim never loses hope in Allah. But I am not talking about that. I am talking about losing hope with things that you desire in life. It is only when you lose hope that you try a new path. But the destination remains the same. But what if your happiness or should I say "the feeling of happiness" is attached to a certain path. What does islam exactly says about hope. My definition of hope is " anticipation of achieving a desired result".
Wa`alaykum as-salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,
I read the questions a few times to be able to grasp a full understanding of your main points. As Sister Precious Star rightly said, an interesting way to frame the questions and it is true that when we speak about hope, we can't separate without talking about Allaah's Mercy.
I used to keep this one big dream for many years since I was in elementary school. That dream used to be my biggest drive to succeed in study. When everybody around me achieved that dream even if they never really wanted it but me who wanted it so bad for many years haven't receive it yet, I remember being heart broken and cried real hard. Crying over something is very rare for me; even if people had hurt me badly so it shows how badly I wanted that dream.
As years passed by and now when I can see there are options for me to achieve that dream and to be where I want to be, it is not something I dream of anymore. Especially since I am trying my best to hold on to principles which I believe are obligatory for me. In short, something that used to be my biggest dream in life isn't a dream for me anymore. In fact, it has become something that I don't mind even if I don't achieve it.
Analyzing the situation, if one says this may be the result of waiting for so long, I got worn out and tired of it thus why I don't want it anymore, I actually don't look at it that way. I look at it that by Allaah withholding it from me is actually a
hidden blessing. I really believe for everything that has happened in our life, there are many ways to look at it. The way we look at it and the way we deals with it actually mirrors who we really are.
IMHO, brother, so long that it doesn't makes you lose your function, it doesn't takes away the tranquility and faith in your life in a way that you can't do anything properly (because you just couldn't accept the fact that that one wish/desire/hope/dream you've always long for in this life is something you won't/can't achieve) then I'd say, keep your hopes high and continue making your prayers. Because you do not know if Allaah is going to fulfill that hope at the very last moments in your life.
But if you've come to a point that you are OK not achieving it because you value other small things around you more, then that is fine too.
However, saying that only that certain path will give you a feeling of happiness is like narrowing your source of happiness. For each one of us, what gives us happiness is different and unique. Search for yours too, without just relying that only that one certain path defines your happiness.
One important valuable lesson I learnt from a dear friend is that, of all the bad events/matters that happened to us in life and we have even reached to the point of losing hope to fix it or being in a better condition, we should try to accept it and try to feel contented with the bad things that we can't change. Things that we can't change such as who are families are or our looks/height/nationality. When we have felt that contentment of His Fate, then inshaa Allaah a peacefulness with follow us.
That is when I really understood of this verse:
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, '
If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' [Ibrahim: 7]
It is only when you lose hope that you try a new path.
This somehow reminds me of the poem "The Road Not Taken".
I hope you and everyone having their own special dream in life won't lost hope if it is something that you can still change and put an effort for.
