Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 10, 2026.
Optimism is part of Islamic faith
“Optimism is not a personality type.”
In one sentence
Optimism is an essential, learnable part of Islam that grows through trust in Allah, repentance, effort, gratitude, and hopeful action during hardship.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Uses a donut with a large hole to contrast fixation on absence with hope.
- Defines al-fa'l as a learned Islamic quality exemplified by the Prophet's positive renaming.
- Grounds hope in Allah's mercy, forgiveness, answered supplication, and open door of repentance.
- Warns against pessimism and superstition while urging believers to find opportunities in difficulties.
- Connects confidence, physical bearing, a pure heart, and good speech with hopeful character.
- Applies hope to illness, Sudan's humanitarian crisis, personal hardship, and returning to Allah.
Try this week
Make dua to Allah at any time, in any language, and with any need.
Keep returning to Allah through repentance after sin or failure.
Thank Allah after eating or drinking.
Perform small acts of mercy and remove harm from others' paths.
Reject superstition and do not let ominous signs control decisions.
Take effort and responsibility instead of using al-Qadr as an excuse for passivity.
Speak good words and avoid harshness, cursing, and needless negativity.
Care for personal appearance, cleanliness, smiling, and dignified posture to support inner confidence.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“And that's what life without hope looks like. You only see what is missing.”
“Optimism is not a personality type. It's a skill and it can be learned. It's part of our faith.”
“Believing in Al-Qadr is not an excuse for you to sit down. It's actually the reason for you to stand up.”
“Your attitude will determine your altitude. Your attitude will determine how high you go.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Shaykh Waleed says hope is not pretending that painful gaps do not exist; it is choosing to see what can still grow. Islam teaches optimism through trust in Allah's mercy, prayer, repentance, gratitude, and small acts of kindness. Belief in al-Qadr should move us to act, not sit helplessly, because our choices and efforts matter. We can strengthen hope by caring for our hearts, carrying ourselves with dignity, and speaking good words. When life feels heavy, from illness to community crises, we should return to Allah and look for a helpful next step.
- What is one difficult situation where you can look for a hopeful next step?
- How can our family use better words to help one another feel hopeful?
- What is one small action you can take instead of feeling stuck?
Where it was given
The masjids
Daar-Ul-Islam Masjid (Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis)517 Weidman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011Jumu'ah 12:30 PM and 1:30 PMMasjid Bilal Ibn Rabaah (West Pine Masjid)3843 W Pine Mall Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108Jumu'ah 12:30 PMKhateebWaleed BasyouniMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Daar-Ul-Islam46 khutbahs
Keep listening
More on Character & conduct
The strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.10:16Masjid Al-Noor · Waterloo, IA · Oct 31, 2026Control anger before it causes harm
Peer pressure is an issue that is just as applicable to adults as it is to children.5:08The Rayyan Center · Plymouth, MI · Oct 31, 2026Adults must choose their influences
Lowering your gaze is cleaner to your heart and fulfilling the amanah that Allah gave you.1:03:23Rahma Center · Lake Forest, CA · Oct 30, 2026Every trust from Allah must be honored