Incalculating Husnuzzon as a Habit

Introduction

When trials unfold before you, do you waver in doubt, questioning the path ahead? Or do you place unwavering trust in Allah’s SWT divine plan, rich in wisdom and mercy? Have you ever felt unworthy of the countless blessings granted to you , burdened by the weight of your own imperfections? If these sentiments resonate with your heart then this article was written for you.

Life is inherently a cycle of tests and trials, as Allah SWT has declared in the Qur’an that He created life and death to test which of us performs the best deeds. Allah SWT mentioned Surah Al-Mulk ayah 2:

ٱ ﱠﻟذِى ﺧَﻠَقَ ٱﻟْﻣَوْتَ وَٱﻟْﺣَﯾَٰوةَ ﻟِﯾَﺑْﻠُوَﻛُمْ أَ ﱡﯾﻛُمْ أَﺣْﺳَنُ ﻋَﻣَﻼًۭ ۚ وَھُوَ ٱﻟْﻌَزِﯾزُ ٱﻟْﻐَﻔُورُ

“He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.”

Through this verse we understand that tests are an integral part of our existence. With that being said, Islam teaches us to believe and accept Allah’s SWT decree (qada’ and qadar) – both the good and what appears to be otherwise. Narrated by Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA) in the famous Hadith Jibril:

اﻹﯾﻣﺎن أن ﺗؤﻣن ﺑﺎلله، وﻣﻼﺋﻛﺗﮫ، وﻛﺗﺑﮫ، ورﺳﻠﮫ، واﻟﯾوم اﻵﺧر، وﺗؤﻣن ﺑﺎﻟﻘدر ﺧﯾره وﺷره.

Which means: “Iman (faith) is to believe in Allah SWT, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the divine decree (qadar), both the good and the bad of it.” (Hadith Narrated by Imam Muslim)

Yet, as humans, we often question: Why me? Why not someone else? These questions can lead to sadness or despair. As Muslims, It is important for us to remember that each individual, as servants of Allah SWT, is tested according to their capabilities, lifestyle, and unique circumstances.

Amid these trials, one value stands out as a source of strength and endurance for Muslims: Husnuzzon having a positive assumption about Allah SWT (the owner of the qada’ & qadr). Cultivating this habit can transform how we perceive and navigate life’s challenges. So what is Husnuzzon?

Understanding Husnuzzon (Having good thoughts)

Husnuzzon (اﻟظن ﺣﺳن) is an Arabic term where ﺣﺳن translates to “Good or Positive”. Scholars have related the word “ اﻟظن “ with the word “اﻟﯾﻘﯾن” which means: “A state of the heart where faith reaches a level of absolute trust, transcending all doubt, and is manifested in actions that align with divine truths.“ In a hadith, Rasulullah SAW mentioned about having positive thought: 

أﻧﺎ ﻋﻧد ظن ﻋﺑدي ﺑﻲ؛ ﻓﺈن ظن ﺑﻲ ﺧﯾرًا ﻓﻠﮫ، وإن ظن ﺑﻲ ﺷرًا ﻓﻠﮫ. رواه أﺣﻣد

Which means: “I am as My servant thinks of Me; if he thinks good of Me, he will have it, and if he thinks ill of Me, he will have it.”

In the book Bahjatun-nufus – Hadith 295 , explained that the meaning of husnuzzon encompasses four aspects. Let’s discuss this.

The knowledge of Allah SWT and the affairs of the hereafter such as rewards and punishments.

Imam ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani explains that in this hadith Allah SWT is able to do upon the thoughts of servants. Whatever Allah SWT decrees will always unfold according to His wisdom—if it is good, it will bring goodness; if otherwise, it will unfold as such. So as a servant of Allah SWT we should have positive thoughts on our fate especially when it relates to the hereafter. Naturally, this requires a clear effort to fulfill all obligations as well as to abstain from prohibitions stated by Allah SWT and his Prophet Muhammad SAW as a muslim.

However fear not, he adds that the context of hope (raja’) precedes over the context of fear for as a sane man, upon hearing this hadith he will automatically wish the good outcome for himself not otherwise. .

Worldly matters

This is related to the blessings and sustenance that has been provided by Allah SWT or what He has prepared the servant in the form of trials and tests. While in a supplication of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), he asked Allah SWT for provision solely for the believers of his nation. However, Allah SWT responded that He grants provision to both the believers and the disbelievers, according to the appointed time, in accordance with Allah’s SWT promise to provide sustenance to all His creatures. True to His promise, Allah SWT provides each with a recompense that is just and fitting.

If we understand the meaning of this verse, scholars state that the provisions and worldly blessings for the believers are far greater. The power and ownership of Allah SWT are vast. Therefore, we must strive with sincerity, place our unwavering trust in Him, and uphold a positive opinion (husnuzzon), fully aware that His mercy and blessings know no limits. Why, then, should we burden our hearts and souls with excessive worry, when the care of our Lord is infinite and ever-encompassing?

Obligations

As muslims we are encouraged to maintain positive thoughts about all matters, especially those connected to what Allah has ordained upon us such as our ‘fardhu ain’ obligations, following the footstep of his messengers (peace be upon them all) and the belief of what has been promised to them.

For example, Prophet Muhammad SAW was promised “intercession” (Syafaah) during the day of judgement. It is a form of speciality given to Prophet Muhammad SAW for us as his ummah. Therefore, It is in our best interest to have positive thoughts that such a specialty exists and will be granted to us. Of course, it requires sincere effort paired with steadfast obedience to Allah SWT.

Another example are the other specialties promised to through our Prophet SAW such as the elements of syifa’ (cure). We learn this through the lifestyle of our beloved Prophet SAW. This includes the usage of honey, black seeds and many more. Such interventions require good thoughts for the outcome. When we have faith that Allah SWT is our ultimate cure whenever we encounter sickness or such elements, positive thoughts about Him will follow through. When this is upheld, faith in positive outcomes will naturally emerge.

With that being said, Husnuzzon has its own virtues that we may achieve. It is a process for us as humans to enhance our relationship with Allah SWT ultimately making us better than who we were yesterday. Here are some key points we might want to reflect on :-

It is amongst the best of deed and a source of motivation

Life is filled with trials that can weigh heavily on the soul, leading to moments of doubt or despair. In these moments, practising husnuzzon becomes a powerful motivator to rise above challenges and to always persevere. It enables a believer to find strength, knowing that Allah’s SWT wisdom and mercy are at work.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah emphasizes this beautifully in Durar Ramdaniyyah: “Having good thoughts about Allah SWT is the same as having good deeds themselves. What motivates a servant to do good deeds is his good thoughts about his Lord that He will reward him for his deeds, recompense him for them, and accept them from him.”

This highlights that husnuzzon is not merely a passive state of mind but an active force that drives us to excel in deeds, trusting that Allah SWT will acknowledge and reward our efforts.

You are not alone, Allah SWT is near to Us

In our lives, we are taught to never lose hope in Allah’s SWT mercy, even if we have committed sins. This brings us the comfort knowing that you do not stand alone in this world. No matter how far we may stray, Allah’s SWT forgiveness is always within reach. Even at the time of death, we are encouraged to have a positive opinion and good thoughts of Allah SWT and trust in His mercy.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Let none of you die without having good thoughts about Allah SWT.” (Hadith Narrated by Imam Muslim). In the shared hadith before this. Allah SWT says in the words of Rasulullah SAW (Hadith Al-Qudsi: “I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me.” (Hadith Narrated by Imam al-Bukhari, Imam Muslim)

We can never know when death will come knocking at our door. Therefore, we are continually reminded and encouraged to have strong faith and positive mindset in regards to Allah’s SWT mercy at all times both during our high or low points of our life. Why shouldn’t we? As we know that Allah’s SWT mercy is vast.

Far-Sightedness & Confidence

Naturally as human beings, having expectations is normal. When we place our trust in Allah SWT’s plans, we learn to better manage our expectations and navigate through disappointments. Islam teaches us to trust in Allah’s SWT plans and wisdom, while also putting in our best effort. As Allah SWT mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah:

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:216)

This verse reminds us that not everything we desire is good for us, and not all that we dislike is harmful. While we may seek one thing, Allah SWT has something far better planned for us.

Standing on this narrative, let’s aim to shift our mindset. Instead of asking inevitable questions like, “Why me? Why is this happening to me?”, let’s focus on a new perspective. Perhaps asking ourselves questions like, “What has Allah SWT planned for me today?” or “What is the lesson behind this adversity?” can help change the way we view our circumstances.

These reflections will shape us to become more far-sighted, focusing on the pleasures of the akhirah while navigating the trials of this dunya. All the while, we hold firmly onto the faith that we are meant to have.

As Imam Ibn Ata’illah Al-Iskandari wisely said: “The heedless person, upon waking, considers what they will do; the wise person, upon waking, considers what Allah SWT will do with them.”

The wisdom shared above emphasizes the difference between those who rely solely on their efforts and those who trust in Allah’s SWT divine wisdom. By adopting this perspective, we align our hearts with faith and rely on Allah’s SWT guidance in every step of our journey. And how do we achieve this? We achieve this by having good thoughts about Allah’s SWT plan.

Integrating this in our daily lives

Imam ibn Ata’illah Al-Askandariy has said in his book Al-Hikam:

إن ﻟم ﺗﺣﺳن ظﻧك ﺑﮫ ﻷﺟل ﺣﺳن وﺻﻔﮫ, ﻓﺣﺳن ظﻧك ﺑﮫ ﻷﺟل ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺗﮫ ﻣﻌك ﻓﮭل ﻋودك إﻻ إﺣﺳﺎﻧﺎ و ھل اﺳدي ﻋﻠﯾك ﻻ ﻣﻧﻧﺎ

Which means: If you have not improved your opinion of Him because of His (great) qualities, then improve it because of the way He deals with you. For has He accustomed you to anything other than good? And has He given you other than His favors?

From this wisdom, scholars have derived from it two ways we may practice husnuzzon and make it a habit.

Firstly: Understanding and emulating the names of Allah SWT

It is known that this is the highest level of having good thoughts about Allah SWT. When you want to understand someone’s action, you must get to know who they are to understand where they come from. Now where do we learn about Allah SWT? We learn them through his 99 attributes. In hadith mentioned by Abu Hurairah r.a Abu Hurairah RA, that the Prophet SAW said:

إن لله تسعة وتسعين اسمًا مائة إلا واحدًا، من أحصاها؛ دخل الجنة

Meaning: “Indeed, Allah SWT has ninety-nine names, one hundred except one, whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise.” (Hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari (6410) in Sahih al-Bukhari).

Understanding and emulating the names of Allah SWT is a powerful way to strengthen our connection with Him and see the world through a lens of hope and trust. The 99 names of Allah SWT, or Asma’ul Husna, are not just names but windows into His mercy, wisdom, and love for us. Each name tells us something unique about who Allah SWT is.

For example, knowing Allah SWT as Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful) reminds us of His endless compassion, while understanding Him as Ar-Razzaq (The Provider) reassures us that He will always take care of our needs, even when we can’t see how.

When we reflect on these names and try to bring their meaning into our lives by being kind, forgiving, and generous, we not only draw closer to Allah SWT but also become better people and this shapes our perspectives in life. It’s like learning to trust a dear friend because we’ve come to know their character deeply. This trust in Allah SWT empowers us to confront challenges with strength, knowing that He is always by our side. Once we get to know our friends better, we learn to trust them. Similarly, having learned about Allah SWT’s attributes, how can we not place our complete trust in Him, our Creator?

Secondly: Reflecting on how Allah SWT interacts with us.

In our life we are given so many blessings from Allah SWT. We are given sustenance in this world..it is a promised from Allah SWT as mentioned in the quran:

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

Which means: “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah SWT is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.” (Surah Hud: Ayah 6)

Allah SWT has given us a lot of blessings on a daily basis for us to reflect upon and human beings cannot even begin to comprehend the number of blessings that Allah SWT has bestowed upon us. Allah SWT says in Surah An-Nahl Ayah 18:

وَإِن ﺗَﻌُ ﱡدوا ﻧِﻌْﻣَتَ ﱠِﷲ ﻻَ ﺗُﺣْﺻُوھَﺎ ۗ إِ ﱠن  ﱠَﷲ ﻟَﻐَﻔُورٌ ﱠرﺣِﯾمٌ

Which means: “And if you should count the favors of Allah SWT, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah SWT is Forgiving and Merciful.”

By embracing this practice, we nurture god-consciousness in every aspect of our lives, centered on genuine gratitude. Though challenges may unsettle us at times, gratitude and reflection on Allah’s SWT constant mercy and provision guide our hearts back to humility and trust in Him.

Life’s trials serve as a reminder to appreciate the countless favors we often overlook. The practice of shukr (gratitude) elevates us spiritually by strengthening our reliance on Allah SWT and nurturing contentment with His decree. By acknowledging His continuous gifts whether in sustenance, health, or moments of ease we cultivate a deeper relationship with our Creator, rooted in love and recognition of His infinite grace.

Ultimately, recognizing Allah’s SWT kindness even in difficulty transforms hardships into opportunities for spiritual growth. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) beautifully exemplified this mindset when he said:

عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ

Which means “Amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he experiences prosperity, he is grateful, and that is good for him; and if he is afflicted with adversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2999.

In this journey of reflection, we embody taqwa (God-consciousness) by continually turning to Allah SWT in gratitude and patience, anchoring our faith in the certainty that His wisdom encompasses all. May we remain among those who remember Allah SWT abundantly and offer sincere thanks for His boundless bounties, striving for His pleasure in every circumstance. Amin ya Rabbal alamin.