Thinking well of others relieves the heart
Nothing relieves the heart and makes one happy more than thinking well of others. It protects one from the harm of worrisome thoughts that disturb his peace of mind and exhaust the body. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Beware of assumptions, for assumption is the falsest of speech, and do not be inquisitive, and do not spy upon one another, and do not vie with one another, and do not envy one another, and do not hate one another, and do not shun one another; be fellow-brothers and slaves of Allah.” How to condition ourselves to think good of others ? 1. Supplication Supplicating to Allah The Almighty is the gate to every goodness. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would ask his Lord to grant him a sound heart. 2. Putting yourself in the other person's place If each one of us puts himself in the place of his brother when the latter does or says something, this will help him think well of others. 3. Interpreting the Words of Others in the Best Possible Way This was the habit of the righteous predecessors. ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) said, “Do not think ill of a word that your believing brother utters as long as it can be interpreted in a good way.” (Majmoo Fataawa Ibn Baz (26/365)) 4. Making Excuses for Others Ibn Seereen (رحمه الله) said, “If you come to know that a brother has harmed you with either a word or a deed, you should make an excuse for him; if you did not find one, you should say, ‘There may be an excuse that I do not know of.” When you exert your utmost to make excuses for the words and deeds of others, you will save yourself the trouble of assuming and you will avoid blaming others excessively. 5. Abstaining from Judging the Intentions of Others This is one of the greatest causes that help a person think well of others. We should leave the intentions to the only One who knows them: Allah The Almighty, for He did not command us to check each others' hearts and intentions, and thus we have to avoid harboring ill-thoughts about others. 6. Recalling the Harmful Consequences of Evil Assumptions