Have you ever encountered the “Better luck next time” phrase after scratching a scratch ticket for a prize? As much as this phrase might seem disappointing, it is extremely helpful.
Most of us may be using this phrase as part of our daily routine, but it can indirectly reflect another value in life. We need to maintain this value, and not use it just in the context of luck and winning prizes. We need to remember it in order to be able to achieve our objectives in all walks of life.
This phrase gives us hope that when we fail to hit a specific target, our fortunes can be better the next time we try. It encourages us not to feel disappointed or let despair conquer us.
Failure often opens the way for the despicable demon called despair to enter our minds, especially when our hard work fails to bring the desired results at the right time and place, and in the desired manner.
Despair is a deadly and stealthy enemy; it only has the power to demolish, not construct anything. This makes it necessary for each and every one of us to never allow despair to overcome us. We should not give up trying until we achieve our goals.
Prophet Noah was a perfect example of optimism and patience, an example of working hard until noble objectives are achieved.
Noah spent more than nine centuries — not nine years or nine months — trying to convince his people to worship God. Despite this, only 15 people reacted positively by believing in God and heeding Noah’s invitation.
Another great example is Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him). Muhammad kept preaching and inviting people to convert to Islam, from the time he received God’s instructions in this regard until his death. He continued to do this even after the people of Makkah and other tribes hurt him in many ways. Mohammad never despaired or gave up.
The Prophet kept on trying. He travelled from Makkah to Madinah when he discovered that people in the former city were not responsive to his invitation. God then gave him victory and glory by softening many hearts to embrace Islam.
Let us cite a Western example as well. It is of the renowned American scientist and inventor Thomas Edison, who developed several devices that changed human lives around the world. Edison used to say, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration”. He failed so many times to develop the electric light bulb. Whenever he failed, Edison would try to find out the reasons for the failure. The great scientist would never have managed to make his great inventions if he had allowed despair to overcome him.
Most people despair after failing to do something the first time. Worse still, the surrounding environment sometimes pushes them to despair. When this happens, people stop trying.
Sometimes other people gloat over your failure, and you start hating the objectives you had strived to achieve.
The moral of what I am trying to explain is that you must be your own backer; you must have the motivation to achieve your objectives in life, taking lessons from our great prophets. These prophets never despaired on the way to reaching their goal.
Imagine what would have happened if these great figures had given up trying after failing the first time. Today we would have been without many creative ideas, inventions and religions.
This is why it is necessary for us to always keep the following verse from the Holy Quran in our minds: “Never give up hope of Allah’s mercy. Certainly, no one despairs of Allah’s mercy except the disbelieving people” (Yusuf (12:87)).
