ASSALAAM ALEYKUM. WHAT HAS THE PROPHET TAUGHT US ON ISSUES RELATED TO BEING DESPERATE? BECAUSE AM IN A DILLEMA AT WORK, I HAVE TWO MUSLIMS WHO BOTH SHOW DIVERTING CONCERN TO ME(am their junior), AT TIMES THEY BOTH TELL ME SOME THINGS ABOUT THE OTHER (WORKWISE) AND AM SUPPOSED NOT TO TELL THE OTHER, I KNOW THIS TYPE OF SITUATION IS UNISLAMIC BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHO TO BELIEVE MORE AND HOW I SHOULD MAKE THEM STOP DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THE WORST THING IS THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD TERMS BUT EACH HOLDING GRUDGES ON THE OTHER. DO YOU THINK I SHOULD MAKE THEM SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT? AND HOW? THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE ONE WHOM I TRUST MORE DOESNT PRAY AND DOESNT PRACTISE ISLAM (she doesnt want anything in return all she does is directly benefitting me) while i dont trust the other who mostly practices islam, she prays although a 'taariq' (prays frequently) because she's the type who would rather do good to a non-muslim than to a muslim/me (it seems). PLEASE GIVE THIS A PRIORITY TO HELP ME PUT AN END TO THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We are discouraged in Islam from being despaired and loosing hope and we are encouraged to be optimistic about our aspirations. There are many evidences proving this, such as the Saying of Allaah (which means): {…and never give up hope of Allaah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allaah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.}[Quran 12:87]. Allaah further Says (what means): {Ibraaheem (Abraham) said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?"}[Quran 15:56].

Moreover, the Prophet said: "A strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allaah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allaah and do not despair or be lazy. However, if a misfortune befalls you, do not say: "If I had done such and such, it would have been better'', but rather say: ''Allaah predestined so, and whatever Allaah wills, will happen, as the subordinating conjunction ''if'' opens the doors of the devil.'' [Muslim] Furthermore, the Prophet said: ''Allaah Says: "I will be just as My slave thinks of Me when he remembers Me." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As regards your friends telling you about one another regarding work, if this is done to take revenge or plot against her, then this is backbiting and it is not permissible for you to listen to them. Besides, you are obliged to prevent whomever says this, and you should try to reconcile between them as this is one of the great acts of worship by which one gets nearer to Allaah.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83283.

However, if any one of them informs you about this for the benefit of work, and there is a real benefit, then this is permissible. In any case, you are not allowed to tell either one what the other one said, as this is tale-bearing. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 81748.

Finally, it should be noted that abandoning the prayer or neglecting it is a greater sin than what you mentioned, so you should advise them in this regard. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 91099, 90489 and 84235.

Allaah Knows best.