An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat by TaHa Publications
The Definition of Patience
What scholars have said about patience
Abu ‘Uthman said: “the one who has patience is the one who has trained himself to handle difficulties.”
‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman al-Makki said: “Patience means to keep close to Allah and to accept calmly the trials He sends, without complaining or feeling sad.”
Al-Khawwas said: “Patience means to adhere to the rules of the Qur’an and Sunnah.”
Another scholar said: “Patience means to refrain from complaining.”
Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “Patience means to seek Allah’s help.”
Is it better to have patience at a time of difficulty, or to be in a situation which does not require patience?
Patience and Shakwah (complaint)
| “I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah.” (Yusuf 12:86). |
Earlier, Ya’qub (AS) had said “sabrun jamil” which means “patience is most fitting for me.” The Qur’an also tells us about Ayyub:
| “And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he cried to his Lord, ‘Truly distress has seized me. (al-Anbiya 21:83). |
The epitome of patience, the Prophet (SAAS), prayed to his Lord: ” O Allah, I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness.” Musa (AS) prayed to Allah, saying: “O Allah, all praise is due to You, and complaint is made only to You, and You are the only One from Whom we seek help and in Whom we put our trust, and there is no power except by Your help.” The second type of complaint involves complaining to people, either directly, through our words, or indirectly, through the way we look and behave. This is contradictory to patience.
Opposing forces
Further definition of patience
Patience has many other names, according to the situation. If patience consists of restraining sexual desire, it is called honour, the opposite of which is adultery and promiscuity. If it consists of controlling one’s stomach, it is called self-control, the opposite of which is greed. If it consists of keeping quiet about that which it is not fit to disclose, it is called discretion, the opposite of which is disclosing secrets, lying, slander or libel. If it consists of being content with what is sufficient for one’s needs, it is called abstemiousness, the opposite of which is covetousness. If it consists of controlling one’s anger, then it is called forbearance, the opposite of which is impulsiveness and hasty reaction. If it consists of refraining from haste, then it is called gracefulness and steadiness, the opposite of which is to be hotheaded. If it consists of refraining from running away, then it is called courage, the opposite of which is cowardice. If it consists of refraining from taking revenge, then it is called forgiveness, the opposite of which is revenge. If it consists of refraining from being stingy, then it is called generosity, the opposite of which is miserliness. If it consists of refraining from being lazy and helpless, then it is called dynamism and initiative. If it consists of refraining from blaming and accusing other people, then it is called chivalry {muru’ah literally “manliness”).
Different names may be applied to patience in different situations, but ail are covered by the idea of patience. This shows that Islam in its totality is based on patience.
Is it possible to obtain the quality of patience?
Different perspectives on patience
1. Physical patience by choice, such as doing hard labour willingly.
2. Physical patience without choice, such as patiently bearing illness, beatings and extremes of heat and cold.
3. Psychological patience by choice, such as refraining from things which both the Sharî‘ah and common sense say are wrong.
4. Psychological patience without choice, such as patiently bearing an enforced separation from one whom you love.
Different degrees of patience
The patience of men and the patience of animals
The patience of jinn
The patience of the angels
The patience of man
Qatâdah said: “Allâh created angels with reason and no desires, animals with desires and no reason, and man with both reason and desires.” So if a man’s reason is stronger than his desire he is like an angel, and if his desires are stronger than his reason, then he is like an animal. A little baby has only the desire for food when he needs it, and his patience is like the patience of animals. Until he reaches an age when he can tell what is what, he has no choice. When he grows a little older and develops a desire to play, then his patience by choice will develop. He will start to know what patience means when his sexual desire develops. At the same time, his power of reasoning is also developing, but between the age when he can tell right from wrong and the age of puberty, all he can see is his own interests in this world, and what might make life good or bad. This limited view will remain until he is guided by Allâh, then he will have the full picture and begin to think of his interests both in this life and the hereafter. He will become aware of where different actions may lead, and will prepare himself for a long struggle with his desires and natural inclinations.
Different degrees of patience
1. The motive of religion is strongest in controlling and defeating the whims and desires. This level of control can only be achieved through consistent patience, and those who reach this level are victorious in this life and in the hereafter. They are the ones “who say, ‘Our Lord is Allâh’” (Fussilât 41:30). These are the ones to whom, at the moment of death, the angels say,
| “Fear not!…Nor grieve! But receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), that which you were promised! We are your protectors in this life and the Hereafter.” (Fussilât 41:30-31). |
They are the ones who enjoy the companionship of Allâh, and who strive in the way of Allâh. They are the ones whom Allâh has guided to the exclusion of others.
2. When whims and desires prevail, the religious motive is diminished. The doomed person will surrender totally to Shaytân and his forces, who will lead him wherever they want. His relationship with them will be either of two possibilities. Either he will become their follower and a soldier in their army, which is the case of the weak person, or Shaytân will become a weapon for him, and one of his soldiers, which is the case of the strong person who rebels against Allâh. Those people are the ones whose misfortune has overtaken them, as they preferred this world to the Hereafter. The main reason for their sorry fate is that they ran out of patience. The major characteristic of these people is that they lie and cheat, indulge in wishful thinking and self-admiration, delay doing good deeds, and prefer instant gains in this world to lasting gains in the Hereafter. These are the people to whom the Prophet (SAAS) referred when he said:
| “The helpless man is the one who follows his whims and desires, and indulges in wishful thinking.” |
These unfortunate people are of several types. Some of them declare war against Allâh and His Messenger, trying to destroy what the Prophet (SAAS) brought, pushing people away from the way of Allâh, and spreading corruption on earth. Some are interested solely in their worldly interests. Some are two faced hypocrites who try to ingratiate themselves with everybody and gain something from every situation. Some are promiscuous, and devote their entire life to the pursuit of physical pleasure. Some, if they are warned, say that they would dearly love to repent, find it too difficult and plead they have no chance. Some say that Allâh does not need their prayers and fasting, that they will not attain salvation by virtue of their deed, and that they will rely on the fact that Allâh is Merciful. Some of them claim that refraining from committing wrong actions is like undermining the forgiveness of Allâh. Some will say, “What good could my worship do after all the wrong actions I have committed? What can help a drowning man if his fingers are above water and the rest of his body is submerged?” Some say that they will repent when death approaches…
So many excuses, all because their whims and desires control their reason, and they use their reason, in turn, to find ways of fulfilling those desires. Their reason is held prisoner by the Shaytân, and put to work to serve his evil purposes, just as Muslim prisoners-of-war may be abused by the kâfirûn and forced to look after pigs, make wine or carry the cross. The man who suppresses his reason and puts it under the control of the enemy (Shaytân) is like the one who seizes a Muslim and hands him over to the kâfirûn to imprison him.
3. There is a war that is raging between the motives of reason and religion, and the motives of whims and desires. Sometimes one prevails, sometimes the other gains the upper hand. The pattern of victories for either side varies. This is the situation in the case of most believers, who mix good deeds and bad deeds.
People’s ultimate fate in the Hereafter will correspond to the three situations outlined above. Some people will enter Paradise and never enter Hell, some will enter Hell and never enter Paradise, and some will enter Hell for some time before they are admitted to Paradise.
Different strengths of patience
| “A man wrestled with one of the jinn, and beat him, then asked, ‘Why are you so weak and small?’ The jinn answered, ‘I am very big and strong compared to the rest of the jinn.’” Someone asked ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ûd, “Was that man, ‘Umar?” and he replied, “Who else could it have been?” |
Some of the Sahâbah said,
| “A believer whips the Shaytân like the way a person whips his camel when he is travelling.” |
Ibn Abi’d-Dunyâ narrated from some of the salaf that one shaytân met with another, and asked him why he was so thin. The other shaytân replied,
| “Because I am a with a man who mentions the name of Allâh when he eats, so I cannot eat with him, and he mentions the name of Allâh when he drinks, so I cannot drink with him. When he enters his home he mentions the name of Allâh, so I stay outside.” The first shaytân said, “But I am with a man who does not mention the name of Allâh when he eats, so I eat with him. He does not mention the name of Allâh when he drinks, so I drink with him. When he enters his home he does not mention the name of Allâh, so I enter with him.” |
So whoever develops the habit of patience is feared by his enemies, and whoever finds patience difficult is in danger, as his enemy will readily dare to attack him and do him harm.
When patience is needed
1. In worshipping Allâh and following His commands,
2. In abstaining from wrong actions,
3. In accepting Allâh’s decree and ruling (qadâ’ wa qadr). This is the advice given to Luqmân when he told his son:
| “O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong; and bear with patient constancy whatever betide you; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.” (Luqmân 31:17) |
Enjoining what is just includes doing good oneself, and forbidding what is wrong includes abstaining from wrong action oneself.
Patience in worshipping Allâh
So to protect our worship we must make sure that we are sincere. Secondly, we must be sure never to deviate from the way of the Prophet (SAAS), so we have to ensure that our worship is done according to the Sunnah.
Patience in abstaining from wrong action
The reason why it is so important for a believer to abstain from wrong action is because he must protect his îmân, as wrong action decreases îmân or extinguishes it. The Prophet (SAAS) said,
| “When the adulterer commits adultery he is not a believer, and when the winebibber drinks alcohol he is not a believer and when the thief steals he is not a believer. The believer should abstain from many permitted actions in case they may lead to that which is forbidden.” |
Patience at times of trial and adversity
1. thinking of the good reward that lies ahead. The more you believe in the rewards that are waiting for you, the easier it becomes to have patience. If it were not for the anticipation of the rewards, no goals or objectives pertaining to this life or the hereafter would have been achieved. Human nature loves instant gratification, but reason and maturity make us think of the long term outcome, which helps to strengthen our patience in enduring whatever faces us, whether there is no choice or otherwise;
2. expecting and hoping for a time of ease. This hope in itself offers a measure of immediate relief;
3. thinking of Allâh’s countless blessings. When we realize that we cannot enumerate the blessings of Allâh, it becomes easier for us to exercise patience in facing the current adversity, because the present troubles are like a raindrop compared to vast ocean of Allâh’s blessings and favours;
4. thinking of previous blessings of Allâh. This will remind us of Allâh’s care, and strengthen our hopes ad expectations of a time of ease to come.
Five Categories of Patience
Obligatory (wâjib) patience
2. Patience in carrying out obligatory deeds,
3. Patience in facing adversity which is beyond one’s control, such as illness, poverty, etc.
Encouraged (mandûb) patience
2. Patience in performing acts of worship which are liked and encouraged (mustahabb)
3. Patience in refraining from taking revenge.
Forbidden (mahdhûr) patience
2. Patience in abstaining from eating harâm meat, carrion and blood, when the alternative is death and starvation. Tawus and Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, “Whoever has no choice but to eat carrion, harâm meat and blood, but refuses to eat it and dies as a consequence, will enter Hell.”
3. Patience in refraining from begging. There is a dispute as to whether begging from people is forbidden or permissible. Imam Ahmad said that this kind of patience and abstention is allowed. He was asked, “What if a person fears that if he does not do this, he will die?” Imam Ahmad answered, “No, he will not die. Allâh will send him his due provision (rizq).”Imam Ahmad did not allow begging: when Allâh knows the need of a person and his sincerity in abstaining from begging, Allâh will send him rizq. Other scholars, including some of Imam Ahmad’s companions and Imam ash-Shafi‘î said, “It is obligatory on such a person to beg, and if he did not beg, than he would be a wrongdoer, because by begging he protects himself from death.”
4. Patience in enduring things that may lead to death, such as predators, snakes, fire and water.
5. Patience at times of fitnah when the Muslims are fighting Muslims. Patience in abstaining from fighting at such a time, when Muslims are killing Muslims, is mubâh (permissible), indeed it is mustahabb (liked and preferred). When the Prophet (SAAS) was asked about this, he said, “Be like the better of the two sons of Ādam.” In other, similar reports he said, “Be like the slave of Allâh who was killed, and not like the one who has killed,” and “let him (the killer) carry his own wrong action and your wrong action.” In another report, he said, “If the sword is too bright, put your hand on your face.” Allâh has told us the story of the better of the two sons of Ādam, and how he surrendered himself and did not fight back, and how Allâh commended him for that. This is different to the case when Muslims are fighting kâfirûn: in that situation the Muslim has to defend himself, because the meaning of Jihad is to defend himself and Islâm.
Disliked (makrûh) patience
2. Patience in doing a makrûh deed.
Permissible (mubâh) patience
An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat ash-Shâkireen” © 1997 TA-HA
Good Patience and Bad Patience
A man asked Shiblî, “What type of patience is more difficult?” Shiblî said, “Patience through seeking the help of Allâh.” The man said, “No.” Shiblî said, “Then patience for the sake of Allâh.”The man said, “No.” Shiblî said, “Patience in seeking the pleasure of Allâh.” The man said, “No.” So Shiblî asked, “What is it then?” and the man answered, “Patience in keeping away from Allâh.”Shiblî screamed in such a way that he nearly died.
Good patience consists of two types: patience for the sake of Allâh and patience by the help of Allâh. Allâh said:
| “Now await in patience the command of your Lord: for verily you are in Our eyes…” (at-Tûr 52:48) |
It is impossible to have patience for the sake of Allâh without patience by the help of Allâh:
| “And be patient, for your patience is but by Allâh…” (an-Nahl 16:127) |
This âyah tells us that patience cannot be achieved without the help of Allâh, which means that in addition to the help of Allâh we need the companionship of Allâh, as in the hadîth [qudsî]:
| “I am his hearing with which hears, his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes.” |
The help of Allâh is bestowed upon the believer and the wrongdoer alike, both of whom receive blessings and rizq. This hadîth describes something more, the companionship of Allâh, which the believer will attain when he performs nafl (supererogatory) acts of worship until Allâh loves him. When he reaches that status, and Allâh is his hearing with which he hears and his seeing with which he sees, he does not move or do anything but Allâh is with him. Whoever reaches this level can have patience for Allâh’s sake and endure severe hardship to please Him. The person who does not reach this level will not have this degree of patience; his level of patience will be in accordance with his share of Allâh’s companionship. The believer who enjoys Allâh’s companionship will reach levels of patience that are impossible for others. Those who have patience are the winners in this world and the next, because Allâh is with them:
| “for Allâh is with those who patiently persevere” (al-Baqarah 2:153). |
Emulating the attributes of Allâh
No contradiction between patience and complaining to Allâh
Allâh also enjoined sabrun jamîl on the Prophet (SAAS) and he obeyed, but he would pray,
| “O Allâh, I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness.” |
Man cannot do without patience
If a person enjoys good health, security, power, wealth and fulfillment of his physical desires, he should not assume that this time of ease will last forever, and he should not let his good fortune make him arrogant, extravagant or careless in a way that Allâh does not like. He should not devote all his time, money and energy to the pursuit of physical pleasure, because too much pleasure results pain. He should take care to pay what is due to Allâh in the way of zakât and sadaqah, otherwise Allâh might take away His blessing. He should also abstain from spending money in a harâm way, and be careful to avoid spending it in a makrûh way. All of this takes patience, and nobody can exercise patience at a time of ease except people of very strong faith (as-siddiqûn).
Patience at the time of adversity is easier than at the time of ease
| “Believers and unbelievers alike may have patience at a time of adversity, but only people of strong faith can have patience at a time of ease.” |
Therefore Allâh warned against the fitnah of wealth, wives and children:
| “O you who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allâh. If any act thus, the loss is their own.” (al-Munâfiqûn 63:9)“O you who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them!” (at-Taghâbûn 64:14) |
The enmity referred to in these âyât is not that which results from hatred and conflict, but that which results from love and care, that might prevent parents from religious duties such as hijrah, jihâd, seeking knowledge and giving sadaqah. At-Tirmidhî narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that a man asked him (Ibn ‘Abbas) about the ayah quoted above (at-Taghâbûn 64:14). Ibn ‘Abbas told him that this ayah refers to some men of Makkah who embraced Islâm, but when they wanted to migrate to join the Prophet (SAAS) in Madînah, their wives and children prevented them from doing so. Later on, when they eventually joined the Prophet (SAAS) and saw that others had already learned a great deal about Islâm, they wanted to punish their wives and children. So Allâh revealed this ayah: “O you who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them!” (at-Taghâbûn 64:14). At-Tirmidhî said that this report is hasan sahîh.
The hadîth, “Children are the cause of cowardliness and stinginess” reflects how much a man may be held back in his pursuit of perfection and success by his wife and children. Once, when the Prophet (SAAS) was delivering a khutbah, he saw Hasan and Husayn walking and stumbling, so he interrupted his speech and went to pick them up, and said: “Indeed, Allâh has spoken the truth when He said: ‘…among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves.’I saw these two little boys stumbling and I did not have the patience to continue my khutbah, so I stopped and picked them up.” The Prophet (SAAS) did so because of his love for children, and in this way he set an example for his Ummah to show mercy and kindness towards children.
The reason why it is so difficult to exercise patience at a time of ease is because we have a choice regarding how to behave. A hungry person has better patience when he has no access to food, and when food becomes available, his patience weakens. Similarly, it is easier to control one’s sexual desire when no women are around.
Patience in worship
Every step of the way, man needs patience in carrying out an act of worship. Before he starts to do it, he must make sure that his intentions are correct. He should check his sincerity, and seek to avoid showing off in performing any act of worship. Whilst he is performing any act of worship, he must try to perfect it, to keep his intentions pure and his mind focused on the purpose of performing that act of worship, namely that it is to please Allâh. After completing an act of worship, he must abstain from doing anything that could corrupt his worship. Allâh has told us: “O you who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or injury” (al-Baqarah 2:264). He should exercise patience in refraining from admitting and feeling proud of his performance, as this is more damaging than committing many other, more visible, wrong actions. Similarly, he should always be discreet and refrain from telling others about his acts of worship.
Patience in abstaining from committing wrong actions
Patience in adversity and in situations beyond man’s control
In facing situations that are beyond one’s control, people may have any of the following reactions:
1. feeling helpless and discontented, panicking and complaining.
2. responding with patience, either for the sake of Allâh or as a sign of human strength.
3. accepting and being contented with the situation. This is actually of a higher status than patience.
4. accepting the situation with thanks and gratitude. This is even higher than acceptance, because in this case a person see the adversity as a blessing and thanks Allâh for putting him through it.
Problems and adversity that befall a person at the hands of others may be faced with any of the following reactions:
1. he may choose to forgive and forget.
2. he may decide not to take revenge.
3. he may accept the decree (qadâ’ wa qadr), whilst recognizing that the person who harmed him was a wrongdoer, yet the One Who decreed that this harm should reach him at the hands of the wrongdoer is not a wrongdoer. The harm caused by people is like heat and cold: there is no way to prevent it happening and the one who complains about heat and cold betrays a lack of wisdom. Everything that happens, happens through the decree (qadâ’ wa qadr), even though there are many different ways and means for it to happen.
4. he may treat well the person who mistreated him. This attitude has many advantages and benefits, which nobody can know in their entirety except Allâh.
Patience in situations which are started by choice, but whose consequences get out of hand
Patience at the time of bereavement
It is permitted to cry or weep, softy, before death, at the time of death, and after the person has died. According to ash-Shâfi‘î, however, it is makrûh to cry after the person has died, but permissible before the soul has departed.
The correct opinion is that crying is permitted both before and after death. The evidence for this is the hadîth narrated by Jâbir ibn ‘Abdullâh (RA) in which he said: “My father died at the battle of Uhud, and I began to weep. The people told me to stop, but the Messenger (SAAS) never asked me to stop. Then my aunt Fâtimah began to weep too, and the Prophet (SAAS) said:
| ‘It does not matter whether you cry or not, the angels kept shading him until they ascended with his soul’ ” (agreed upon). |
Ibn ‘Abbâs (RA) reported that when Ruqayyah (RA), the daughter of the Prophet (SAAS), died, the women started to cry, and ‘Umar (RA) began to whip them to make them stop. The Prophet (SAAS) told him: “O ‘Umar, leave them alone and let them cry.” To the women he said: “Go ahead and cry, but avoid the crying of the shaytân…Whatever comes from the eye and heart is from Allâh and is a sign of mercy, and whatever comes from your hand and your tongue is from the shaytân.” (Ahmad)
A number of sound ahâdîth describe the Prophet (SAAS) weeping on a number of occasions when someone he loved had died. When the Prophet (SAAS) visited the tomb of his mother he wept, and caused others to weep. When he was burying the martyr ‘Uthmân ibn Madh’un (RA) after Uhud, he kissed him and his tears fell on ‘Uthmân’s face. When he gave the news of the death of Ja’far (RA) and his companions in the battle against the Romans at Mu’tah, he spoke with tears streaming down his face.
Another sound report describes how Abû Bakr (RA) wept when he kissed the Prophet (SAAS) after he had died. The ahâdîth that forbid crying should be interpreted as referring to the kind of crying that is accompanied by eulogizing and wailing.
Eulogizing and wailing
| “He is not one of us who strikes himself on the cheeks, rends his garment and behaves like the people of Jâhiliyyah” (al-Bukhârî and Muslim). |
Abû Mâlik al-Ash‘arî (RA) said: “The Prophet (SAAS) said:
| ‘There are four habits which my Ummah has, which are from the Jahiliyyah. My Ummah will never rid itself of them. They are: seeking pride in noble descent; slandering one another by casting doubts one one’s lineage; seeking rain through astrology; and wailing.’ ” |
In another hadîth, the Prophet (SAAS) said that if a woman practices the custom of wailing, and does not repent before she dies, on the Day of Resurrection she will be raised with clothes of tar and a shield of scabs. (Muslim)
Abû Mûsâ (RA) said: “The Prophet (SAAS) said:
| ‘The deceased person suffers because of the wailing of the living. When the wailing woman says, “What a great loss! I have lost my right arm, the one who clothed me”, the deceased will be pulled up sharply and asked: “Are you her right hand? Are you her support? Are you the one who clothed her?” ’ ” (Ahmad). |
There is no doubt that wailing and eulogizing are harâm. How could it be otherwise, when they indicate discontent with one’s Lord and contradict patience? Behaving this way harms oneself too, when one slaps one’s face, pulls out one’s hair, prays to Allâh to take one’s soul, wastes possessions by tearing one’s clothes, complains of injustice from Allâh and praises the deceased with qualities that he did not possess. Any of these would be sufficient grounds for the total prohibition of wailing and eulogizing.
Saying a few words
Anas (RA) reported that when the Prophet (SAAS) became very ill, he started to lose conciousness. Fâtimah (RA) said, “How great is the distress of my father!” He said, “There will be no more distress for your father after today.” When the Prophet (SAAS) passed away, she said, “O my father who answered the call of his Lord, O my father whose destination is Paradise, O my father, to Jibrîl will tell the news of your death.” After the Prophet (SAAS) had been buried, she said, “O Anas, how could you bear to bury the Prophet and cover him with dust?” (al-Bukhârî)
When his son Ibrâhîm died, the Prophet (SAAS) said, “We are very sad for your death, O Ibrâhîm.”This does not indicate discontent with the decree of Allâh or complaining against Allâh. Such statements are no more than crying or weeping.
The deceased person suffers because of people’s wailing over him
Patience is half of Imân
| “Verily in this are signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks” (Ibrâhîm 14:5; Luqmân 31:31; Sabâ’ 34:19; ash-Shurâ 42:33). |
The reasons why one half of îmân is patience and the other half is gratitude are as follows:
1. îmân is a term which covers words, deeds and intentions, all of which are based on one of two things, action or abstinence. Action refers to performing a deed in accordance with the instructions of Allâh, which is the reality of gratitude. Abstinence, as in refraining from wrong action, requires patience. The whole of religion is embodied in these two things: carrying out that which Allâh has commanded, and refraining from that which Allâh has prohibited.
2. îmân is based on two pillars, yaqîn (conviction) and patience, which are referred to in the following ayah:
| “And We appointed, from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs” (as-Sajdah 32:34). |
It is through faith that we know the reality of Allâh’s commands and prohibitions, or reward and punishment, and it is through patience that we carry out His instructions and abstain from that which He has prohibited. A person can never come to believe in Allâh’s commands and prohibitions, and in reward and punishment, and it is through patience that we carry out His instructions and abstain from that which He has prohibited, and in reward and punishment, except through faith, and that is truly from Allâh. And we can never carry out Allâh’s instructions and abstain from that which He has prohibited except through patience. Therefore patience is half of îmân, and the other half is gratitude.
3. Man has two powers, the power of doing and the power of abstaining, which control all his behaviour. So a person will do what he likes and abstain from what he dislikes. The whole of religion is doing or abstaining, carrying out the instructions of Allâh or abstaining from that which He has prohibited, neither of which can be accomplished without patience.
4. The whole of religion is hope and fear, and the true believer is the one who is both hopeful and fearful. Allâh said:
| “…They used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us” (al-Anbiyâ’ 21:90). |
The Prophet (SAAS) used to pray:
| “O Allâh, I have surrendered my soul to You, and turned my face to You. My (own) affair I commit to Allâh and I seek Your protection, in hope of You and in fear of You” (al-Bukhârî). |
So the believer is the one who is both hopeful and fearful, but hope and fear can only be based on the foundation of patience: fear should make the believer patient, and his hope should lead to gratitude.
5.Any action done by man is either beneficial or harmful to him in this world and the next, or else it is beneficial to him in the world and harmful to him in the other. The best course for man is to do that which is beneficial to him in the Hereafter, and abstain from that which is harmful to him in the Hereafter. This is the reality of îmân: to do what is good for him, and that is gratitude; and to abstain from that which harms him, and that is patience.
6.Man is always is a situation where he has to carry out an instruction of Allâh, or avoid something which Allâh has prohibited, or accept something that Allâh has decreed. In all cases, he has to face the situation with patience and gratitude. Carrying out Allâh’s instructions is gratitude, and abstaining from prohibited things and being content with the decree of Allâh constitutes patience.
7.Man is constantly being pulled in two opposing directions: should he respond to the lure of this world of desires and pleasures, or should he answer the call of Allâh and the hereafter, with the eternal Paradise that Allâh has prepared for His friend ( walî)? Going against the call of whims and desires is patience, and responding to the call of Allâh and the Hereafter is gratitude.
8.Religion is based on two principles: determination and perseverance (patience), which are referred to in the du‘â of the Prophet (SAAS):
| “O Allâh, I ask You for perseverance in all my affairs, and I ask You for the determination to stay on the straight and narrow path.” |
9. Religion is based on truth (haqq) and patience, which is referred to in the âyah:
| “…and they (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and constancy” (al-‘Asr 103:3). |
Man is required to work according to the truth, both by himself and others, which is the reality of gratitude, but he cannot do that without patience, therefore patience is half of îmân. And Allâh knows best.
Patience in the Qur’ân
1. Instruction. Patience in enjoined upon believers:
| “And be patient for your patience is but by Allâh…” (an-Nahl 16:127).“Now await in patience the command of your Lord…” (at-tûr 54:48). |
2. That which is opposite to patience is forbidden:
| “…and be in no haste about the (unbelievers)…” (al-Ahqâf 46:35).“So lose not heart nor fall in despair…” (Al ‘Imrân 3:139).
“…and be not like the Companion of the Fish (i.e. Yûnus [AS]) – when he cried out in agony” (al-Qalâm 68:48). |
3.Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity:
| “O you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allâh; that you may prosper” (Al ‘Imrân 3:200). |
4. The rewards of those who exercise patience will be doubled:
| “Twice will they be given their reward, for that they have persevered…” (al-Qasas 28:54).“…Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!” (az-Zumar 39:10). |
Sulaymân ibn Qâsim said that the reward of every deed is known, except for the reward of patience, which will be like heavy rain.
5. Patience and îmân are prerequisites for leadership in religion:
| “And We appointed, from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our commands, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs” (as-Sajdah 32:24). |
6.Patience is the way to earn the companionship of Allâh:
| “…and be patient and persevering: for Allâh is with those who patiently persevere” (al-Anfâl 8:46). |
Abû Alî ad-Daqqaq said:
| “People who have patience are the true winners in this world and the next, because they have the companionship of Allâh.” |
7.Allâh will reward those who have patience with a threefold reward: blessings, mercy and guidance:
| “…but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere – who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allâh we belong, and to Him is our return’ – they are those on whom (descend) blessings from their Lord, and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance” (al-Baqarah 2:155-7). |
When people came to offer their condolences to one of the salaf, for some calamity that had befallen him, he said:
| “Why should I not practice patience, when Allâh has promised those who have patience three rewards, each of which is better than this world and everything in it?” |
8.Patience is a means of seeking Allâh’s help:
| “…seek (Allâh’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer…” (al-Baqarah 2:45). |
So whoever has no patience has no help.
9.Patience and taqwâ are conditions for Allâh’s help and support:
| “Yea – if you remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught” (Al ‘Imrân 3:125). |
10.Patience and taqwâ are a great protection against the cunning of enemies:
| “…But if you are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you…” (Al ‘Imrân 3:120). |
11.The angels will salute the people of patience in Jannah:
| “…and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation of): ‘Peace unto you for that you persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final Home!’ ” (ar-Ra‘d 13:24). |
12.Allâh made it permissible to treat our enemies no worse than they treat us, but He has made it clear that practising patience is better:
| “And if you do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: but if you show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient” (an-Nahl 16:126). |
13.Allâh made patience and right actions a condition for forgiveness and great reward:
| “Not so those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of wrong actions) and a great reward!” (Hûd 11:11). |
14.Allâh has made patience a standard of courage and determination in the conduct of one’s affairs:
| “But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs” (ash-Shûra 42:43) “(Luqmân said:) ‘O my son! …enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whate’er betide you, for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs” (Luqmân 31:17). |
15.Allâh has promised the believers His support and victory, and has said that they deserve this because of their patience:
| “…The fair promise of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy…” (al-A‘raf 7:137). |
16.Allâh has made patience a condition of His love:
| “How many of the Prophets fought (in Allâh’s way), and with them (fought) large bands of godly men? But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allâh’s way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allâh loves those who are firm and steadfast (as-sâbirîn)” (Al ‘Imrân 3:146). |
17.Allâh has made patience a condition of receiving many blessings:
| “But those who had been granted (true) knowledge said: ‘Alas for you! The reward of Allâh (in the Hereafter) is best for those who believe and work righteousness: but this none shall attain, save those who steadfastly persevere (in good)” (al-Qasas 28:80).“And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint – none but persons of the greatest good fortune” (Fussilât 41:35). |
18.Allâh has mentioned that only those who practise patience and gratitude will benefit from the Signs of Allâh:
| “Do you not see that the ships sail through the Ocean by the grace of Allâh? – that He may show you of His Signs? Verily in this are Signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks” (Luqmân 31:31). |
| “And among His Signs are the ships, smooth-running through the ocean, (tall) as mountains. If it be His Will, He can still the Wind: then they would become motionless on the back of the (ocean). Verily in this are Signs for everyone who patiently perseveres and is grateful” (ash-Shûra 42:32-33). |
19.Allâh praised Ayyûb (AS) for his patience:
| “…Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!” (Sâd 38:44). |
Allâh described Ayyûb (AS) as excellent because of his patience, sot he person who fails to exercise patience when it is necessary will be regarded as a failure and a sinner.
20.Allâh has given a general ruling that whoever does not have faith and does not belong to the people of truth and patience, is in state of loss. This means that the only true winners are people of patience:
| “By (the Token of) Time (through the Ages), verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do right actions, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of the Truth, and of Patience and Constancy” (al-‘Asr 103:1-3) |
Commenting on this sûrah, Imâm ash-Shâfi‘î said:
| “If people thought deeply on this sûrah, it would provide enough guidance, as man cannot attain perfection without perfecting these two things, his knowledge and his actions, i.e. his faith and right actions. As he is required to perfect himself, so he is required to perfect others, which is joining together in mutual teaching of the truth. The foundation of all this is patience.” |
21.Allâh has mentioned that the main characteristic of those who attain salvation is patience and compassion:
| “Then will he be of those who believe and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. Such are the companions of the right had” (al-Balad 90:18). |
22.Allâh has mentioned patience alongside the pillars of Islâm and îmân, as He has mentioned it alongside sâlah: “Nay, seek (Allâh’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer…” (al-Baqarah 2:45); alongside right actions:“Not so those who show patience and constancy, and do right actions; for them is forgiveness (of wrong actions) and a great reward” (Hûd 11:11); alongside gratitude (shukr): “…Verily in this are Signs for everyone who patiently perseveres and is grateful” (ash-Shûra 42:32-33); alongside truth: “…and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and constancy” (al-‘Asr 103:1-3); alongside compassion: “…those who believe and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion…” (al-Balad 90:17); alongside faith: “…so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs” (as-Sajdah 32:24); alongside truth:
Patience and Gratitude. By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat by TaHa Publications
Ahâdîth about patience
| There is no Muslim afflicted with calamity who says ‘To Allâh we belong and to Him is our return; O Allâh reward me for this calamity and compensate me with what is better for me,’ but Allâh will compensate him with what is better for him.” She said: “When Abû Salamah died, I said: ‘Who among Muslims is better than Abû Salamah? His household was the first to migrate to the Messenger of Allâh!’ Anyhow, I said what what the Prophet (SAAS) taught us to say, and Allâh compensated me with the Messenger of Allâh. The Prophet (SAAS) sent Hâtib ibn Abî Balta‘ah to ask for my hand in marriage on his behalf, but I told him that I had a daughter, and that I was a very jealous woman. The Prophet (SAAS) responded: ‘As far as her daughter is concerned, I shall pray to Allâh to make her independent, and I shall pray to Allâh to take away her jealousy.’ So I married the Messenger (SAAS).” (Muslim) |
Abû Mûsâ al-Ash‘arî said: The Prophet (SAAS) said:
| “When a child of a man dies, Allâh asks the angels, ‘Did you take the soul of My slave’s child?’ They reply, ‘Yes.’ He asks them, ‘Did you take away the apple of his eye?’, and they reply, ‘Yes.’ The He asks: ‘What did My slave say?’ They tell Him: ‘He praised You and said: “To Allâh we belong and to Him is our return.” ’ Allâh says: ‘Build a house for him in Paradise and call it Bait al-hamd (the house of praise)’.” (At-Tirmidhî, Ahmad and Ibn Hibbân) |
Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAAS) said: “Allâh said:
| ‘If I test My slave by depriving him of his two precious ones (meaning the eyes or eyesight), and he faces that with patient perseverance, I shall compensate him with Paradise.’ ” (al-Bukhârî) |
From آ’ishah (RA) via ‘Urwah and az-Zuhri:
| “The Prophet (SAAS) said: ‘No affliction befalls a Muslim but Allâh forgives his wrong actions because of it, even if it be no more than a thorn’.” (al-Bukhârî and Muslim) |
Sa‘d ibn Abî Waqqâs (RA) said:
| “I asked the Prophet (SAAS) who among the people are most severely tried? He said, ‘The Prophets, then the right acting people, and so on down through various categories of people. Man will be tested according to the strength of his faith. The stronger his faith, the more severe his trial, and the weaker his faith, the lighter his trial. The believer will be continually tested until he walks on earth with all his wrong actions forgiven’.” (al-Bukhârî) |
Anas (RA) narrated that a son of Abû Talhah (RA) fell ill and died one day when Abû Talhah was away from home. When Abû Talhah’s wife realized that her son had died, she covered him with a blanket, and left him lying by the wall. Abû Talhah came home and asked how the boy was, and his wife told him: “He has calmed down and I hope he is resting,” so Abû Talhah thought that the child was getting better. That night he slept with his wife, and in the morning he got up and performed ghusl. When he was about to go out, he wife told him that his son had died. So Abû Talhah went and prayed with the Prophet (SAAS), then told him what had happened. The Prophet (SAAS) responded by saying, “May Allâh bless this last night of yours.” A man from Ansâr said, “I have seen nine children of the man who was born as result of that night, and all of them have read the Qur’ân.” (al-Bukhârî)
Abû Sa’îd al-Khudrî (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAAS) said:
| “No-one can be given a better an more abundant gift than patience.” (al-Bukhârî and Muslim) |
Patience at the time of sickness
| “I entered upon the Prophet (SAAS) when he was sick and had a high temperature. I put my hand on the cover with which he was covering himself and I could feel the heat of his fever. I said, ‘How strong is your fever, O Messenger of Allâh!’ He said, ‘We Prophets are like that: our pain is multiplied so our rewards will be multiplied’.” (Ahmad) |
Jâbir ibn Abdullâh (RA) said that the Messenger of Allâh (SAAS) enterer upon a woman and asked her,
| “Why are you shivering like that?” She said, “It is because of fever,” and cursed the fever. The Prophet (SAAS) said, “Do not slander fever, because it takes away many wrong actions, just as the blacksmith’s bellows remove dross and impurities from iron.” (Muslim) |
Ziyâd ibn Ziyâd, the mawlâ (freed slave) of Ibn ‘Abbâs (RA), narrated from one of the Sahâbah, who said:
| “We entered upon the Prophet (SAAS) when he was ill with fever. We expressed our sorrow for his pain, and said, ‘May our mothers and fathers be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allâh! How severe is your pain!’ He replied, ‘We Prophets are afflicted many times more strongly.’ We said, ‘Subhân’allâh!’ He asked, ‘Do you find this strange? There were some Prophets who were killed by ringworm.’ We said, ‘Subhân’allâh!’ He asked, ‘Do you find this strange? The most severely tried of people are the Prophets, then the right acting people, the those who are less right acting, and so on.’ We said, ‘Subhân’allâh!’ He said, ‘Do you find this strange? They used to enjoy their times of trials and afflictions as you enjoy your times of ease.’ ” |
Masrûq narrated from ‘آ’ishah (RA) who said:
| “I have never seen anyone endure more severe pain than the Prophet (SAAS). When he fell ill, his pain became so severe, to the extent that he could not sleep for nineteen nights.” |
‘آ’ishah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allâh (SAAS) said: “
| Truly fever makes wrong actions fall away from a man like leaves fall from a tree.” And it was narrated that the Prophet (SAAS) said: “The likeness of the believer when he suffers from illness is like iron when it enters the fire; the dross is removed, and the good elements stay.” |
It was narrated that Abû Ayyûb al-Ansârî (RA) said:
| “The Prophet (SAAS) visited a sick man of the Ansâr, and when the Prophet (SAAS) asked how he was, he said, ‘O Messenger of Allâh, I have not closed my eyes for seven days.’ The Prophet (S) told him, ‘Have patience, my brother, for if you do, you will be rid of your wrong actions as easily as you acquired them.’ The Prophet (SAAS) also said: ‘The time of illness cancels out the time of wrong actions.’ ” |
Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAAS) said:
| “When a slave of Allâh becomes ill for three days, he will come out having shed all his wrong actions, and will become as sinless as the day he was born.” And it was narrated that the Prophet (SAAS) said: “The prayer of the sick person will never be rejected, until he recovers.” |
It was narrated that the Prophet (SAAS) said:
| “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, there is no qadâ’ that Allâh decrees for the believer but it is good for him. If Allâh decrees that he will go through a time of ease, the believer will be grateful, and that is good for him. If Allâh decrees that he will suffer some affliction, he will be patient, and that is also good for him. This applies only to the believers.” (Ahmad) |
Sahâbah on the virtues of patience
| “The best days we ever lived were by virtue of patience, and if patience were to take the shape of a man, he would be a noble and generous man.” |
‘Alî ibn Abî Tâlib (RA) said:
| “The relation of patience to îmân is like the relation of the head to the body. If the head is chopped off, the body becomes useless.” Then he raised his voice and said: “Certainly, the one who has no patience has no îmân, and patience is like a riding-beast that nevers gets tired.” |
‘Umar ibn ‘Abdu’l-‘Azîz said:
| “Allâh never bestows a blessing on His slave then takes it away and compensates him by giving him patience, but that with which he has been compensated is better than that which has been taken away from him.” |
The story of ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr
Beautiful patience (sabr jamîl – Yûsuf 12:83) and panic
| “The person who is suffering from some affliction should behave in such a way that nobody is able to distinguish him from others.” |
What is the most difficult type of patience?
The Prophet (SAAS) is reported to have said: “Allâh will commend a young man who never behaved in an ignorant way” (Ahmad). In another hadîth, he referred to those who will be shaded in the shade of Allâh’s throne for their perfect patience – such as the patience of an absolute ruler in being just in all situations, regardless of his own feelings, and the patience of a young man in worshipping and obeying Allâh and suppressing his own whims and desires, and the patience of the man who gives sadaqah in keeping his sadaqah secret, and the patience of a man who resists the temptation of a woman of beauty and high status, and the patience of two men who meet for the sake of Allâh and part for the sake of Allâh, in keeping their relationship for the sake of Allâh, and the patience of one who weeps out of fear of Allâh, in keeping that secret and not telling others about it. All of these are among the most difficult types of patience. Therefore the punishment of an old man who commits adultery, a king who tells lies and a poor man who is arrogant is more severe, because it is easy for them to keep away from such wrong actions, and does not require much in the way of patience. Their attitude indicates that they are willfully rebelling against Allâh.
Patience in abstaining from wrong actions of speech and sexual wrong actions
Once the wrong actions of speech have become a habit, patience becomes even more difficult. So you might see a man who stays up all night praying, fasts all day, and would refrain from touching a pillow if it were made of silk, yet he gives his tongue free rein in backbiting, slandering and causing trouble between people.
Ways of Strengthening Patience
The Patience of noble people and the patience of ignoble people
A wise man said: “A man with wisdom as soon as adversity appears does that which a foolish man does after a month (i.e. he resorts to patience).”
The ignoble man exercises patience only when he realizes he has no choice. After wasting a lot of time and energy and panicking and struggling, he realizes that his impatience will not help him. Then he exercises patience in the same way that a person who has been tied up to be whipped exercises patience.
The noble person practices patience in obeying Allâh, whilst the ignoble person exercises patience in obeying the Shaytân. So ignoble people have the greatest patience in following their own whims and desires, and have the least patience in spending in the way of Shaytân and no patience when it comes to spending even a few pennies in the way of Allâh. They will endure many difficulties in order to follow their own whims and desires, but cannot bear even the least difficulties in order to please their Lord. They will endure slander for the sake of committing wrong actions, but cannot exercise patience in putting up with slander for the sake of Allâh. Such people will avoid enjoining the good and forbidding the evil for fear of what people will say about them for doing so, but they will expose their honour to slander and bear it most patiently for the sake of following their own whims and desires. Similarly, they are not prepared to practise patience in devoting themselves to Allâh, but when it comes to devoting themselves to Shaytân and their own whims and desires, they will exercise remarkable patience. Such people will never be noble in the sight of Allâh, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be raised with the people of nobility and decency.
Ways of strengthening patience
Knowledge
Action
For example, a person who has a strong desire to commit adultery can take steps to combat it. He may have such a strong sexual urge that he cannot stop committing adultery; or he may not commit the act itself, but us unable to stop looking at women; or he may be able to stop looking at women but he cannot stop thinking of sex, to the extent that all his thoughts are devoted to this subject, and he never gives any thought to things which could benefit him in this life and in the hereafter. If he is really serious about finding a cure for this disease, then he has to follow these steps:
1. He can find out what types of food increase sexual desire, then he can reduce his intake of them, or avoid them altogether. If this does not work, then he can fast, as fasting reduces sexual desire, especially if the food eaten when he breaks his fast is moderate.
2. He should lower his gaze and avoid looking at women, as looking at women may provoke sexual desire. The Prophet (SAAS) warned us, “Looking (at women) is one of the arrows of the Shaytân.” Shaytân aims his arrows from reaching its target unless one lowers one’s gaze. But if a person keeps looking, he is exposing his heart to these arrows, any one of which may be fatal.
3. He should enjoy permissible sex (i.e. within marriage), because any desire that Allâh created in us has a permissible outlet. This is the best cure, as the Prophet (SAAS) has indicated.
4. He should think of the harm and damage that may befall him in this world as a consequence of his fulfilling his sexual desire in a prohibited way. Even if there were no Paradise or Hell, the harm that could be caused in this world by such an action should be enough to stop him from doing it. The damage caused by such actions is so great that it can barely be quantified, but sexual desire makes some people blind.
5. He should think of the ugliness of the person who is tempting him to commit adultery with her, especially if she is known to have other partners. He should feel too proud to drink from the same place as dogs and wolves!
Strengthening the motive of reason and religion
2. If we claim to love Allâh, then we should not disobey Him, because of that love. A person should be obedient to the One he claims to love. Those who refrain from committing wrong action out of their love for Allâh are of the highest status in His sight, as are those who worship Him out of love for Him. There is great difference between the one who obeys Allâh and abstains from wrong action out of love, and the one who does so out of fear of punishment.
3. We should think of the blessings and favours of Allâh, as a decent and noble person would never act against the one who has been treating him kindly. Only base and ignoble people do such a thing. If we think of the blessings and favours of Allâh, we will realize that we should not respond by doing against His commands and committing wrong action.
4. We should think of the wrath and punishment of Allâh, as He will be angry with the person who persists in committing wrong action. Nothing can stand in the way of the consequences of His anger, least of all this weak slave of His.
5. We should think of what the person who commits wrong action has to lose, in this world and the next. It should be sufficient to think of the loss of îmân (faith), of which the smallest amount is worth much more than everything in this world. How can anyone be willing to lose his îmân in return for some brief moment of pleasure the consequences of which might last forever? In a sahîh hadîth, the Prophet (SAAS) said: “No adulterer is a believer at the time of when he is committing adultery.” Commenting on this hadîth, one of the Sahâbah said: “His îmân will be dragged out of him until it goes over his head like a cloud. If he repents, then his îmân will return to him.”
6. We should relish the idea of defeating the Shaytân and being victorious over him, because of overcoming him, and our whims and desires, is a thing of joy and carries a great reward. It is like taking medicine and being rewarded with restoration to good health.
7. We should bear in mind the reward and compensation which Allâh has promised to those who control their whims and desires, and abstain from that which is harâm.
8. We should think of the special companionship of Allâh, as He has told us: “Allâh is with those who patiently persevere” (al-Baqarah 2:153) “For Allâh is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good” (an-Nahl 16:128) “For verily Allâh is with those who do right.” (al-‘Ankabût 29:69)
9. We should be ever mindful of death, which could come upon us at any time, suddenly and without warning.
10. We should stop thinking of falsehood and bad ideas. Even if bad thoughts cross our minds, we should not let them stay, otherwise they may become hopes and wishes which we may act upon, and harm ourselves and others in the process.
11.We should gradually strengthen our religious motive in fighting whims and desires. Once we have tasted the joy of defeating those whims and desires, then our determination and willpower will grow stronger.
12. We should direct our thoughts towards contemplation of the signs of Allâh which He has encouraged us to think about, whether they are in the Qur’ân or in the universe around us. If such thoughts are constantly in our hearts and minds, this will help us to shun the whisperings of the Shaytân. There is no greater loser than the one who, instead of thinking of Allâh, His Book, His Prophet and his Sahâbah, dwells on Shaytân and the ideas of Shaytân.
13. We should remember how short is our stay on this earth. No-one would want to feel that all he has achieved in this life is the worst kind of deeds, except a person who has no spiritual ambition, whose heart is dead and who is careless. Such a person will ultimately regret his deeds when he realizes that, far from benefiting him, they will lead to punishment. Even the person who has many good deeds to his credit will feel that sense of regret when he realizes that he could have done even more.
14.We should know that Allâh has created us to live an eternal life with no death, a life of pride and ease with no humiliation, a life of security with no fear, a life of richness with no poverty, a life of joy with no pain, a life of perfection with no flaws. Allâh is testing us in this world with a life that will end with death, a life of pride which is accompanied by humiliation and degradation, a life that is tainted by fear, where joy and ease are mixed with sorrow and pain. So many people are mistakenly seeking an easy life of power and pleasure in this world, but most of them never manage to achieve it, and those who do, enjoy it only for a brief time before it vanishes. The Prophets called people to an eternal life of plenty, and whoever answers their call will have the best life in this world, better than the life of kings and their followers, for zuhd in this life is true richness. This is something which the Shaytân greatly envies the believers.
Merely knowing the facts that we have outlined above is not enough. We have to strive and do our utmost to achieve our aim and attain perfection. The best way to do so is to put a stop to the habits that are controlling our lives, as these are the main obstacles which prevent us from succeeding. We should avoid places of fitnah and temptation, as the Prophet (SAAS) told us, “Whoever hears of the Dajjâl should keep away from him.” The best way to protect ourselves from wrong is to keep away from anything that could lead to it. One of the favourite tricks of the Shaytân, which deceives everyone except those who are clever enough to see it, is to show a person some goodness in a wrong thing, and call him to go towards what is good; when the person gets close to it, he falls into the trap.
Patience and Gratitude. By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat by TaHa Publications
Patience and loving Allâh
Therefore, Allâh has attributed the quality of patience to His close friends (awliyâ) and most beloved. He said about His beloved slave Ayyûb (AS):
| “…Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!” (Sâd 38:44) |
Allâh instructed the most beloved to Him of everything He created to have patience in accepting His decree and told him that patience comes only by the help of Allâh. He praised those who have patience and promised them the best of rewards: the rewards of others are defined and limited, but the reward of as-sâbirûn is without measure. Patience is vital at all levels of Islâm, îmân and ihsân, as well as being a major element in îmân (faith) and tawakkul (putting one’s trust in Allâh).
Patience for the sake of Allâh, by the help of Allâh and in accepting the decree of Allâh
2. Patience by the help of Allâh, as man realizes that he has no patience himself, and has no power to acquire patience. Rather, he knows: “there is no power and no strength except by (the help of) Allâh.”
3. Patience in accepting the decree of Allâh, as man realizes that Allâh is the only one Who is controlling the affairs of the universe, so he will patiently accept the ruling and decree of Allâh, regardless of what it may mean for him in the way of ease or hardship.
Patience for the sake of Allâh is of a higher degree than patience by the help of Allâh, as patience for the sake of Allâh is related to His being ilâh (god, object of worship), whilst patience by His help is related to His being rabb (lord, cherisher and sustainer). Whatever is connected to His being ilâh, such as patience for His sake, is worship, and as such is greater than whatever is connected to His being rabb, such as seeking His help in having patience. Worship is the ultimate goal, whereas seeking help is a means to an end. The goal is sought for its own sake, but means are sought for the sake of other things. Patience by His help is common to believers and unbelievers, good and bad, alike, while patience for His sake is the way of Messengers, Prophets and true believers. Patience for His sake is patience in matters that please Allâh, while patience by His help may apply to matters that please Him or displease Him.
Different degrees of patience
2.Patience for the sake of Allâh but not by the help of Allâh. Such people may want to have patience for the sake of Allâh, but they are not actively seeking His help, and their trust and reliance ( tawakkul) is weak. Such people will have a good ending, but they are weak and cannot achieve most of what they want to achieve. This is the situation of a sincere but weak believer.
3.Patience by the help of Allâh. Such a person seeks Allâh’s help and puts his trust in Him, admitting that he has no power or strength whatsoever, but his patience is not for the sake of Allâh, as his patience is not for reasons of faith. This will achieve his aims, but his ending may be worst. An example of such people are the leaders of the kuffâr and the followers of the Shaytân, as their patience is by the help of Allâh, but is not for the sake of Allâh.
4.No kind of patience whatsoever. This is the lowest degree, and a person of this type deserves all sorts of failures.
Those who have patience for the sake of Allâh and by the help of Allâh are those who are strong and achieve much. Those who have patience for the sake of Allâh, but not for the sake of Allâh, are capable, but evil. Those who have neither patience for the sake of Allâh not by the help of Allâh, are good people, but weak and helpless. Those who have patience by the help of Allâh, but not for the sake of Allâh, are capable, but evil. Those who have neither patience for the sake of Allâh nor by the help of Allâh are doomed to failure.
Mohammed Abbasi 