Patience – the equipment of the believers

03/10/2010| IslamWeb

We are in urgent need of patience, especially in these dayswhen Islam appears to be strange like never before. Fitnah (trials and tribulations) has increased and the one who adheres to his or her religion has become like a person holding burning coal in the hand. Indeed, this life is one of trial, while the Hereafter is the abode of reward. A believer cannot escape the distress of this world, for has any human being at all, never known hardship?

Definition of patience

Patience is a praiseworthy quality that prevents one from committing evil or improper deeds. Some scholars have defined it as the act of restraining oneself from being impatient, one’s tongue from complaining and one’s organs from demonstrating grief by slapping the face and tearing the clothes.

Virtue of patience and the patient

Allah The Almighty has favored those who persevere, as He Says (what means): {but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:155-157] ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, would comment on these verses, saying, “What beautiful things [i.e., blessings and mercy], and what a beautiful bonus [meaning, guidance]!”

In another place, Allah The Almighty promises (what means): {Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."} [Quran 39:10] Perhaps, a part of that recompense is that such people will be in His Company, such that He strengthens their hearts and bestows on them His care and support, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.} [Quran 8:45]

Moreover, He makes the patient grow in faith, as He Says (what means): {And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.} [Quran 32:24]

In fact, a patient person not only wins the love of Allah The Almighty, Who Says (what means): {and Allah loves the patient} [Quran 3:146]; he or she also attains Paradise and deliverance from Hell, as He Says (what means): {Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance - that they are the attainers [of success].} [Quran 23:111] In addition, Allah The Almighty forgives His slave’s sins because of the calamities that befall him or her in life.

Here are some of the words of the Prophet, , on the subject of the virtues of patience:

-      In a narration by Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him: “Whoever will strive to be patient, Allah will grant him [this quality]; and no one is conferred a blessing better or greater than patience.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

-      Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Prophet, , said: “Allah tests one whom He intends good for.” [Al-Bukhari and Maalik]

-      ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet, , said: “Whenever the believer is stricken with a calamity or even the prick of a thorn, Allah The Almighty expiates sins on account of his [or her] patience.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

-      Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Prophet, , said: “If a slave of Allah The Almighty suffers from illness or travel [and the man is patient], he will be rewarded as if he were still performing the good deeds he would do when he would be healthy or at home.” [Al-Bukhari and Abu Daawood]

-      ‘Ataa’ ibn Abu Rabaah relates: “Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, asked me, ‘Would you like me to show you a woman from the people of Paradise?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This black woman came to the Prophet and said, ‘I suffer from epilepsy and during the fits, my body becomes uncovered, so supplicate to Allah The Almighty for me.’ He replied, ‘If you wish, be patient and you will be rewarded with Paradise; or if you wish, I shall pray to Allah The Almighty to cure you.’ She responded, ‘I shall be patient’; and then added, ‘But my body becomes exposed, so invoke Allah for that not to happen.’ He then supplicated for her [to that effect].’”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

-      In another Hadeeth, the Prophet, , said, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him: “Allah The Almighty Says, ‘When I afflict My slave in his two dear things [i.e., his eyes], and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with Paradise.’” [Al-Bukhari and At-Tirmithi]

-      Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, recounts: “I heard the Prophet say, ‘When a person suffers from a calamity and says: ‘Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon. Allahumma’jurni fi museebaty, wa-khluf li khairan minha (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Reward me for my affliction, recompense my loss and grant me what is better in exchange for it), Allah The Almighty will surely compensate him with something better.’ [..] So, when Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, died, I said to myself, ‘Which Muslim could be better than Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, whose family was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah [who was in Madeenah]?’ [When] I repeated the same supplication that he had enjoined, Allah The Almighty gave me the Messenger of Allah [as a husband].”

Many of the righteous predecessors also spoke of patience; what follows are a few quotes:

-      ‘Umar ibn Abdul-’Azeez said: “If Allah The Almighty takes away any of His blessings from His slave and then bestows him [or her, with the quality of] patience in return, that will be better for him [or her] than what he [or she] had been deprived of.”

-      Yoonus ibn Zayd said: “I asked Rabee‘ah ibn Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, ‘What is the most superior degree of patience?’ He answered, ‘It is when a man feels no difference between the day he is struck with affliction and his previous day.’”

-      Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh commented on the Quranic verse where Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.}[Quran 13:24] He said: “The people [who are addressed here will be those who] are patient in abiding by the commands of Allah The Almighty and in restraining themselves from His prohibitions.”

-      It was also said: “Patience is the panacea, when no solution is available.”

-      Abu Ad-Dardaa’, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “When Allah The Almighty decrees something, He likes that His slaves are content with it.”

-      Similarly, Raabi‘ah said: “The allies of Allah The Almighty are never dissatisfied with His judgment.”

-      Al-Hasan said: “He who is pleased with what Allah The Almighty has predestined for him, will find it sufficient and He will bless it for him. And, he who is dissatisfied, nothing will be enough for him and Allah The Almighty will not place any blessing in itfor him.”

-      It has been attributed to some righteous predecessors that they said: “Whoever is displeased with Divine decree, has an incurable foolishness.”

Means of strengthening the characteristic of patience

Among the ways one can ferment this quality in oneself are:

1-    Reflecting on verses and Hadeeth that refer to the virtue of patience.

2-    Having conviction that nothing transpires except by the will and decree of Allah The Almighty.

3-    Recalling the great blessings that Allah The Almighty has endowed on us.

4-    Knowing that impatience does not ward off disaster. 

5-    Remembering the reward of Allah The Almighty for persevering.

6-    Being aware that the choice of Allah The Almighty for us is better than our own preferences for ourselves.

7-    Evoking the affliction of the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and the righteous people, who are the most tested of all of mankind.

8-    Being certain that hard times shall soon pass.

9-    Reading the biographies of the pious and observing their blessed examples of patience to take as role models.

We ask Allah The Almighty to count us among the righteous people.