The Quranic word used for patience is sabr, and there is no English word equivalent for it. A person who is patient restrains himself from doing prohibited acts and does what is obligated and righteous. Sabr is the first weapon for the believer to use when facing hardship and has been mentioned in the Holy Quran more than 90 times. Sabr is also mentioned many times in authentic Ahadith of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W). All of these verses and Ahadith talk about the importance of sabr in the lives of the believers. We are all tested in this world by Allah in various ways. Every person has to exercise patience in order to face difficulties whether he does so willingly or unwillingly. …affliction benefits a believer. The benefit, however, is not deserved unless one fulfils two basic requirements: sabr and ihtisaab. When struck by an affliction, a believer should exhibit patience and perseverance. He should never rebel or express dissatisfaction with Allah’s decree. This attitude is called sabr. Furthermore, a believer should trust that Almighty Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) will reward him for his affliction. This is called ihtisaab. ‘Abdulllaah bin ‘Amr (radiyAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When Allah deprives one of His believing servants from a loved one – if he displays sabr and ihtisaab, Allah will not approve for him a reward other than Jannah.” Sabr and Ihtisaab are two aspects of one obligation: full submission to Allah’s decree. They are important actions of the heart, and are required from all believers during times of affliction.
When a person is struck by an affliction, he should display patience and acceptance of the calamity that struck him. Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says: “We will surely try you with danger, hunger, and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits – so, give glad tidings to the patient.” [al-Baqarah (2):155] ‘Ataa bin Abee Rabaah reported that Ibn Abbaas (radiyallahu anhu) asked him, “Do you want to see a woman from the people of Jannah?” He said, “Certainly.” Ibn Abbaas then said: “It is this black woman. She came to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, ‘I have (epileptic) seizures, and I get exposed, so ask Allah to cure me.’ He (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “If you wish, be patient, and you will be granted Jannah. Or if you wish, I will ask Allah to cure you.” She replied, ‘I will be patient! But I become exposed (because of falling), so ask Allah that I do not become exposed.’ And he (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) did.” Patience should be manifest from the beginning, and should not be marred or damaged by the magnitude of the loss. Anas (radiyAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alyhi wa sallam) passed by a woman crying next to a grave. He told her: “Have taqwaa of Allah, and be patient.” Not recognising him, she responded, “Leave me alone, you have not been struck by an affliction like mine!” She was then told that he was Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam). Extremely distressed and agitated at her blunder, she hastened to him and said, “O Allah’s Messenger, I did not recognise you.” The Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi was sallam) replied: “Indeed, patience should be displayed at the beginning of the affliction.” The ignoble man exercises patience in obeying the Shaytan. Patience is of three types: Firstly, practicing patience to fulfill the obligations and to do righteous. Allah says in Holy Quran, Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so worship Him and be constant and patient in His worship (Surah, Maryam, verse 65). Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said: Whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience (Bukhari). Secondly, abstaining from evil and prohibited acts. Allah will give great rewards on the Day of Judgement to those who patiently abstained from evil. The prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) told us about the people who will receive a special reward: Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His shade on the day when there would be no shade but His shade (i.e., on the Day of Judgement) and among them: a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah, … a man whom an extremely beautiful women seduces (for illicit relation), but he rejected this offer by saying: I fear Allah … (Imams Muslim and Bukhari). Prophet Yusuf (A.S) is another example of a person who patiently faced the most brutal persecution and hostility from his own people. Prophet Yusuf (A.S) lived all his life schemes made by the people closest to him. His brothers plotted to kill him, when he was a boy. He was sold into the slave market in Egypt, where he was bought for a nominal sum. Then he fell victim to the attempted seduction by a great man’s wife, when her wish was foiled, sent Prophet Yusuf (A.S) to prison, where he remained for some time. Prophet Yusuf (A.S) choose incarceration for several years rather than committing an evil act. In spite of all these difficulties, Prophet Yusuf (A.S) at length approached close to the Egyptian throne and became the kings chief minister. He (A.S) then began his call to Allah from the position of the ruling authority. The Almighty Allah said to the devil (Iblis) on the Day of Creation, Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikeen, and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evildoers, etc) (Holy Quran, 15: 42). It was narrated that Allah’s Messenger Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) was asked: who is the most honourable amongst the people? He replied: The most God-fearing. The people said: We do not want to ask you about this. He said: The most honourable person is Yusuf (A.S) Allah’s Prophet, the son of Allah’s Prophet, the son of the faithful friend of Allah (Abrahim (A.S)) (Bukhari). Once a man approached the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) seeking advice, and the Prophet (S.A.W) said, Do not get angry. The man asked for advice several times and the Prophet (S.A.W) replied every time, Do not get angry (Al-Bukhari). Prophet (S.A.W) said, He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good (Muslim). Third type of patience is, practicing patience during times of hardship without complaints. Allah says in Holy Quran, O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient (Quran, Sura Al-Baqarah, Verse 153). Hazrat Ali (R.A) said, Patience’s position to faith is similar to the position of the head to the body. If the head is cut off, the body dies. Then he raised his voice saying, there is no faith, for a person who does not have patience.
Holy Quran, O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient (Quran, Sura Al-Baqarah, Verse 153).
In addition to sabr, a person who is struck by an affliction should look forward to Allah’s rewards and forgiveness for that affliction – even if it is minute. This is called ihtisaab. Allah will surely reward those who display sincere ihtisaab. Also, Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “If a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life and he anticipates Allah’s reward for it, he will be absolved of some of his sins on Judgement day.”
We observe that sabr is the key to success in this world and in the hereafter. Therefore, we should try hard to practice sabr in our lives, and we should know that we could all gain patience with practice and struggle. I feel in the present scenario in our valley (Kashmir), we all are moving away from the teaching of Quran and Sunnah and that is why we all suffer. True patience is a moral characteristic displayed in the face of difficulty and in every moment of life. We must sacrifice our desires, stop Un-Islamic activities and find our abode in patience. Patience increases self control and there is no reward better or more enriching than that reserved for those who endure in patience. At work, in this world of violence, we are sometimes denied a promotion, treated unfairly, insulted without any excuse, or even fired. At home, our children may be a test for us. Some of us may go through family disturbances. Others may find that that they have an illness that is very challenging. Dear members of our family or friends may die. Often, it is very trying on us, and many of us fall into despair. It is very important during these times not to lose hopes but rather to exercise sabr. Whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience (Bukhari). Allah (S.W.T) Himself says in the Holy Quran (Sura Baqarah, 2:286) On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns (Pray): Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error: Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which you did lay on those before us: Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear: Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us: You are our Protector: Help us against those who stand against faith. No matter what hardship a believer encounter, he knows that such hardship is a test from Allah and so do not lose their patience. The example of a true believer is that of a fresh tender plant. From whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it. But when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but remains patient until Allah removes the difficulty). We pray Allah to make us among those who are patient, and to gather us with them on the Day of Judgement. (Aameen)
————(The author a teacher at S K University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology-SKUAST Srinagar writes regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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