The linguistic meaning of the root verb, sa∙ba∙ra, is to confine, detain, retain, restrain, withhold or restrict something. In religious sense, usually, it’s object is the self or soul. In Islam, sabr is often translated as patience, but it also includes aspects of restraint, self-discipline, steadfastness, firmness, perseverance, endurance and determination– depending on the situation in which it is used. It conveys a very active, dynamic, and positive quality in Islam. Sabr is the quality of surging forward, striving, and not slackening in our purpose to purify the soul. It is a strong foundation, the firm lowermost rung of the ladder which holds firm come what may. It is said, “The helpless one is he who follows his whims and desires and indulges in wishful thinking.“ A scholar said, “To have sabr means that one’s common sense and religious motives are stronger than his whims and desires.’’ When a man’s patience is stronger than his whims and desires, then he is like an angel; but when his whims and desires are stronger than his patience, then he is like a devil. If his desire for food, drink and physical relations is stronger than his patience, then he is no better than an animal. The Quranic word used for patience is sabr, and there is no English word equivalent for it. The idea of sabr is conveyed only by phrases such as endurance against afflictions, patience with delay, perseverance against hardships, steadfastness in the face of setbacks, courage against hostilities, self-restraint against provocations, will power against temptations, and equanimity or calmness of mind as regards fortunes and misfortunes. A person who is patient restrains himself from doing prohibited acts and does what is obligated and righteous. Patience is the first weapon for the believer to use when facing hardship. Allah has given us wonderful examples of patience in the Quran. Patience (sabr) has been mentioned in the Holy Quran more than 90 times. Also it was mentioned many times in authentic Ahadith of the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W). All of these verses and Ahadith talk about the importance of patience in the lives of the believers. We are all tested in various ways by Allah in this world. Every person has to exercise patience in order to face difficulties whether he does so willingly or unwillingly. Allah states unequivocally that He will test us. According to Holy Quran, Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere (Quran, Surah Baqarah, 2: 155). The noble person exercises patience (sabr) willingly, because he realizes the benefits of patience, and he knows that he will be rewarded for his patience and will be criticized if he panics. He is aware that if he does not have patience (sabr), panicking and impatience will not help him to regain missed opportunities, and will not take away things he dislikes. We should remember whatever is decreed and is qada’ wa qadr cannot be prevented from happening, and whatever is decreed not to happen cannot be made to happen. So an attitude of impatience and panic actually causes harm. To Allah we belong and to Him is our return. 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). Allah promises to reward those who are patient in adversity (Quran, Surah Baqarah, 2:157). They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. In Surah Hud (11:11) again Allah promises to reward those who are patient in adversity: Not so do those who show patience and constancy and work righteousness for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.
The records of the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) life by his contemporaries bear testimony that during the 13 years of his life in Makkah as the messenger of Allah, he faced all forms of abuse, boycott, expulsion, and threats of physical violence. And yet the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) did not budge an inch away from his mission. And all the while, he was gentle, considerate, and sympathetic even to his enemies. Once a Bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him.
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. Allah (S.W.T) choose the quality of a leader in Islam to be one who has both patience and certainty in one’s deen. Allah says in Holy Quran, And we made from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (Quran, Sura As-Sajdah, verse 24). The messengers of Allah needed great patience in order to fulfill their obligations of conveying the message and fixing the conditions of individuals and society. Without this patience, they could not succeed in their tasks. The records of the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) life by his contemporaries bear testimony that during the 13 years of his life in Makkah as the messenger of Allah, he faced all forms of abuse, boycott, expulsion, and threats of physical violence. And yet the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) did not budge an inch away from his mission. And all the while, he was gentle, considerate, and sympathetic even to his enemies. Once a Bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him. The Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said, leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You (Muslim) have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult (Al-Bukhari). Allah commanded Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) in the Holy Quran, Therefore be patient [O Mohammad (S.A.W)] as did the Messengers of strong will (Surah Al-Ahqaf, verse 35). Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said: How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah and gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also) rewarded (Muslim). In another hadith, the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said! Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn that his sins are removed for him (Bukhari and Muslim). We observe that patience is the key to success in this world and in the hereafter. Therefore, we should try hard to practice patience 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.
Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere (Quran, Surah Baqarah, 2: 155)
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 a divorce. 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 patience (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). This world is a believer’s prison. Gather all the strength at your command and be patient and forbearing throughout its ups and downs. With courage and fortitude, stand against adversities and calamities. Make yourself understand that the agitation and anguish inside you, aside from involving a great disgrace by themselves, are futile in confrontation with sufferings and calamities. Be happy with God and don’t complain in front of creatures about His irresistible decrees and inevitable ordainments. During the times of hardships, turn your heart’s attention to the focal point of Absolute Perfection (Allah) and you will witness its effects in this world itself and your heart will attain such an expanse that it will become the realm of the manifestation of God’s sovereignty. Richness and contentment will then pervade your heart such that everything related to this world will become worthless in your eyes. Sabr, forbearance and restraint bring fair, plentiful rewards and have sublime and beautiful forms in the world of Barzakh (purgatory). If you have faith in God and you believe that all the affairs lie in His mighty hands, you will not complain before God Almighty of the hardships of life and the adversities that strike you. Rather, you will accept them willingly, fulfil your duties and thank Him gratefully for His bounties. We pray Allah to make us among those who are patient, and to gather us with them on the Day of Judgement. (Aameen!)
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics for “Kashmir Horizon” exclusively. Views are their own)
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