Patience

It is reported that a man came to ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him) to complain about his wife’s ill-temper.

While he was waiting for ‘Umar to come out of his house, he heard ‘Umar’s wife scolding him and ‘Umar quietly listening to her, and not answering her back.

The man turned around and started walking away, muttering to himself, “If that is the case with ‘Umar, the leader of the believers, who is famous for his uprightness and toughness, then what about poor me?”

At that moment, ‘Umar came out of his house and saw the man walking away.

He called him and said, “What is it you want of me, O man?”

The man replied: “O leader of the believers, I came to complain to you about my wife’s bad-temper and how she nags me. Then I heard your wife doing the same to you, so I turned around, muttering to myself, ‘If that is the situation of the leader of the believers, then what about me?’’’

‘Umar replied, “O my brother, I bear with her because of her rights over me. She cooks my food, bakes my bread, washes my clothes, breast-feeds my child… and yet none of these are her duty; and then she is a comfort to my heart and keeps me away from forbidden deeds. Consequently, I bear with her.”

The man said, “It is the same with me, O leader of the believers.”

‘Umar said, “Then, O my brother, be patient with her, indeed this life is short.”

[Imām adh-Dhahabī, Al-Kabā’ir 174]

“Allah has mentioned patience in the Qur’an in ninety places.”

Imam Ahmad said:

“Allah has mentioned patience in the Qur’an in ninety places.”

Here, we will list the different contexts in which patience appears.

1. Instruction. Patience is enjoined upon believers:

واصبر وما صبرك إلا بالله

“And be patient for your patience is but by Allah…” [an-Nahl 16:127]

واصبر لحكم ربك

” Await in patience the command of your Lord…” [at-tur 52:48].

2. That which is opposite to patience is forbidden:

ولا تستعجل لهم

and be in no haste about them (disbelievers) [al-Ahqaf 46:35].

ولا تهنوا ولا تحزنوا

“So lose not heart nor despair…” [Al ‘Imran 3:139].

ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظوم

“…and be not like the Companion of the Fish [i.e. Yunus [alayhissalaam] – when he cried out in agony” [al-Qalam 68:48].

3.Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity:

يا أيها الذين آمنوا اصبروا وصابروا ورابطوا واتقوا الله لعلكم تفلحون

O you who believe, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful [Al 'Imran 3:200].

4. The rewards of those who exercise patience will be doubled:

أولئك يؤتون أجرهم مرتين بما صبروا

“These shall be granted their reward twice, because they are steadfast…” [al-Qasas 28:54].

إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب

“…Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” [az-Zumar 39:10].

Sulayman ibn Qasim said that

the reward of every deed is known, except for the reward of patience, which will be like heavy rain.

5. Patience and Eemaan are prerequisites for leadership in religion:

وجعلنا منهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا لما صبروا وكانوا بآياتنا يوقنون

“And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs. “ [as-Sajdah 32:24].

6.Patience is the way to earn the companionship of Allah:

و اصبروا إن الله مع الصابرين

“…and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” [al-Anfal 8:46].

Abu Ali ad-Daqqaq said:

“People who have patience are the true winners in this world and the next, because they have the companionship of Allah.”

7. Allah will reward those who have patience with a threefold reward: blessings, mercy and guidance:

وبشر الصابرين

الذين إذا أصابتهم مصيبة قالوا إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون

أولئك عليهم صلوات من ربهم ورحمة وأولئك هم المهتدون

“…but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere – who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah’s help:

واستعينوا بالصبر والصلاة

“And seek assistance through patience and prayer…” [al-Baqarah 2:45].

So whoever has no patience has no help.

9.Patience and taqwa are conditions for Allah’s help and support:

بلى إن تصبروا وتتقوا ويأتوكم من فورهم هذا يمددكم ربكم بخمسة آلاف من الملائكة مسومين

“Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction] “ [Al 'Imran 3:125].

10.Patience and taqwa are a great protection against the cunning of enemies:

وإن تصبروا وتتقوا لا يضركم كيدهم شيئا إن الله بما يعملون محيط

“…And if you are patient and fear Allah , their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do.…” [Al 'Imran 3:120].

11.The angels will salute the people of patience in Jannah:

والملائكة يدخلون عليهم من كل باب

سلام عليكم بما صبرتم فنعم عقبى الدار

“…And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],”Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.” [ar-Ra’d 13:23-24].

12.Allah made it permissible to treat our enemies no worse than they treat us, but He has made it clear that practising patience is better:

وإن عاقبتم فعاقبوا بمثل ما عوقبتم به ولئن صبرتم لهو خير للصابرين

“And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient – it is better for those who are patient.” [an-Nahl 16:126].

13.Allah made patience and right actions a condition for forgiveness and great reward:

إلا الذين صبروا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك لهم مغفرة وأجر كبير

“Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.” [Hud 11:11].

14.Allah has made patience a standard of courage and determination in the conduct of one’s affairs:

ولمن صبر وغفر إن ذلك لمن عزم الأمور

“And whoever is patient and forgives – indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination” [ash-Shura 42:43]

يا بني أقم الصلاة وأمر بالمعروف وانه عن المنكر واصبر على ما أصابك إن ذلك من عزم الأمور

“[Luqman said:] ‘O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination.” [Luqman 31:17].

15. Allah has promised the believers His support and victory, and has said that they deserve this because of their patience:

وتمت كلمة ربك الحسنى على بني إسرائيل بما صبروا

“…And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured.…” [al-A'raf 7:137].

16.Allah has made patience a condition of His love:

وكأين من نبي قاتل معه ربيون كثير فما وهنوا لما أصابهم في سبيل الله وما ضعفوا وما استكانوا والله يحب الصابرين

” And how many a prophet [fought and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allah , nor did they weaken or submit. And Allah loves the patient.” [Al 'Imran 3:146].

17.Allah has made patience a condition of receiving many blessings:

وقال الذين أوتوا العلم ويلكم ثواب الله خير لمن آمن وعمل صالحا ولا يلقاها إلا الصابرون

“But those who had been given knowledge said, “Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient.” [al-Qasas 28:80].

وما يلقاها إلا الذين صبروا وما يلقاها إلا ذو حظ عظيم

“But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good].” [Fussilat 41:35].

18.Allah has mentioned that only those who practise patience and gratitude will benefit from the Signs of Allah:

ألم تر أن الفلك تجري في البحر بنعمة الله ليريكم من آياته إن في ذلك لآيات لكل صبار شكور

“Do you not see that ships sail through the sea by the favor of Allah that He may show you of His signs? Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.” [Luqman 31:31].

ومن آياته الجوار في البحر كالأعلام

إن يشأ يسكن الريح فيظللن رواكد على ظهره إن في ذلك لآيات لكل صبار شكور

” And of His signs are the ships in the sea, like mountains. If He willed, He could still the wind, and they would remain motionless on its surface. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful” [ash-Shura 42:32-33].

19.Allah praised Ayyoob [alayhissalaam] for his patience:

إنا وجدناه صابرا نعم العبد إنه أواب

“…Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah]. “ [Sad 38:44].

Allah described Ayyub [alayhissalaam] as excellent because of his patience, so the person who fails to exercise patience when it is necessary will be regarded as a failure and a sinner.

20.Allah 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:

و العصر

إن الإنسان لفي خسر

إلا الذين آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات و تواصوا بالحق و تواصوا بالصبر

“By time,Indeed, mankind is in loss,Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience   “ [al-'Asr 103:1-3]

Commenting on this surah, Imam ash-Shafi’ee said:

“If people thought deeply on this surah, 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.Allah has mentioned that the main characteristic of those who attain salvation is patience and compassion:

ثم كان من الذين آمنوا و تواصوا بالصبر وتواصوا بالمرحمةأولئك أصحاب الميمنة

“And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the right.” [al-Balad 90:18].

22.Allah has mentioned patience alongside the pillars of Islam and Eemaan, as He has mentioned it alongside salah:

واستعينوا بالصبر والصلاة وإنها لكبيرة إلا على الخاشعين

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]…” [al-Baqarah 2:45];

alongside righteous actions:

إلا الذين صبروا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك لهم مغفرة وأجر كبير

“Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.” [Hud 11:11];

alongside gratitude [shukr]:

إن في ذلك لآيات لكل صبار شكور

“…Verily in this are Signs for everyone who patiently perseveres and is grateful” [ash-Shura 42:33];

alongside truth:

إلا الذين آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات و تواصوا بالحق و تواصوا بالصبر

“…Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. “ [al-'Asr 103:1-3];

alongside compassion:

ثم كان من الذين آمنوا و تواصوا بالصبر وتواصوا بالمرحمة

“…And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.…” [al-Balad 90:17];

alongside faith:

وجعلنا منهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا لما صبروا وكانوا بآياتنا يوقنون

“…And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs” [as-Sajdah 32:24];

alongside truth:

والصادقين والصادقات والصابرين والصابرات

“…the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women…”[al-Ahzab 33:35].

Compiled by Ibn al Qayyim rahimahullah