Praise be to Allah,
The Arabic word ‘Sabr’ means restriction and detention.[i] Sabr is an Arabic word that comes from a root meaning to detain, refrain, and stop. There is an expression in Arabic, “so-and-so was killed sabran,” which means that he was captured and detained until he died. In the spiritual sense, patience means to stop.
In Islam. It means to prevent one’s soul from reaching the point of despair and panic and to refrain from tearing one’s clothes out of grief.[ii]
Patience in Quran:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely, Allaah is with those who are As‑Saabiroon (the patient)” [ Surah al-Anfaal 8:46]
“And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)” [Surah Al-Sajdah 32:34]
“But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As‑Saabiroon (the patient)” Surah [al-Nahl 16:126]
As for the ahadeeth of the prophet (PBUH) which speak of the virtue of patience, they are:
Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “…whoever is patient Allah will bestow patience upon him, and no one is ever given anything better and more generous than patience.” [ Al-Bukhaari (1496) and Muslim (1053)]
Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allaah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” [Muslim (918)]
Suhayb (may Allaah be pleased with him)said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” [Muslim (2999)]
Abû Mûsâ al-Ash‘arî said: The Prophet (PBUH) said: “When a child of a man dies, Allah 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.’ He asks: ‘What did My slave say?’ They tell Him: ‘He praised You and said: “To Allah 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] [iv]
Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah said: ‘If I test My slave by depriving him of his two previous ones (meaning the eyes or eyesight), and he faces that with patient perseverance, I shall compensate him with Paradise.’ ” (al-Bukhârî)
Categories of Patience
Patience is restraining oneself in the following three areas of life:
- Following the commands of Allâh,
- Refraining from sins or anything unpleasing to Allah,
- Surrendering to Allah’s decree when calamity comes
This is based on the verse of the Quran,
“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.
1-Following the commands of Allâh: It means being Patient in worshipping Allâh and following His commands. This includes being regular and sincere in our worship. Moreover, all our worship must be performed sincerely for Allah and as per the sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). Ibn Qayyim says,
Even if the worship is performed regularly, there are two dangers. Firstly, we risk losing our sincerity, if the motive for performing prayers is not to please Allah and draw closer to Him. 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 (PBUH), so we have to ensure that our worship is done according to the Sunnah”[iii]
This can be hard on the limbs such that the individual could be lacking physical strength. Likewise, it may involve some difficulties from the perspective of wealth such as Zakat and Hajj. So, acts of obedience may involve some stress for the soul and body, and therefore requires patience and endurance.
Allah the Exalted says:
“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy) and guard your territory by stationing army unit permanently at the places where the enemy can attack you.”
(Aal-Imraan: 200)[iv]
2- Refraining from sins or anything unpleasing to Allah: It means staying away from whatever Allah has forbidden. Shaykh Uthaymeen ( may Allaah have mercy upon him) says,
“This is because the Soul Inviting to Evil encourages sins; thus, the individual would restrain his soul. For instance; lying and cheating in dealings, unlawful consumption of wealth through usury or other means, illicit sexual intercourse, drinking alcohol, stealing and similar other numerous sins .’[v]
Fear of Allah’s punishment facilitates in achieving this type of patience. Islamic knowledge and knowing the names and attributes of Allah can further strengthen in achieving this patience. Ibn Qayyim says,
‘Hayâ’ is a characteristic of people who are noble and possess good qualities, so the person who refrains from the wrong action because of hayâ’ is better than the one who abstains because of fear. Hayâ’ indicates that a person is mindful of Allah and His might. The person whose deterrent is the fear of Allâh has his thoughts focused on the punishment. The fearful person’s main concern is himself and how to save himself from the punishment, whereas the “shy” person’s main concern is Allâh and His Glory. Both have attained the status of Iman, but the “shy” person has attained ihsân, higher status of îmân, in which he conducts himself as if he can see Allâh, and so his heart is filled with hayâ’[vi]
It must be noted that Patience in refraining from sins is on a higher degree than patience in Allah’s decree. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him has beautifully illustrated this. He said:
“I heard Ibn Taimiyyah say: ‘The patience shown by Yoosuf [may Allaah exalt his mention] in not obeying the minister’s wife in her affair is better than his patience in the wake of being thrown by his brothers into the well, being sold, and they’re separating him and his father. The reason is that these matters were brought upon him without his choice; he had no say in what was to be done. Therefore, in such matters, there is no other choice than to be patient.
As for his patience in not sinning, then it is a type of patience that requires a conscious choice, happiness [with that choice], and fighting one’s soul, especially when the means and causes that strengthened the urge to agree [to her seduction] were present, which are that he was a young man, and being a young man he had a strong urge to obey her. Also, he was single and had no other alternative that would reject his arousal [in that moment] and was a stranger, who would not be as ashamed in a strange land as he would be if he was among his companions, acquaintances, or family. Further, he was enslaved, and the owned person’s restraint is less than that of a free person. Add to that the fact that she was beautiful, of high status, and was the wife of his master. The watchman had also departed, she was the one who called him to herself, and she was the one keen on doing that act. Along with that, she threatened to imprison and humiliate him if he did not comply. However, even in the wake of all these urges, he was patient out of his own choice and out of preferring what Allaah the Exalted possesses. How is this comparable to being thrown in the well in a manner that does not include his choice and will?
Patience in doing acts of worship is more complete than patience in avoiding prohibitions, and it is more virtuous as well. That is because the benefit in doing acts of obedience is more beloved to Allah the Exalted than the benefit of abandoning sins. Also, the drawbacks of a lack of obedience are more hated and disliked to Him the Exalted than the drawback of the presence of sins.’”[vii]
Patience in refraining from sins is in three situations:
- Before abandoning the sin: This can be achieved by preparing one’s intention.
- While abandoning the sin: this can be achieved by not doing the sin
- After the urge to sin is gone: This can be achieved by not being impressed with one’s action.[viii]
3- Surrendering to Allah’s decree during calamity– When a servant of Allah is tested with calamity, he may find it suitable or painful for him. If he finds it suitable, he will express gratitude, and on the other hand, if he expresses distress with tongue, mind, or limbs, it is painful for him.
Examples that contradict this category of patience are women wailing, slapping their faces, tearing their clothes, screaming, and others. These are the actions of Jahiliya or pre-Islamic ignorance. A person inflicted with trial should hope for ease or express gratitude to Allah as this calamity is very minor in front of the vast blessings he enjoys. He must also realize that human beings will never know the divine wisdom behind certain things.
Sa`eed ibn Jubair, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “Patience is for the slave to realize the calamity that they have been struck with, and to expect reward and good recompense with Allaah due to it.” [ix]
[i] The Way to Patience and Gratitude By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Page 1
[ii] Patience and Gratitude By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat ash-Shâkireen” page 11
[iii] Ibid page 15
[iv] Sharah Riyaad As-saaliheen. / Muhammad bin Salish Al-Uthaymeen – Riyadh, 2016, Vol-1 Page 174
[v] Ibid page 174
[vi] Patience and Gratitude By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat ash-Shâkireen” page 11
[vii] Madaarij As-Saalikeen (2/156-157), quoted in patience, salih al-Munajjid, Ebook, page 9
[viii] Patience, salih al-Munajjid, Ebook, page 17
[ix] Az-Zuhd by Ibn Al-Mubaarak (pg. 111), Quoted in Patience, salih al-Munajjid, Ebook, page 19