Assalamoalaikum warahmatullahe wabarakatahu

What is patience in the light of the Quran and Sunnah? How can we have patience in our
lives?

It’s a very good question mashALLAH. A question, that is of immense importance but
unfortunately to which no one pays heed. This is a short article that I have composed
from the various books that I read, from the Quranic verses and hadiths. I hope this will
suffice to illustrate the answer to this question inshALLAH.

Patience! What does this eight letter word means? Oxford dictionary defines patience as
“the ability to stay calm and accept a delay or something annoying without complaining”
or “the ability to spend a lot of time doing something difficult that needs a lot of attention
and effort.” Many of us, after reading this meaning of the word “patience” will come to
realize that we hardly have this word in our lives. Do we have patience dear brothers and
sisters? Unfortunately we don’t have this beautiful quality in us and I personally believe
that it’s the lack of Islamic knowledge that we don’t bother to strive for having this
particular feature in us.

How can one have a particular quality when one does not know what is good and what is
bad? What are the things that are of supreme importance in our lives? And to judge
between right and wrong we as Muslims need to have at least the basic knowledge of our
deen. It is incumbent upon us to learn about all-important matters related to our religion;
in order to perform our religious duties in the best of manners and patience is very much
a part of our beautiful deen Islam.

We don’t need to go to the bookstores and look out for books on this subject because
Alhumdulillah Allah SWT has mentioned about Patience a number of times in the Quran.
Yes we can and we should buy books written by Islamic authors on this subject because
they write on the basis of Quran and hadith. [Always try to buy books from reliable
sources, like Darruss Salam, International Islamic Publishing House etc.]

Islam gives a lot of stress on developing patience, because everyone in this world has to
face difficulties, hardships and adversities. We cannot get away from them. As Muslims
we know that these are a test from Allah SWT. Therefore when we know the fact, that we
cannot avoid such situations, wont it be a good idea to get prepared and well-equipped for
the worse beforehand??? Or at least face such situations in the most appropriate manner,
which has been strongly emphasized in the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasool ullah SAW?
And “Patience” is one such means, which helps us to overcome such situations. This
word “patience,” is like a F-16 for the believers in times of calamities. Everyone can have
this weapon, but we do not have the proper knowledge to possess it. Therefore we will try
to learn more about it and after learning this particular subject in the light of the Quran
and Hadith, we will inshALLAH develop a better understanding of it and it will help us
to strive and work hard in order to become the patient ones.

PATIENCE….DEFINITELY NEED IT!!!

We will now inshALLAH discuss a few Verses and Hadiths, which will help us to grasp
the true meaning of patience and these Ayahs and hadiths will inshALLAH give a boost
to our Eman and eventually we will get that “yearning” for patience which will force us
to work hard on achieving this goal.

There are many Verses in the Quran, which signify the importance of patience and speak
highly of the one who observes it. In fact Allah SWT has advised us to be patient in the
times of adversity.

Allah SWT says in the Quran:

O you who believe! Endure and be more patient…” [3:200]

“Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly, Allah is with As-Sabirun
(the patient)” [2:153]

In the above verses we have been advised to be patient, and that we should always turn to
Allah SWT for help, by observing patience and by performing As-Salat. More
importantly, in the above Ayah, glad tidings are given for the Sabirun, that ALLAH SWT
is with them and He will aid them and help them in their difficulties.

We can find hadiths as well, which recommend the Muslims to observe patience.
Anas RA reported: The Prophet SAW passed by a woman who was crying over a grave
and said, “Fear Allah and be patient.” She said, “Away from me! My calamity has not
befallen you and you are not aware of it.” The woman was later told that it was the
prophet SAW (who advised her). She came to his door where she found no doorkeeper.
She said (I am sorry) I did not know you.” Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Patience is
(becoming) only at the first (stroke) of grief.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration in Muslim says: the woman was crying over her son.

The Sabirun have a high status among the people. They are highly praised in the Quran
and in the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Allah SWT says:

“And verily, whoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the
things recommended by Allah.” [42:43]

Abu Said Al-Khudri RA reported that: Certain people of Ansar asked the Messenger of
Allah SAW and he gave them; then they again asked him and he gave them until all what
he possessed was exhausted. Then the prophet SAW said, “Whatever wealth I have, I
will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will
make him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will
make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him
patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive then
patience.”
We have to make dua to Allah SWT to grant us patience and include us among the As-
Sabirun, ameen. Another way to achieve this blessed quality is to read the stories of the
Prophets, the Sahabahs, and a detail study of the life of Rasoolullah SAW, because they
had to face countless difficulties and tests in this world, and we should know the manner
with which they faced these situations.

[The Biography of Prophet Muhammad SAW, the Companions and the other Prophets of
Allah SWT, is available in Pdf format…if any one of you likes to have these books in Pdf
format then kindly let me know].

REWARD FOR THE ONE WHO IS PATIENT:

Allah says:
“Peace be upon you, because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the
final home!” (13:24)

“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.”
[39:10]

Anas RA said: I heard the messenger of Allah SAW saying,

“Allah, the Glorious and Exalted said: “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
Jannah.”

Ata bin Abu Rabah reported: Ibn Abbas RA asked him whether he would like that he
show him a woman who is form the people of Jannah. When he replied he certainly
would, he said, “This black woman, who came to the prophet SAW and said, I suffer
from epilepsy and during fits my body is exposed, so make supplication to Allah for me.
The prophet SAW replied: “If you wish you endure it patiently and you will be
rewarded with Jannah, or if you wish, I shall make supplication to Allah to cure
you?” She said, ‘I shall endure it.
“The she added: “But my body is exposed, so pray to Allah that it may not happen. He
SAW then supplicated for her”

Abu Hurairah RA reported: The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Allah, the Exalted, says:
‘I have no reward other than Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who remains
patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants
of the world.” [Al-Bukhari]

Because, as Imam Nauwi commented, child, wife and parents, etc., are the dearest people
to everyone. It is a great sign of Faith to accept their death as the Will of Allah, to bear
their loss with patience. Wailing and saying nonsense things show weakness of Faith. The
reward of patience on such tragedies is Jannah while result of impatience is displeasure of
Allah.
We find many of our sisters, mothers who, on losing their loved ones, act in a manner,
which is strongly disliked in Islam. We find many women tearing their clothes, slapping
their cheeks, screaming, crying in a loud voice and in fact we also find women in many
places where they do not comb their hairs, and wear only black clothes. This is against
the beautiful teachings of Islam. We have to keep certain important things in our minds.
Firstly, a woman is allowed to mourn for the death of her husband for a period of four
months ten days and is NOT allowed to mourn for the death of anyone other than her
husband, for more than three days.

We have a beautiful example in this regard of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW
when his son Ibrahim died.
As Ibrahim breathed his last, the Prophet SAW took him in his arms, and tears flowed
from his eyes. His forbidding of vociferous lamentations had made prevalent the notion
that all expressions of woe at bereavement were to be discouraged, and the mistaken idea
still lingered on in many minds. “O Messenger of God,” said Abdur Rahman ibn Awf,
who was present, “this is what thou hast forbidden. When the Muslims will see you
weeping, they too will weep.” The Prophet continued to weep, and when he could find
his voice he said: “Not this do I forbid. These are the promptings of tenderness and
mercy, and he that is not merciful; unto him shall no mercy be shown. O Ibrahim, if it
were not that the promise of reunion is sure, and that this is a path which all must tread,
and that the last of us shall overtake the first, verily we should grieve for thee with yet a
greater sorrow. Yet are we stricken indeed with sorrow for thee, O Ibrahim. The eye
weepeth, and the heart grieveth, nor say we aught that would offend the Lord.”
[From the excellent book “Muhammad SAW, his life based on the earliest sources, by
Shaikh Abu Bakr Sirajuddin (Martin Lings), pg 327]

This is the manner of our beloved Rasool SAW, and best example to be followed.

TRIALS/HARDSHIP…BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE???

Allah SWT says in the Quran:

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives
and fruits but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient).” [2:155]

“And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the cause of
Allah) and As-Sabirun (the patient)” [47:31]

“That He might try you, which of you is best in deeds.” [11:7]

In the above-mentioned Verses, Allah SWT has told us that He will definitely test us. We
have been told that every one has to go through trials, calamities, and other hardships. So
its up to us now that when we face ourselves in such situations, either we scream, get
furious, curse ourselves OR we go for that “one” thing which will not only ease the pain
and calm us down but will actually prove out to be way much more than we can imagine
in the hereafter. I mean that it will prove out to be very heavy on our scales of good deeds
on the last Day, so heavy that we might say “Whoa, its way too heavy, cant believe these
all deeds belong to me!” And yes that “one” thing is our dear forgotten friend “patience.”

Trials and hardships are blessings for the Muslims. We face problems every other day
with frown on our faces, always saying, “Oh why me? I was so good to everyone. Why
not my friend who aint good to anyone…why me???” and unfortunately we fail to realize
that we might be missing something very important. Just read the following beautiful
hadiths of Rasoolullah SAW, I really like them and u’ll gonna love them too!

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan RA reported that: The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “How
wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this
applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah
and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and
that is better for him.”

Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet
Muhammad SAW 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 but Allah will
expiate his sins on account of his patience.”

Anas RA reported that: The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “When Allah intends good
for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His
slave. He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of
resurrection.”

Alhumdulillah every one of us desires Jannah. But we must know that it is a long journey
where we have to face countless obstacles. We have to pass numerous tests. We just can’t
have it without doing much work. As Allah says:
“ Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such [trials] as came to those
who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and
were shaken.” (2:214)

“And so are the days [good and not so good], We give to men by turns…” (3:140)

DIFFICULTIES IN THE PATH OF FAITH:

This is addressed to every one in general and particularly to those dear brothers and
sisters of mine who are calling people to Allah SWT. May Allah bless u all O Muslimeen,
for the work that you are doing, and for the difficulties that you are facing. The other day
a brother said that he was called a “fanatic” when he was doing dawah and we find many
innumerable such incidents where these brothers and sisters have to go through many
unimaginable things. So read the following hadiths and you will inshALLAH feel the
Eman actually running in your veins. May Allah protect you all, ameen.
Khabbab bin Al-Aratt RA reported: We complained to the Messenger of Allah SAW
regarding the persecution inflicted upon us by the disbelievers while he was lying in the
shade of the Kabah having made a pillow of his cloak. We submitted: “Why do you not
supplicate for our prevalence (over the opponents)?” He SAW replied, “Among those
people before you, a man would be seized and held in a pit dug for him in the
ground and he would be sawed into to halves from his head, and his flesh torn away
from his bones with an iron comb; but in spite of this, he would not wean away from
his faith. By Allah, Allah will bring this matter to its consummation until a rider will
travel from Sa’na to Hadramout fearing none except Allah, and except the wolf for
his sheep but you are in too much of a hurry. “

Abu Hurairah RA reported that: the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “He whom Allah
intends good, he makes him to suffer from some affliction.”

Usaid bin Hudhair RA reported that: A person from the Ansar said, “O Messenger of
Allah! You appointed such and such person and why do you not appoint me?”
Messenger of Allah SAW said, “After me you will see others given preference to you,
but you should remain patient till you meet me at the Haud (Al-Kauthar in
Jannah).”

Therefore patience is most fitting for all of us. Sometimes we do feel really down, not so
strong. We feel that no matter how hard we strive, the situation still does not get any
better. We try to face our problems patiently but still we do not find the peace and
tranquility that we look for. In such situations we should contemplate on the following
Ayahs.

“ALLAH [Alone] is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs [for us].”
(3:173)

“And put your trust in ALLAH if you are believers indeed.” (5:23)

“And whosoever fears ALLAH and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter
easy for him.” (65:4)

ENJOIN PATIENCE:
This is incumbent upon us as Muslims to encourage each other towards patience. This is
not an easy task though. Mostly when we try to enjoin people towards patience, they get
irritated. “Patience? Oh yea really…u know what? You aint going through the problems
that I have to suffer! They are more than I can bear” OR “Ya rite! Go and preach to
someone who is free from sorrows of this world.” Sound familiar? These are the common
replies that we get from people when we talk to them about patience. But remember the
following Ayah, in which Allah SWT says:

“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.”
[103]
Allah tells us of Luqman saying to his son:

[And enjoin all that is right, and forbid all that is wrong, and be patient in
the face of that which afflicts you, verily that is the most upright of
positions.] Qur'an 31/17.

We need to tell them that life is after all a test for every one of us. No one is excluded
from these worldly difficulties, particularly the believer. We need to encourage them and
give their Eman a big boost with the will of Allah SWT, by relating to them the stories of
the Prophets, the Companions of Rasoolullah SAW, and the hardships that they had to
face. We can recite unto them Verses from the Quran, which praises the patient ones,
which recommends patience, and Ayahs where Allah SWT promises His help to His
slaves, like the following Verses:

“But Sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.”

(25:31)

“And in ALLAH should the believers put their trust.” (3:122)

“Is not the morning near?” (11:81)

InshALLAH it will be very fruitful for them and for us as well. We will be getting
uncountable, unimaginable thawab from Allah SWT.

No doubt people sometimes get really depressed about the difficulties that they are going
through. Again, I will repeat the same thing, i.e. it’s the lack of knowledge that we do not
know how to face the problems. Therefore those of us, who Alhumdulillah have been
bestowed with the knowledge concerning patience, should spread the word to others.
After reading this article it will be necessary for you to discuss this important matter with
your family and friends.

CONCLUSION:
All praise is to Allah Who gave me the Tawfiq to write these few words. I hope that
inshALLAH after going through the article and pondering over its meaning, we will try
to have patience in our lives. We will try our utmost to be patient in everything we do.
This is something, which the Muslims these days are seriously in need of. We cant get
away from troubles but we can, by the Will of Allah SWT, face them in an excellent
manner, gaining much and losing less and coming out of these problems with a fresh
Eman, inshALLAH. I hope this proves to be beneficial. If there is anything contradictory
in whatever I wrote then I ask Allah to guide me and give me the proper knowledge. I
have used the Quranic Verses and Hadiths but still if there is something, which is against
the Book of ALLAH and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW, then may ALLAH wipe it out
from your minds, and may it never influence you, ameen.

O ALLAH pour on us abundant patience, ameen.

I will end with the beautiful words of a poet:

“How often is the young man overcome with despair when afflicted,
And with ALLAH is the way out,
The situation becomes unbearable, and when its rope tightens,
It snaps, and throughout, he never thought that he would be saved.”
[From the Book, Don’t be Sad by Sheikh Al Qarni]

Salamunalaikum warahmatullahe wabarakatahu.

Bint Rehana