Patience

Patience

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

Patience is a great character that a person can have, and all of the prophets (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ) endured patience in many ways. The story of Yusuf tells us the experiences of Yusuf how he endured many trials, yet he was able to be patient throughout those trials and the reward he received after experiencing the wrongdoings against him. We can also look at the story of Job, how he was blessed with a family, children, wealth and health until Allah tested him with calamity after calamity and he continued to be patient and obedient in worship. Even us modern day humans, we are expected to be patient when we visit our doctor or at the Accident & Emergency at the hospital, we can’t be lashing out at medical staff wanting to give us priority over others.

One of Allah’s names is As Sabur (The Patient one) and he is the most enduring of whatever happens, they ascribe partners with Allah yet he continues to provide them with air, the ability to walk, breathe, eat and so on. If only they understand Allah’s patience this will make them understand his mercy upon them. Allah mentions Sabr the first time in Qur’an in connection with the prayer,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient. 2:153

Prayer is the second pillar of Islam and the prayer itself requires patience, unfortunately many Muslims nowadays pray only to get it done and not reap the benefits of it. You may find Muslims praying so quickly that they don’t give each portion of the prayer the respected time it requires and some are able to pray 2 raka’at in 2 minutes subhaan Allah! Allah mentions the successful Muslims are those who have obedience in the prayer.

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ. ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ

Certainly will the believers have succeeded

They who are during their prayer humbly intent. 22:1-2

Through the good and bad times in life we must all be patient, we may want a thing immediately (a child, a new job, a spouse) but some things in life take time and requires patience in the process. Sabrun Jameel is the extreme form of patience and it is used three times in the Qur’an twice in Surah Yusuf and once in Mai’rij. Looking at surah Mai’rij where it is used, in the previous ayah Allah mentions a day being 50 thousand years long and commanded the prophet صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to be patient on the day of judgement. Many of us struggle to even stand in prayer during taraweeh or even qiyaamul layl in Ramadan, and our Prophet صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ used to recite the entire surah Baqarah in one standing. We’re not recommending that one should do an act although commendable but our prayer and standing in prayer is a reflection of our patience and a testament of us being a Muslim on the day of judgement. As Allah will command all his creation to prostrate upon unveiling his shin

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able. 68:42

Scholars of Islam have written books on patience and it is a deep topic to discuss entirely. The fundamental importance is that we be patient in all matters, the passing of a loved one, times of war & calamity, when we are wronged and the trials we face in life.

We ask Allah to help us in all of our affairs the good and bad, and that he help us to be obedient to him.