Patience with steadfast belief in Allah is called sabr, in Arabic. The word 'patience' is derived from Latin word Pati which means to suffer, to endure .It is one of the best virtues in one`s life. Through patience, a Muslim believes that an individual can come closer to Allah and live a peaceful and satisfied life.
Patience puts us in direct control of ourselves. It is the quality of being patient, bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like.
Islam is a complete code of life and it guides and teaches in every sphere of life. There is great reward for those who are patient with the decree of their Lord. In this world people face many difficulties, sufferings and calamities but some of them remain patient, for the sake of obedience to the Lord, the Protector and Provider.
“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in
full.” 39:10.
Allah understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say in prayer. Tawakkul is having full faith that Allah will take care of us even when things look Impossible. Allah knows what is the best for us and when its best to have it. Allah does not burden any one more than it can bear. Whenever He afflicts us with some difficulty, He gives us hope too.
When Imam ‘Ali(may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about faith he replied:
“The structure of faith is supported by four pillars:
Patience, Conviction, Justice and Struggle.
Then he explained further:
‘Patience comprises of four attributes:
Eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death).
So, whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore evil temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties and hardships of the life of this world and whoever anticipates death will hasten to perform good deeds”.
[Al-Amidi, Ghurar ul HikamwaDurar ul Kalim, hadith - 2897]
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq said:
“Verily, Patience (Sabr) is to faith what the head is to the body. The body perishes with-out the head, and so also when Sabr goes, faith also disappears.”
(Al-Kulayni, al Kafi, vol. 2, p. 128)
Patience is a strength that helps and it is a great benefit in one`s life in any difficult and discomfortable situation
“Every believer who believes in Allah will be tested. Such tests can come in the form of fear, hunger, illness, some loss in goods or lives or similar provisions. No one can have a completely blissful life without hardships”. 2:155-156
If one has faith in God and he believes that all the affairs are in control of All Mighty, he will not complain before God Almighty of the hardships of life and the adversities. Rather, he will accept them willingly, and thank Him gratefully for His help and bounties.
So many times, in our lives something happens to us and we feel that this is the worst thing that can happen to us. But then after that situation, when relief and ease come, we realize that the difficult times had happened for good to come. So, it is important that believers be patient and know that Allah (Subhaanahoowat'ala) is sufficient for us and is the best planner of all our affairs. He will guide us in the best way.
“Those who have faith, and have not confounded their faith with evil doing – to them belongs the true security; they are rightly guided”6:82.
Patience is one of those moral qualities that may sound simple from distance, as any suggestion for desiring or waiting for something, may appear to be easy but it may be much more arduous in practice. When one is actually faced with the obstruction, the entire concept of patience may become more challenging. But, gradually, it becomes easy to bear with the hardships and difficulties. Taking the time to solve the problems requires patience and deliberation. Patience is the best way for soul`s training and discipline. and allow things to manifest in due time in life.
Imam ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“The one who practices Sabr will never be deprived of success, even though it may take a long time.” [NahjulBalagha, saying # 153]
Patience helps when one feels satisfied with life by accepting things the way they are. Inner peace comes from minimizing tension to accomplish goals. The important thing is that a patient person can ultimately be a happy one. Obviously, there are other ways to look at the rewards of patience .Prophet Muhammad (mercy of the worlds, peace be upon him) said:
“If we don’t get the reward of Patience in this world then it will surely be saved by Almighty Allah for the hereafter that will never end.”
There are more than ninety verses in the Holy Quran about the benefits of patience. Only a few of them are included in this article.
“And be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are
As-Sabirin” 8:46, 42:43,25:75
Impatience can be a great disadvantage to reach our destiny. Impatience can also lead to mistakes, accidents and un-favorable decisions like talking without thinking, create confusion, develop angst and promote bitterness and anger, and sadly can even kill.
When one starts practicing patience, he will have more understanding & compassion for others. He will not get angry, stressed or frustrated immediately but keep control over emotions and deal with the difficult situation with ease and poise. Anything worthwhile and of importance may not occur right away. It takes time, dedication and effort to achieve. In this age of tensions and challenges, patience is a great virtue. The virtue of patience shows that one has high moral standard in life.