Patience

From the Editor

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Patience

The believer is one who has patience and who praises Allah.

Reported by Abu Yahya Suhayb Ibn-i Sinan, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“The condition of the believer is worthy of envy and admiration, because every state they are in is a cause of benefaction. Such a quality is unique to the believer: When they are delighted, they praise and this is a benefaction; when they suffer harm, they show patience and this is also a benefaction.” (Muslim, Zuhd 64)

Patience is potential power for the Muslim as it increases their resistance towards the difficulties of life. For the believer, it is the essential condition of victory and success; it is the source of energy and light.

Patience is armor that protects, in every way, the glory and honor of the one who possesses it. Patience is the way to find a good life, with all it teaches us. Patience is not the same as resignation or defeat… It is the ability to walk towards problems with courage and the will to solve them. It is finding that Allah is with us on the way. “Allah is with those who have patience.” (Al-Baqarah 153)

Patience means resistance. It is the ability to reject the invitation to sin, despite all the provocations and temptations. It is bringing wretched passions to decency, it is bravery in the face of hardship in war, and it is satisfaction with scarcity.

Patience is embracing moral virtues even when there is the possibility to do the opposite. It is to cease being merely human and to begin to use human initiative to select the course of one’s behavior.

Even though in modern life, with the cultural dictates of “pursuing happiness”, patience may not seem reasonable or attractive, it is still the most indispensable and realistic solution when defining the depth of relations and of ensuring their continuity. Only the lives illuminated with the light of patience, those with the philosophy “Patience is light” (Muslim), can illuminate and show new horizons to others. The believer who reads Surat Al-Asr of the Quran can understand that those who advise patience are free from frustration and harm and are able to show those who care primarily and solely for themselves a new way to proceed.

In the order “Call for help (from Allah) with patience and prayer” (Al-Baqarah 153), the believer is taught that it is not enough to expect divine help only with prayer. The message that resistance combined with action can bring us close to Allah, the Sabur - the Most Patient - is also given.

Those who have forgotten that they are subjects can only perceive themselves as the ultimate cause. If this myopia that prevents one from seeing He Who provides humankind with endless blessings is not cured, it may even cause the loss of all blessings. The one who thanks Allah for what they have knows best what to do when that blessing is lost, as they are aware Who the real owner of that blessing is. Patience and praise are two wings that free people from the deceit of the temporary and which lead them to the serenity of the permanent. Happy is the one who can use both wings well.

عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه قَالَ:
قَبَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَعِنْدَهُ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ جَالِسًا‏.‏ فَقَالَ الأَقْرَعُ إِنَّ لِي عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْوَلَدِ مَا قَبَّلْتُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا‏.‏ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ ‏"‏‏
God's Messenger kissed Al-Hasan bin Ali (his grandchild) while Al-Aqra' bin Habis At-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them", God's Messenger cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully." (Bukhari, Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab), 18)

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