SABR (PATIENCE)

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu

One of the marvelous qualities of our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was his infinite patience. And Allah is with and always with those who patiently persevere.

The word sabr as used in the Holy Qur’an has no equivalent English word for it. It can be conveyed in phrases such as endurance against afflictions, patience with delay, perseverance against hardships, steadfastness in face of setbacks, will power against temptations etc. but we all know it as patience. Therefore for easier understanding I will use ‘Patience’.

With so much in our lives, the encounters, the people, our families, children, spouses etc. we have quite a number of people and things to deal with and therefore sabr is needed. Allah has made patience like a horse that never gets tired, an army that can never be defeated and a strong fortress that can never be breached. Victory and Patience are twin brothers and victory comes with patience. Victory is ease, ease that comes after hardships and troubles, distress, grief, arrogance and slander from others, illness, anything that just doesn’t give that smile or brings pain in the heart and tears in your eyes.

It’s natural and it’s very normal nobody’s road is smooth, we all have obstacles just different ones. Allah says in the Surah Al-Ankaboot (Q29:2-3), “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, ‘We believe’, and that they will not be tested? We tested those before them, and God will certainly know those who are true from those are false.”  However all these are trials for you, no matter how long it takes, how hard it is do not lose hope. These trials you know, are all chosen by Allah to be in your way but all only for your benefit; the rewards will be enormous, without measure I mean. We are tested in various ways by Allah, as He said in Surah Al-Baqarah (Q2:155), “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil (children), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” And in Surah Az-Zumar (Q39:10), “…Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!” And Allah reminds us He that on no soul He places a burden greater than it can bear. (Q2:286) With this said, in my view I think whatever is brought our way we can handle it.

In the terminology of Hadith and Qur’an, sabr has three modes:

• Restraining from what the Sharee’ah has declared to be illegal or impermissible.
• Forcing oneself to be regular in the observance of the different forms of worship and to be steadfast in obeying the commandments of Allah and the Sunnahs of the Prophet.
• To endure all kinds of trouble and pain, to understand clearly and believe that it is the will of Allah to make one in distress in the hope that one shall receive a reward.

Sabr not only covers being distressed, the feeling of pain or dislike with what we endure in life or finances it is far wide and as mentioned it’s more of restraining yourself and holding back sorrow in the hope for a better reward or better than what was lost. And the beautiful thing about Sabr is that it has been mentioned together with Salah. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah (Q2:153), “O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.” Salah possesses a special efficacy in releasing man from all kinds of trouble and pain.

Surely we can have instance under the umbrella of Islam. Aasiyah, the wife of Fir’aun had so much faith in Allah that thrived under the shadow of someone that said, “I am your Lord, Most High!” When news reached Fir’aun about his wife’s faith, he beat her up and commanded the guards to do the same. They then took her out in the scalding noon heat, tied her hands and feet and beat her perpetually. What did she do? She turned to Allah. And prayed, “My Lord, build for me a home with you in Paradise and save me from Fir’aun and his deeds and save me from transgressive people.” It was narrated that when she said this, the sky opened for her and she saw her home in Paradise. She smiled and the guards were astonish, she’s being tortured and she smiles? Frustrated Fir’aun ordered a boulder to be brought and dropped on her; to crush her to death. But Allah took her soul before the boulder was brought and she became an example for all believing men and women till the end of time. Allah says in Surah Al-Tahrim (Q66:11), “And God sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: behold she said: “O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to You, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong.”

This may not be a situation same as yours by it is a lesson which Allah has mention in the Qur’an to us in any trial we should turn to him and be patient. Very patient. And with patience comes victory and in between we have to trust Allah. He knows all, we don’t even know what the next minute holds but He does, always be patient and trust Him sincerely. In a hadeeth of Tirmidhi the Prophet of Allah taught his followers, “When you ask for anything, ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek the help of Allah. Know that if the people were united to do you some benefit, they could benefit you only with what Allah had recorded for you, and that if they were to unite to do you some injury, they could injure you only with what Allah had recorded for you. Then pens are withdrawn and the pages are dry.” And in another narration, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Strange is the affair of the Mu’min (the believer), verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks Allah and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (Sabr) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the Mu’min.” Ibn Al-Juwzee said, “If this Dunya was not a station for test it would not be filled will sicknesses and filth. If life were not about hardship, then the Prophets and the pious would have lived the most comfortable of lives. Nay, Adam suffered test after test until he left Dunya. Nuh cried for 300 years. Ibrahim was thrown into a pit of fire with his own father in support and later told to slaughter his son. Ya’qub cried until he became blind. Musa challenged Fir’aun and was tested by his people. Issa had provision except the morsels his disciples provided him with. And Muhammad met poverty with patience, his uncle one of his beloved relatives to him was slain and mutilated and his people disbelieved in him and the list of Prophets and the pious goes on and on.” (May Allah be pleased with them all)

Prophet Ayyub (May Allah be pleased with him), another prophet of Allah was tested in all his riches when his big farm was attacked, cattle stolen, servants killed. After sometime the roof of the house fell and crushed many of his family members. And with all this he never utters a word of complain to Allah. He never shed a tear nor heaved a sigh but prostrated before Allah the Almighty. Then he was tested with regard to his body. It was filled with loathsome sores that made his appearance ugly. The sore were filled with worms and for years 13, 17 or 18 he was in this state. And everybody around him shunned him; friends, relatives and even strangers. He was left alone on the edge of the city and there was no one who treated him with compassion except his wife who took care of him but eventually grew tired of him. She cursed her husband and prayed for his death. But Prophet Ayyub made a prayer and Allah accepted it. Allah turned to him with Mercy. After he was restored to prosperity and Prophet Ayyub knelt and prayed expressing him deep sense of gratitude to Allah. He never forgot His favors, mercy and love.

They were better than us, Prophets of Allah, but this how they were tested. Something we cannot match up to and it’s clear we should implement Patience, Trust and Thanking Allah a lot. That’s the formulae.

And you know the best thing is in this hadeeth, “A Muslim does not suffer any mental or physical aguish or any distress, grief, pain or sorrow even from a prick of a thorn, except that Allah expiates his mistakes and sins.” (Bukhari and Muslim) what could be a better thing than having some sins brushed off you? Next time any calamity falls upon you first remember sabr is exercised from the beginning, then keep in mind this hadeeth. I always say Alhamdhulillah, thanking Allah for loving me because He afflicts trials to those whom He loves, the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When Allah loves a people, He tests him.” (Tirmidhi) Secondly He expiates my mistakes and sins and a great reward comes after being patient. Sabr at times may seem not to be easy but it should not be taken lightly, it is an extremely important virtue for a believer.

When the son of the Prophet’s daughter, Zaynab was taking his last breath in the Prophet’s lap, tears came down from the Prophet’s eyes. When Sa’ad wondered, the Prophet explained, “This is an expression of mercy that Allah has put in the hearts of people.” Reported from Usamah ibn Zaid in Bukhari and Muslim. This kind of patience is the lowest level of Sabr expected of believers and is one of the qualities emanating from Taqwa in the heart. The test of patience is at the initial shock. At the first news of the calamity, when it first happens. The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “Verily patience (is only Sabr when practiced) at the first hit (of news).” Strive not to complain and constantly control yourself in words and actions, and never give up on Allah in the end it’s worth it. Allah will bring after hardship, ease.

But are we being tested; afflicted with trials? To purify us by reminding us of our purpose. If we were far from Allah, to turn back to Him, bringing us closer to Him. To measure or increase our Imaan and trust in Him. Thanking Allah, asking for Forgiveness. This reminds us Who is control, Who we should rely on, Who we should seek help from, Who we should cry to. You don’t need a shoulder to cry on when you have Sujood.

Make Allah make us of those who constantly turn to Him, in hardship and ease.

And Allah knows best.