In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Patience (Sabr) is a comprehensive virtue in Islam that encompasses perseverance, endurance, forbearance, diligence, and restraint. It is a characteristic of enlightenment that develops in the heart of a believer.
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Verily, Allah is with the patient. (Al-Baqarah 2:153)
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). said:
وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ وَمَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنْ الصَّبْرِ
“Whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience”. (Al-Bukhārī)
Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said:
وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ
“Patience is illumination”. (Sahih Muslim)
According to Ibn Al-Qayyim, in his work ‘Uddat al-Ṣābirīn, patience is divided into 3 components:
- Patience in worshiping Allah and adhering to His commands.
- Patience in avoiding sins and disobedience.
- Patience with the decree of Allah and calamities.
Regarding the first aspect of patience, it is to have perseverance in fulfilling the obligations of Islam such as prayer, giving charity, and fasting.
Finally, Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
By the time, verily mankind is in loss except for those who have faith and perform righteous deeds and enjoin one another to truth and enjoin one another to patience. (Surat Al-Asr 103:1-3)
Therefore, the virtue of patience is tremendously important for our well-being in this life and in the Hereafter, so we should strive to develop patience within ourselves in all of its aspects.
Success only comes from Allah (SWT), and Allah (SWT) knows best.